Smyrna times., 1867-03-20
MIS- SCELLAN NEOUS.
For the Smyrna Times"
Temperance and Religion.

The Temperance Cause needs, in broad |
sense religious men, religious motives, religious
means, to aid in its peculiar task. For the ac-
complishment of that task it needs all, and |
more than all, possible human impulses and |
agencies, both secular and religious, even that |
aid which is not human, both above all and be- |
yond all the wisdom and the strength of men,
that excelency of power" which Religion re-
veals and communicates, of God and not of
u.s.
Nor can Religion say of Temperance,
have no need of thee, Pure religion and un-
defled before God and the Father, partly ex-
hibited in keeping ourselves unspotted from
the world" surely needs to avail Of any agen-
cy by which the world de6ling power may be
weakened over those who have been brought,
or whom she seeks to bring, within the fold of
consistent profession and holy practice
Chschering.
In the month of March, 1903, at Morlan,
Saratoga Co., n. Y, DIR. Billy j. Clark went
three miles ON dark night to say to his pas
tor, Rev. Lebbens Armstrong, " l have come
to see you on important business. There is
danger that we all shall become q community
of drunkards in this town, unless something is
done to arrest the progress of intemperance
Fifth National lem. Coaa.
Now what shall be done to permit g this
tol0n from becoming community Of drunk
ards, and to save our young men from the de-
stroyer and our old men from the almost equal
, sii,e of indctirity while so much remains to be
J done? If Temperance and Religion are twin
| ssteI-and a man must needs become Tempe
, rance man before he can be brought within the
saving influences of relig giOn--are the protesting
Christians of this community doing all in their
power to develop and extend that "excellen-
Il cy of honor" which Religion reveals and Com
municates.
What human power outside of the moral and
t religious forces that suEnount us, is capable
of throwing down our distilleries, closing oul
dram shops, and equipping our temperance
u ships fully manned by all of the young and old
:. pledged and daily practicing Total Abstinence
Christian men and especially Christian minis
tiers, the early records Of Temperance teach us
from their high posts of observation were
among the first to see the danger that threat
- ened, and devised measures for the suppression
Y of the ruinous vice. To the credit of the Mas
ter's cause their efforts have not been relaxed
and God will yet persevere to the world and Il
the drunkard the means Of preventing his de
struction if they remain true to the great trus
7, committed to the Church with regard to thu
evil of lntemperance.
What we most need at this time on the par
"a of Christian men, is an Or1Gnized resistance o
its Intenlperdnce bold, aggressive and determined
er 1t will not do to sit in our homes and places
n business and wish well to the cause, and make
10 no effort to destroy our enemies. God help
,is those who help themselves. It is vain to asI
ID, His blessing upon the efforts that others ma,
III be making in other communities, if we remaiI
,te inactive and dead in our own, and expec
ne that drunkards will be reclaimed in our mids
NJ by the activities of those far removed from us
re The cause of humanity and temperance an,
lot religion demand the best efforts of every indi
oss vidual of the Church, and of society organiza
on tions everywhere. The moral and religion
forces and agencies Of this town, if properly OF
panized and directed are sufficient to expt
ill from it every groggery and licensed and uni
cepsed dramshop that now afflict and curse tb
community Us q sin against God and man.
nm But why speak of these agencies? 7
lie stimulate those who have done all to do be
ter: to persuade those who have done nothin
, to begin the work of reform at once; and I
!, remind our temperance friends again and agai
y" that the evils surrounding US are not altogetl
i'd. er the result of those who sell and drink
quors, but in great measure owing to OF
own sad and criminal negligence in the eau
'er that should set every heart on fire, and ner'
' every hand with its utmost capacity OF enert
to relieve men of this misery-to reform the
.. from this SIM
There is room for all to work--the indivi
a. ual, the Church, the open Temperance soolet
and the more compact and working ORGANIC
% ton. There is need of all agencies, all I
n forts, all forces, moral. intellectual and re
gious. 1t is demanded Of all who serve G.
and love men, TO do something, according
his several ability and his best Judgment as
what is right and hopeful, to abate this grf
moral nuisance in Gods world of beauty,
hers remove this great spiritual hindrance to all ii
ling for mankind in time and for eternity"