Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-11-02

apart from the church. If you mean
apart from the foundation of the church
we agree with you. But ifyou mean a
separate organization We think you take
wrong view.
Let us see if these organizations have
done anything, or are now doing any
thing for the good of men either torthis
or the world to come.
We want yov to judge and TO judge
candidly and honestly, Have youknOwn
any community benefited by such an
organization Do YOU know any Young
men who would have been led into Il
drunken life but for the restraining in
fluences of such a society De you
know Of any family that has been made
happier by father or son being reclaim
ed from tipling or drunkenness through
the efforts of Temperance men Do
you know of any man who has been
brought from the gutter; restored to So
berncss ana gone on in his business to
certain prosperity d? DO you know of
any young man of promise who was
near his ruin by frequenting grog-shops,
who has been brought in to a Temper
ance order and saved from disgrace and
ruin?
DO YOU know of any individual who
has been at aH benefited by the Tenn
perance movement DO YOU know of
any one who has beenrcclaimed by these
hell and afterward become an Orna-
ment of the church ? Be candid in
your judgment-put away all precon-
ceiyed opinions, and Judge righteous
Judgment. Ifyou answer any one of
these questions aflinnatively, then Tenn
perance orders have done good. They
have been benefit to communities, 10
families and to individuals. They have
saved some from a drunkard's grave at
least. Have made some good citizens
who would otherwise have been nui-
sance. Last but not least, have sobered
some, thereby preparing them to re-
ceive Christ and thus been saved from a
drunkards hell.
If nny of these things be true, espe
cially that the cause has saved some in
heaven by bringing them to Christ, you
must to be consistent with christian
principle, give your efforts to swell her
numbers, to increase her influence for
good, and assist in the great work Of
doing your fellows good. Our Master
event about doing good" "lIe came
to seek and to save the lost" and If
any man have not the Spirit OF Christ he
is none Of his.
But on may argue the church covers
tho whole ground. But we object to
that argument. First, Temperance So
cicties have reached thousands i'll the
world whom You could not reach by the
Church. Go with your jewels and cast
them before these swine and they will
trample them under their feet and turn
again and rend you But reclaim them
from drunkenness bring them under
the influence of these teachings sober
them in life bring them to themselves
and then present to them gospel truths
and they will appreciate and give them
consideration. Temperance societies
are not designed to be separate from the
church, but to cooperate Will, the
church and to serve as a kind OF step
ping-stone to the church.
Second, Suppose you get men, who
have formed the habit of drinking, con-
verted and brought into the church
now that they have habit which is al
most second nature with them, they
need all the help they can get against
this specifc habit. They need special
influences which the church does not
always give. The Masters plan was to
give here little and there little. as.
special cases needed We think. Some
have been converted with habits of in
temperance fixed upon them and as the
dog has returned to his vomit again or
the SOW to her wallowing in the mirc
But special influences might have saved
those persons.
Third, How many men have the beset-
ting sin of intemperance ! Before hav-
ing contracted the habit they have gone
into the church and afterward been
overcome by this besetmsnt and fallen
from their places. What did they need'
Special influences in the one particular.
And vet you object because it is spe-
cialty. When strong drink is making
a specially in the destruction of our
best men our fathers, sons, friends, land
making its special attacks upon our
churches, bearing from our pulpits some
of our most talented ministers aud from
our affairs some of the best laymen,shall
we as christians, fail to make special
attack upon the monster No breth-
rem, let us by a united effort oppose and
turn this great tide Of destruction that
is sweeping over our land and leaving
woe and misery in its track.
Again we hear an objection to prin-
ciple that all these orders hold total-ab-
stinence Have you any desire 10 in
dulge little yourselfi Do you wish
your wine, Do you wish to enjoy
social glass with your friends : What
a sad spectacle to see minister of the
gospel at wedding parties or other so
cial gatherings, indulging in his wine,
and thus giving to the world license to
90 little farther than the minister
What sad thought that christian
wife has given to her husband the glass
of wine that has been his ruin What
a sad fact that christian matrons have
given to their soma and guests the social
glass of wine only to be followed by
life of drunkenness You are afraid
YOU will be an extremist You forget