The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1860-08-02
Temperance.
TEMPERANCE ADDRESS.
By p. J. oELAND, ESQ.

TEMFERANCE ADDRESS,
BY p. J. oELAND, ESQ,
Delivered at Lebanon Church, Rich Hill
Spartanburg District, s. c., July !. 1860
and published by request of the Sons of Tenn
pcrance.
TEMPERANCE, in every age of the world
has been regarded cardinal virtue. En-
ightened heathens have devoted much
thought to this subject, and their best sys
tens OF philosophy attest the importanc,
and felicitous effects of temperance, as au
essential attribute of refined character. In
all the writings of the ancieuts, We see this
principle (though often shining indistinct-
!y through grosser systems of philosophy
immutably impressed on the surface OF
Thought. The rigid virtue Cate, contrast.
ed with the effeminate, and voluptuous
lives of the Augustan Age, suffi ,iently
evInces this truth. Even Socrates hi,nseii
(who practised the selfdenying precepts
which he taught, although self.immolatcd
victim at the shrine of false system OF
honor) inculcated temperance as the chief
snaxim OF his school, a system contrasting
violently with the dctestable tenets of the
dissolute followers of Epicurus.
And although we do not find the idea,
standing forward in bold relief in sacred
history, prov ng, on the first face of the
matter, its high appreciation under the
theocratic form of government, vet it is
clearly implied, torcibly impressed by im-
Plcation, and confessed by all Bible readers
who do not shut their eyes to truth, to be
distinctly enjoined. 1t is not by any mca Is
TO be inferred that the Jews were exempt
from the intolerable vice of intemperancc, be-
cause the records do not expose it as a glar-
ing offence; for we should reject, that all
the sins of Judah were swallowed up in the
enormous sin of idolatry BY this were
contaminated all the springs of spirituality
and the polluted sluccs from the pos ned
fountain broke forth in wide desolation
bearing on their bosom the seeds of death
and the fruits of broken law.
In the glorious epoch in which our hap.
Py lot is cast, We find the honest citizen
the devoted patriot, the distinguished
statesman, the erudte scholar, the elooucnt
orator, the Jealous divine, with all the best
and nohlest of our race, conspiring to exalt
this virtue, not in exclusion OF all others,
but as the base of all virtue, of all christi IN
character; the very living principle Of all
that IS pure, and lovely, and consistent in
refined human character. And we find also
many worthy advocates among us, whose
exertions never seem to dalnpcn their ar
dor, applying peculiar galvanism to the
often dying, though never dead, bodies of
Temperance Societies.
~ 1t this virtne has been regarded by the
heathen as necessary to human happiness,
and lfthe true patriot the mighty in in,
tellect, and the pure in principle, have
ever considered IL as requisite to the con
servation of the most exalted character,
then assurcdly it must be subject wor;hy
on our conslderation--worthv of the con
sideratlon OF community whose marked
characteristics have always been temper
ance principles combined with temperate
practices.
The wisest of all men has said, "greater
Is he who ruleth his spirit, than he who
ttaketh city, Next to that great and
profound maxim, "know thyself," stands
TINS other greater precept, Govern thyself,"
Temperance In its widest sense signifies that
due and necessary restraint over our pas
fsions and appetites, whereby We may nei-
ther injure ourselves nor others; prcsuppos-
ing that whilst we accord the tenor of our
lives to our profcs sion, we, at the same
slime, make every exertion WITHIN our pow
Ger to advance the common welfare.
Let us first consider this great subject in
"a three-fold view.
First: Our personal good effected by tenn
peranee, or our personal injury induced by
nntemperancc.
Secondly: The good ,tnat we may bestow
individually, or the corresponding injury
chat we may inflict by these opposite cour-
sses Of conduct.
And thirdly: The influence that NAV
toe. exercised upon the common welfare Of
humanity.
we may best appreciate the beauty of
'temperan :e, by contrasting the sautary cf:
feets OF the one, with the baneful effects of
rthe other upon the happiness of the indi-
yvidual. The highest state of physical
shealth is promoted and secured by habits
OF temperance. As the soul suffers when the
body suffers, so the highest mental vigor is
preserved by strict temper lnce. Intem
.peraBee undermines the very bases of men
tai action. 1t indisposes for all labor
"'"' oeooLheS IL urilt&hfu, lie has
initiated asow, lingering, and sclGinAic ed
death. 1t should be sufficiently humilia-
ting that men should resort to pisons to
save life; but that they should daily
swallow poison, and call it peasant to the
.t ste, their senses obscured, morbid appe-
titles created, languor and debility super
induced, doing away in lstless apathy one
half OF their precious time. Su we are
constrained to call madness. This indeed
rs fearful picture, Int by 40 means over
wrought Not go with him who is often
repfoschod with fko crime efbeing ten
perate man. He it is that preservs.