Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-03-15
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COLUMN,

"ithout temperance In the life. 1t is
one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Paul preached and practiced it, as do
all true Christians.
!. Whatever visits npon the body and
health of man such injuries and pre-
mature death; whatever stupefes and
renders irresponsible the human mind,
reducing man to level with brute;
| whatever corrupts and pollutes the
soul, created to bear the image of God
and enjoy his smiles forever, no chris
tlan can practice or support directly
or indirectly. Such harm as families
and societies suffer from intcmperance,
| demons only and their emissaries can
willingly ilfiict.
Not to put ourselves in battle array
against such a dark catalogue of hu-
man woes shown us as Indifferent to
the destlnies Of earth as we are to
those of the remotest planet. Simply
to acknowledge these evils and yet do
nothing to arrest them, we seem to
rise no higher than the piety and NOR
ality of the Priest and Levite,
who, passing by on the other side, left
the poor man uncared tor who had
fallen among thieves and robbers
Our holy religion does not consist in
doing no harm. This is praise suit
able for dead men. i
Christian morality covers both the
negative and positive sides of this
question, "Thou shalt no" and "Thou
shalt" And here lies the grand
reason why the christian religion
promotes so decidedly sobriety and
temperance. 1t overthrows all drunk
enness among its subjects, and car
ries on vigorous war with it every
where else.
All conscientious convictions about
the use of intoxicating drinks found
in society comes to the teachings of
Christianity. 1t is a worldly and
selfish policy that looks alone to ones
own good, but it is inseparable from
religion to care for others and to ex-
ert every possible influence to benefit
and save them. Hence it is that peo-
| pie with a Christian conscience often,
solely for the example and influence
on others, pledge themselves not to
drink, though they may have no feags
Of ever becoming Incorporate if un-
pledged, knowing as they do that
with many people probably most) to
drink at all is sure to be followed by
! drunkenness.
! Yet abundance of facts go to show
that many of these parties who are
!, so unconcerned for themselves find
their own security alone in a pledge.
On this subject, in this country, and
, with present habits of society, pledg-
ed people alone are safe. 1t is true
of young and old, male and female,
just at this point, Christian charac-
} ter and instruction are more import
ant to our cause than is often suppos-
ed. With no thoroughly Christian
conscience respecting the use of strong
; drink, few men who desire ever to
5 take it, and who care but little about
e their example and its influences on
| others, will pledge themselves not 70
S drink; and unpledged parties seldom
4 became active temperance men, but
t usually throw themselves against the
cause. What a work then. devolves
: on the pulpit, the Sabbath School, and
the family to educate an all-pervading
conscience on this subject. The sin
:. falness of drinking-moderately as
e we'll as immoderately-must be fully
y shown, because of the harm it does
to every one, the danger it creates,
the ruinous influence of the example
J on those whose ruin lies in the first
s. glass. Few persons without religious
e culture will see or feel the force of
y these reasons. Yet these are the
s. reasons, and often the only reasons
'' leading to sign the pledge, and with
! out the pledge we are no temperance
~ men. a.lr -.F .iv
: We shall see now on the other hand
IL that the temperance reformation is
'e of great service to Christianity. Il
SS is to the Gospel kind of John the
1e Baptist-it prepares the way. Drum
IN ken or drinking men, either crazed OIL
ne stupefed, are in no condition to heal
az or receive the teachings of the Hol.
nl- Spirit. A temperance revival, there
OF fore. often becomes the harbinger OF
nd a religious revival, which is frequentl..
ne noticed in individual cases and il
'oi whole perishes. When a sense oi
= right and duty, with the struggles o1
ne an enlightened conscience, have lie
no one to give up his cups, that gloriou
NY beginning, under favorable circun
lg stances, will generally be followed b
,ne other steps leading to God and heavel
ao- Then the church and ministry al
Glad to acknowledge their obligation
to temperance men and societies
me helping to save the lost. More, tt
no whole Church continually needs I'll
on temperance agitation, lecturing,pled'
IL ing, reading, ETC., or else it relapse
ad first into indifference, and then
!nd smell of moderate drinking, and
oe- many fall out Of the way. Mar
vas Christian men have become lntlde
ing before they knew they had ceased
ing be Christians. So have many tel
lan perance men become efectually dru
vas kards before they know they ha
atceased to be temperance men,
God has united temperance al
rs religion "what God has joined
Mo- gether let no man put asunder."-
an Hence, temperance and Christian M
4oI should feel that their work and obje
arc one, and never attempt to mo
Il except hand in hand. Each sha'
1.-The success or failure, of the other.