The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-23
LECTURES LAST HIGHT.
.aha u. e,ongh on Temperarre.

.'GHS 10 sscuEh on Temperance.
The wen known lecturer and temperance advo-
cate John r. Cough delivered n lecture last night
In me large han of the Cooper Institute on his favo-
rite subject before large and intelligent audience,
a fair proportion OF which was composed of ladies'
The proceeds OF the lecture are TO be devoted TO
helping young man In whom Mr. Cough feels in
terested 10 secure for himself profession. The lee
turer, who on making his appearance was received
with rounds OF applause, commenced by saying thar
he 10 speak TO them tonight on the subject Of
temperance. lt was q hackneyed theme, well
worn subject aud he had no expectation that
he could bring anything new or strange
or startling TO bear on it. Sometimes 1t was adver-
tised that he would deliver new lecture on thesUp
ject OF temperance. He had spoken on 1t about
forty-nine hundred times and 1t would he almost
impossible TO say anything new on so well-worn
theme Drunkenness was an evil. There was 10
necessity for argument on that point. 1t was his
duty and theirs 10 do all they possibly could to
move that evil, believing, he did, that the use OF
Intoxicating liquors beverage was not only
needless but hutrul to the social civil and religious
interests OF the community. While it continued
To be used az beverage the evils OF drunkenness
could never be done away WITH lie stood antagonlsi-
cal to the use or intoxicating liquor ~ beverage
whether at the s,deboard OF the wealthy or in the
social circle or tue dram shop. The principle Of
total abstinence, II universally adopted, would root
ont drunkenness from the land forever. AS gene
man had right to object to this, and he would not
give cent for any man who had not an independent
opinion or his own. But he had right 10 meet
these objections, he ought TO- I'm the spirit
tesy. II was not by abuse we succeeded, not by a
snow OF authority on our part, but by meeting the
argument In the spirit OF courtesy, thus endeav0rng
to enllghien public sentiment. Within the past few
months they had gentlemen stand on the platform
aud advocate moderate drinking ana say that total
abstinence was contrary To the teachings Of the
Bible. Ii man used rightly the exercise OF little
common sense wnlcn God had given him he could
verse II he did not go out OF his depth; bu ii he
went out OF his dept, he was fooled. lie promised,
sustain him In the use of drink accepted the Bible
as tas sple p fa ,s ana M prictice. The Bible
wine. Yes our Saviour made Wine. Yes.
Therefore Il is lawful TO drink wine. Yes. All he
with his Views Of Christianity ana us claims npon
him. by his allegiance to Goa, by his faith in Christ,
by the vows he took on himself In His presence and
by the Bible. he was bound TO give it up, because by
giving up that which was lawful to nm he could
bear the nr%y 81 awea9er brother and SO follow
tive absolute Christian duty lie could no
more be u drinkcr ever so moderate than he
could be . Christian and swindler. Let
accurscd thlng. Some people told them they were
advocating temperance In the place of the Gospel.
But let him tell them that drunkenness was in the
power Of man to control. intoxicating liquor
inert matter and could do no harm without mans
agency. drunkenness kept more men from hearing
gentleman said to him some time ago that d man
VINO drank 10 excess was beast, but he begged 10
diAer with him; for many that drank to excess
had AZ tender hearts and as line feel
ings as he or any one OF the audience
'Would six tumblers Of whskey teddy be an
excess for you Or ME on a day I" | said to him.
"Wcll, no, sir, not u could stand It," said he.
(.aughter) According to that mans idea II o man
dlank AZ. much as he could stand he was all
right but II he drank quart Of rye whisKey In the
day, or two quarts, and could not stand it, then he
was % beast. lie thought II did not depend so much
m
whether he could stand drink or not. A cold, pleg-
matte man, who was maJured and took everything
easy, could stand drink where warm passionate
man could not. Give the phlegmatlc man glass; and
what was the efectS Why, he felt comfortable. Give
him another and he feels "comfortaber.r .aughter.)
Give him another and he feels more and more
.comfOrtabler- er-er-er'-QOud iaughter)--until he
shuts his eyes and goes TO sleep until he feels more
rloriousiy acknowledgements (Bosterous laugh
teri The lecturer then went ON to give humorous
as wen IA touching delneatiOn Of tipping in all It's
phases, relating several anecdotes which came
under his own observation. and winding up with an
eloquent perofaton TO pure, sparkling cold water,
and hy craving the help of all present IN lurtherance
OF the good work OF temperance.