Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1864-02-29
gdett alllstellanp.
Liquor and Church Members.

threatens iasmiIsen5|y the peace and
prosperity of ~theaehnrches. The discip-
line of the churches has become too
indnlgeut, and one evil after another
has gained ground until whole COM.
munitics have become involved.
Let Us look at these evils somewhat
in detail.
lst. 1t is qaite common for mem
bers TO purchase brandy, wine, &C..
for medicinal purposes. Some antici
pate a great deal of sickness and buy
large quantities. Aud yet it isa very
rare thing that any of this brandy and
wine is used in sickness. There are
very few diseases in which brandy and
wine are applicable, and III these few
diseases it is best Tor the remedy to
be administered By a regul.r practi-
tiouer. The truth of the whole mat
ter is, that too many of our members
want an excuse for drinking fine bran
dies and wines. There is no use for
us to attempt to cloak the act-it is
nothing more nor less than a pure
thirst for ardent spirits. WE all know
this. and WIZ nntzy-
member buys. his yearly supply of
whiskey, or brandy, or wine, aud tells
US he has purchased it for medicinal
purposes, do we believe it? No;
we arc satisfied it is for daily drams.'
These members are rarely, if ever,
jealous and useful members of the
churches. They are generally the ad-
vocates Of all manner Of licenses to
other members. Many evils how out
from this fountain.
As whiskey must be had for medi-
cinal purposes, then deacons and lay
members must have peaches and ap-
piles, and plums and persimmons, and
china berries and other things made
into whiskey, for times of sickness. =
0 shame on the churches, that they
permit such a prostitution OF her char
acter and principles! [ honestly be-
lieve that every member who sends
anything to a distillery to have con :
verified into alcoholic mixtures should
be dealt with, and unless ne promise:
not to repeat it, should be excluded
There is enongh whiskey and brandy
in tue Confederacy to answer for al
medicinal demands for one hundred
years to come, if not another gallon
was made, and yet members will at
tempt to make others believe tina
there is a necessity for every family t,
have soma distilled for their ow,
use.
2nd. There is another evil proceed
. ing from.the erroneous idea that wits
' key and brandy must always be Of
hand for sickness The coed brothe
, will find too many occasions for usin,
=. the medicine. If the mornings be col
: and he has to expose himself, then
: "dram' would help him. And h
!, twrs 6no. 81 ne has 4,ot.I-S sst-s.
! rain or cold, then a dram would hel
him. And he takes another. If Ii
has the headache, a dram would bel
: that, and he takes another. If he f-eI
. a little uneasiness about the stomach
a dram would help it, and he take
! another. After a little, he conceive
that digestion will not be carried O
without some brandy to stimulate th
, digestive organs, and, for this purpos,
!. he will take a dram before or after e,
cry meal. Il matters very little whs
the disease may be, alcohol in som
: form IS the sovereign panacea. a
), such members love the taste Of alec
= hello drinks, and these excuses ar
;, subterfuges to screen them from pub
! lie oliun.
Sd. This evil grows by that It feed
upon. These members become accus
toned to the glass at home, and a
the houses Of a few others of a Xix
stamp, and in a short time they cal
see no harm IN taking a glass al a de
; cent bar. They feel a little unwclI, 0
cold or warm, or wet or dry, or som
such state, and a,dram would set al
things to rights, and they will G
along with a good friend and take
dtink, and walk. out immediately
There can be no harm in this.
e HViee is a monster OF such frightfui mlen,
! That to be dreaded, needs but to be seen
! But seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
I And the man who can 60 into
bar-roon or whiskey shop OF al
:, character and take a drink, by hlf
= self or with another, will soon dril
y openly without ceupunctons of CO.
: science, and, without a miracle, v
BE q regular topper on -
karl. | have no confidence ia t
piety osany mssater who drinks {
no dent spirits il saloons or whisk
,er shops. All snca members should
n excluded, g
te- 4th. These drinkers and whisE
ew invalids are great advocates for lice
to ses to members. They do not bell
a in strict discipline. They do not th
of that they should be made to 60 to
tie regular meetings of the church IN
his they feel ike going. On Saturday
and Sunday they can stand around
ect, Post office, or in the hotel, OF li'
pu- stable, oil eating saloon, or depot,
iim whisksy shop, but it is an infril
rer- mcnt of their liberties 60 make Il