Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-04-29
Professor Rhodes for Wine
Drinking.

EDITOR CHRoNIcLE:-In looking over
the Visitor, of March 4, last, an excel
leHt Temperance paper, by the way,
which should adorn every family circle,
l was much astonished to find it there
stated, that since the Rev. gentleman's
return from abroad, he stands forth the
advocate of Wine drinking, as an in
strument Tor ushering in a millennium
OF sobriety and temperance. 'Tis won
derful, Mr.. Editor, how a little foreign
travel upsets some men Only think of
Mr.. Rhodes, a preacher of righteousness
and of temperance, advocating Wine
as a beverage for man, as one Of the
most efficient means of saving men
from filling drunkard's graves Can it
be possible??? Surely there must be
some mistake in this thing. We have
often heard the Professor and been
greatly edited by his earnest preaching
and clear exposition of divine truth,
and we cannot but express the deep
chagrin we experienced when we read
the aforesaid statement.
Doubling its correctness, we have re-
manned silent until now, expecting
daily to see a correction from the gen.
tleman himself, but none comes. 1t
will not do in this age of the world,
when the terrible scourge of intemper-
ance is croWding hundreds of thousands
of our brightest minds into drunkards
graves, for the pulpit to occupy such
alarming ground. We tremble, as we
contemplate the fact.
But all preachers do not look at the
wine question as does Rhodes. Califor
MIA is the great wine State of this
Union. We clip the following state
ment made by the Rev. Blskeslee, of
California, from an exchange. He has
travelled the State over and says: cal
ready wine has become as cheap as
milk and is as freely drunk, till many,
once sober men, are now habitually in
toxicated. In one wine-growing neigh
borhood we were told that young girls,
II years of age, reeled in the streets
under the intoxication of pure Califor-
MIA wine. One leading man enumera-
ted to US FIVE of his acquaintances who,
once noble men, are now to be called
drunkards through Wine." The people
of America will soon have passed the
need of going to Europe to learn
whether the introduction Of wine.
making increases or diminishes drunk.
enness; they will soon have a chance
to learn the facts nearer home. Hon
John Bidwell, owner of some 10000
acres of rich valley land on the Sacra,
mento river, has joined the Good
Templars, land the church also) has
come TO the conclusion to stop raising
grapes for wine, planting the raisin
grape instead.
between preachers. Read and digest
the following incident which perhaps
may give Rhodes some further ideas on
this question. We rather guess the
Rev. doctor made no more speeches
in favor of wine drinking as a temper.
ance measure.
At a temperance meeting IL Phila-
delphia, some years ago, a learned
clergyman spoke in favor Of wine as q
drink; demonstrating its use, quite to
his own satisfaction, to be scriptural,
gentlemanly, and healthful. When he
sat down, plain, elderly man arose,
and asked leave to say q word. "a
young friend of mine" said he, ''who
had long been very intemperate, was
at length prevailed on, to the great joy
of his friends, to take the pledge of
entire abstinence from all that could
intoxicste. He kept the pledge faith
fully for some time, struggling with his
habit fesrfully till one evening, in a
social party glasses of wine were handed
around. They came to g clergyman
present who took glass, saying few
words in vindication of the practice
"Well," thought the young man, ''if a
clergyman can take wine, and justify it
so well, why not 1? So he also took a
glass. 1t instantly rekindled his fiery
and slumbering appetite, and after a
rapid downward course, he died of de-
irilim tresneHs-died raving madman." !"
The old man paused for utterance, and
was Just able to add, THAT young man
was my son, and the clergyman was the
Rev. doctor, who has Just addressed
the assembly :"
1t Is a monstrous mistake for any
one, preacher or laymsn, to advocate
wine drinking as a beverage. Does
any one doubt it after reading the fore
going thoughts? No certainly, no one
can. 1t is like pouring oil on the
flames to extinguish the FIRE. Total
abstinence is the only safe doctrine.
Let every one adopt it and then We
may expect. and not till then, the
April, 1868. MILLENIUN.