Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-20
TEMPERANCE ADDRESS BY REV. DIR. RoszE11

week, N.Y. IT. hosZelI, FastOr OF the M. II.
Church South of this city, on Sunday night last,
| in obedience to the behest of the Conference OF
his Church as we'll as in compliance with the
| courteous request of Staunton Council, No. AZ,
Friends of Temperance of this city, delivered a
sermon on the subject of Temperance. 1t was q
duty which he performed with pleasure as he
would thereby be using his humble efforts to ad-
vance cause vital to civilization and which was
| sanctioned by God himself
| He selected the 23rd verse of the 9Th chapter
of Judges merely as basis for general discus
sion of his subject and not for textual argument
or artistic treatment:
Course ye Msroz, said the angel of the Lord,
curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because
they not to the help of the Lord to the heIp
| of the Lord against the mighty"
In the first place, he said, the Temperance
Reformation has its decided enemies who mis-
construe the motives and the efforts of its friends
but it was not difficult to paralyze the power of
their spleen or neutralize the poison of their
hate. After INDUCING in few whitening re-
marks of caustic sarcasm upon the conduct of
the adversaries of the cause, he proceeded to the
consideration of some of the chief objections urg-
ed by them against it.
!. 1t is urged by its opponents, that the Tenn
perance Reform has been opposed by many of
the most distinguished men; that from the mo-
ment of its origin, il has incurred the disapproval
and open hostility of men of intelligence, great
moral worth, high rank, elevated social position,
and of vast personal influence, and, therefore,
should be regarded as frivolous and useless
undertaking.
He admitted the fact, but denied the inference
he granted the premise, but maintained that
the conclusion was illogical and absurd
Such an argument showed want of intellect
and gross ignorance of the mind of man. 1t was
tantamount to saying that because mans in
tentions are good, therefore the decisions of his
judgment are infallibe. If this mode of ratio
cination is to be followed, every plan of philan-
thropy for the benefit of man must be abandon
ed, unless, at its very inception, it should be
hailed with unanimity of approval. If this fal
lacious argument had controlled, where now
would be the boosted civilization of the present
day-where the improvements in the arts and
sciences-for every advance step has been con-
tested and every new discovery ridiculed. The
glorious gospel itself would be numbered among
the ephemeral phantagms of the past Such IL
logical reasoning as this betrays perjury of in
tellect that cannot comprehend the first princi-
Piles of illogical deduction. Could such reasoning
invalidate fact the Christian religion would now
be considered as mere fancy that mingled in
the dreams of fanatic minds, and the star of
Bethlehem, like the lost pleiad, would be SUBJ
ject of mere philosophical speculation. But the
truth is, that the beacon lights along the shores
of Time, lighted by Heaven ITSELF only burn the
brighter in the tempest of persecution and serve
to lead the wanderer the sea Of life to The ha-
ven Of eternal safety and repose.
2 The would be philosophers urge that such
voluntary organization, unsupported by the
strong arm of positive law, must ever be power
less in the production of permanent good.
Those who assume this position lose sight of
the fact that all great moral reformations have
had their inception in individual conceptions
and effort.
Every one consciously or unconsciously exerts
an influence, and when these influences are uni
ted in organized effort they control the destiny
of the world-organzed effort is omnponent
Because the great object of the Temperance
Reformation has not been accomplished is no
reason why it may not be-
In all ages, genius has boldly scaled heights
which science and ordinary intellect dared not
approach. It is the sublime province of Virtue to
accomplish what Benevolence and Philanthro-
Ply have projected.
To sustain the position taken by the opponents
of the cause, they must show that the objects aim
ed at by temperance advocates are utterly impos-
sible of accomplishment in all time to come. But
this cannot be done, for the objects have already
been partially accomplished. as many have been
saved as brands from the burning, and more, and
oil in Of f1r1 hn
8. The opponents maintain that the plan OF
temperance reform is selfish in its nature and
partial in its action.
This is altogether erroneous, for whilst all 9TH
er philanthropic organizations are more or less
Influenced, if not controlled, by sectarian inter-
ests, the great temperance reform, in its compre-
hensive philanthropy. embraces al grades of soci-
ETY. and shades of opinion and is wholly free from
sectarian, political, social and local influences
embracing in its comprehensive sweep the whole
of suffering humanity.
Though to America is due the honor Of origi-
mating this Order, its benefits are not confined to
this country for it has already extended its beau
tiful arch across the sky of Christendom, and
is now diffusing its light and inspiring hope on
the shores of corrupt Europe The story of its
triumph has been heard by the abject subjects OF
Prest-ridden Spain as we'll as by the cringing
serfs of the despotic Gar of Russia.
f. There is another objection sometimes urged
by stupid Goodness and bat-eyed Pety which is
so foolish as to need no refutation it not for
the seeming piety of those who make the objec-
ton. They say that the church is a sufficient
temperance society, and that to join any other
would be reflection upon the Christianity they
profess.
Notwithstanding this position, all branches OF
the church visible (not invisible) can number its
drunkards by hundreds and thousands. Such
puere soph stry is intolerable.
To profess to approve the objects of the tenn
perance reform and yet to refuse to declare it on
paper argues either culpable nsincerity or stolid
stupidity.
All ministers admit that the gospel is of God
and that it scompetent to the reformation of the
habits as we'll as to the salvation of tho souls OF
| men, and yet they know another thing-that
that same gospel calls to the duty of being CO.
workers with the Lord in doing good. 1t is our
| duty to aid our neighbor in his efforts to free
| see that the temperance reform is doing good,
and it becomes their duty to encourage it's friends
and to aid them in their good work. This grand
| reform had its birth in christian benevolence
| and should not be left merely to the men of the
| world, who speculate in philosophy or trade in
politics. 1t is a grand and glorious cause an
should not be left to the advocacy of immature