Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-13
An Ugly Fact.
Editor Spectator:

|
| There is an ugly fact whicl
Christians must not ignore And that ugly fac
| is, that tipping is growing fearfully In almos
every community, and that drunkenness i
| making inroads into our congregations, is black
| ening some names on our church rolls. Pro
Tossing Christians seem to have lost sight o.
the fact, that the ensnairing cup, (which is
mocker," will upset the Christians brain JUS
as soon as any other mans. Some are endan
gering themselves by using ale, or beer or wine
or whiskey every day as q medicine. Others
are tempted to take it in restaurants or at di.
nings or at social entertainments And so the
drinking usages and the curse of drunkenness
are eating their way into social parties and
gatherings, into our congregations and too
often into the ranks OF the communicates al
the Lords table. We could give facts that
would astound those who never look under
the crust" and see what the devil is about with
his ''sappipg and mining apparatus. Our
Churches ought to ventillate this important
subject with thoroughness and yet with pray
erful tenderness. 1t is not a pleasant subject
to handle, but n must be handled There is
not single moral precept which the Church
should not teach-not a sin which it should not
have a remedy for-not wholesome example
needed which she is not able to practice. de
is the most Christ-like Christian who hates and
who loves the sinner the most intensely. The
work of saving men from drunkenness belongs
business to leave the work entirely to ''outsi-
ders," than they have to leave the care of
God s poor to police officers or the keepers of
aims houses.
1t is very hard to save an inebriate. But if
taken in time, and in the right way, some may
be saved. Others seem to be entirely diseased
and hopeless-their will has rotted off like a
decayed rope. But Christian efforts with a
reliance on Divine help) have and will save ma
ny who.wi yet strike harp in glory. Go to
our Churches and you will there meet with some
who were not long since inebriates; but they
are now earnest Christians. The first step, in
the right direction. some of them took was in
to Temperance Hall, where the principles of
Faith, Temperance and Charity are taught to
those who have been kept from the house of
evil effects of alcoholic poisons, their minds
and hearts were prepared to receive the good
seed, which under Gods blessing has sprung
up and brought forth fruit mete for repentance.
We have Temperance organizations in our
midst that are doing all they can for the unfor-
tunate victims Of strong drink. Processing
Christians Of every denomination will you not
aid us in this good work? Remember the
poor unfortunate drunkard, fallen though he
be, is your brother. You cannot rid yourselves
of your responsibility by saying, Cain like,
''am l my brothers keeper, y for it is your bu-
siness to do all you can to reform and restore
him to deceney and Christianity, and what you
do should be done in the spirit of your Master
IF you will but come up to our aid, our Tenn
perance organizations might be made rich spir-
itual blessings to our Churches. Their labor
might be the seed-corn of precious revivals.- =
No minister should delegate the solemn vital
work of preaching temperance to those who
should be invited from abroad. They should
take the lead. Every Christian pulpit should
be battery against drinking and dramshops.
A 'FaIEND OF TEMPERANCE.