Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-01-25
Communicated

through the columns Of the JOURNAL,
my earnest approval of the "commnni-
Gated article, published in the last
week S issue of thai paper,
1t is indeed full time that some
hand should WELD the pen in protest
against the great and crying evils
which so defile and degrade our littlo
town-full time that decisive blow
should be struck for uobler, higher
life
Vice in It's various aspects, stalks
through our streets and lntests our
alleys and by-waye, but none more
baleful in its effects than the curse
and scourge of alas too many commu
nities-stTong drink.
The first step in a downward
course may generally be traced to
this fatal poison What is it that re
duces men from opulence to perjury ?
brings untold misery upon once happy
homes? fills felon cells and brings
men to the gallows strong drjnki
Ye happy and honored husbands
and fathers in our midst, who sit by
your bright hearthstones these stormy
winter evenings and glancing over
the columns of the paper read Of some
dark murder or other heinous crime
Committed when under the influence
of liquor" and then taking an inven-
tory of your o1rn manifold eycellences
congratulate your selves that "you
are not as other men are, do not
these words occur to your minds, "lnas-
much as We did it not to one Of the
least Of these We did it not to me.
You glance at your rosy -cheeked
little boys, your fine, noble sons verg-
ing upon manhood, and mentally re
solve that in future YOU will hedge
them in more closely from temptation
and demoralizing influences, Eemem-
Der, there are sins Of omission as well
as commission--"these ought We to have
done and not to leave the other undone' "
If you fail in your duty now you
may yet live to see those sons, of
whom you are SO proud bring your
grey hairs in sorrow to the grave.
They will soon take their place in the
battle of life, probably far away from
your influence and advice they must
be exposed to worldly destinations
and temptations must conquer or be
conquered they may ta0and no hand
be raised for their rescue As you
would have others deal by yours, deal
by others now.
Oh men, strong, brave ana true,
will you, can you, stand idly by, with
folded arms and ask, Am I my broth
er's keeper? Dare you draw the gar
ments of your sancity about you to
avoid contact with fallen brother
land pass by on the other side?'
I am persuaded that there are men
in Frostburg-self denying, God-tear-
ing and God loving men who have not
taken hold of this matter, simply be
cause the subject has never been
brought forcibly to their minds
Think OF it non and let these
thoughts move you to action-prompt
energetic, united action Some may
read this article and exclaim Very
tIue edtt StdtS vi dlltllS SUluclHIlS
should be done and then allow the
subject to escape theirattention. 9th
ers may reply: Our church doors are
open wide for all, rich and poor, saint
and sinner--let them come with us
and we will do them good" You know
we'll that many around us sit in hea-
then darkness and whom the Gospel
sound does not reach. Do YOU per
form your duty by going out into the
highways and hedges and compelling
them to come in?
If there is civil law to assist in
e1ecting our object in view, very we'll
but let us not stop here let us also
adopt another law-the Divine Law Of
Love and Charity. We should assume
higher grounds than moral duty, even
religious principle then, when we look
around upon the great work to be
done, we will no longer ask who is
sufficient for these things p but vic
tory will surely be ours, We will
look upon these fallen creatures as
fellow beings.-as brothers by tie of
tpuiiHoii HuuidHIlN 1t Is Our DflNll-
ise and joy to raise them up from
their low estate; to assist them in
throwing off their debasing letters
to elevate their minds and point
them to nobler things; to appeal to
their higher nature; to arouse their
slumbering manhood, Let those who
have fallen so low that they see no
help ior them on earth or in heaven
find that thGre are hearts who sympa-
thize with them, long to save them
from drunkard,s grave and an eter-
nifty of woe.
Husbands, fathers, brothers, listen
to the 7oiceless wall which arises up
10 you from the aching hearts Of
wives, mothers and little children
Come and help US /" Who will re-
ply? Who will strike the first blow
for truth, honor theand salvation Of
dying souls ? Hho7
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