Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-22
Reformation of Drunkards.
Rev. L. L. Cuyler writes to the E

Rev. T. L. Cuyler writes to the En-
angetist
There is one serious mistake made
by many good people when they try
to reform an inebriate; and also with
the inebriate himself when he makes
an effort at emancipation They re-
gard drunkenness simply as sia, and
bring all their efforts to bear on the
conscience. But drunkenness is also
a physical disease, and should be treat
ed as such. A drunkard may, by the
grace of God, be spiritually convert
ed, and yet his physical disease may
not be subdued. John Vine Hall
the eminent father of our eminent
brother Newman Hall-was a sincere
Christian for several years before he
became thorough, sober man. He
would occasionally 90 right away from
the family altar and the communion
table into desperate and disgraceful
spree. At length he discovered that
his only hope of recovery from his
disease lay III entire abstinence from
all intoXicants, aud then he became a
cured man.
The system pursued in the best In
ebriate AsyIums is to stop off the pa
tient at once, and entirely, from all
alcoholic stimulants. Gradual reform
is found to be impossible. And it is
just there--just when the bottle is
being forced away from the enteebled,
deranged and poisoned system of the
poor tippler,-that the great danger
and difficulty lie. For this devil
when he is cast out" tears his vic
tim frightfully.
Just then the man needs not only
prayer, and the grace of God; he al
so needs physical treatment of the
right kind. A member of my own
church-who had, by tampering with
the social cup, fallen into the disease
of drunkenness-took solemn pledge
of total abstinence in reliance on the
grace of God" But he also used
&" Valerian" for several days to keep
up his frame; he used the most whole
some diet, and he kept resolutely
away from the sight and smell of eve
ry kind of intoxicant. He is here to-
day cured man, and a devoted Chris
tian. ~ ..55-,-
One half of the drunkenness in the
world springs from mental misery
1t is trouble which fills the grogshops.
Men drink to drown sorrow, to brace
up shattered nerves, or to forget for
few hours their distresses of mind
and body. To nelp some drunkards,
we must do all we can to relieve them
from the troubles that drive them to
the cup. A laboring man in the neigh
borhood fell into drunkenness thro'
poverty and want of employment. In
reforming him, our first step was to
induce him to sign pledge, and the
next was to get him place to work.
The I" Sons of Temperance" introdu-
ced him into their fellowship and sym-
patty; he is doing well. There is
hope now for his soul. Christianity
must proceed on the principles of
common sense if it would save per-
son who is both guilty of heinous sin
and the victim of horrible disease. !
When we see man falling into
trouble-either in his business or in
his domestic hfe-we always tremble
for him lest he may fee to O the cup
which browns sorrow by drowning the
conscience. We would not answer
for the safety of any professed Chris
tian who, either to brace up a weak
body or to relieve a troubled mind,
should touch even gill of wine.-
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