The New York herald., 1873-12-15
HANSON PLACE BAPTIST CHURCH.

Is Intcmpernncc a Disease or CRIME g
The Only Rcmcdy--Scrmon by the Rev.
DR.. j. ID. Fulton.
The Hanson place Baptist church was crowded
last evening, and the pastor, the Rev. DR..
Fulton, preached upon the question "Is Intem-
perance Disease or o Crime ?" His text
was from Corinthians, vi, 10-"Know ye not that
drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom OF God ~
Were there, he said no other reason for pressing
the claims OF temperance upon the attention OF the
community this were enough The drunkard is
shut out Of heaven and is doomed to an eternal
hell. Intemperance destroys not only the soul, but
it enervates and ruins the body 1t is horrld in its
workings and more horrtd in its results. A man
with passion formed for drink is booted and
spurred for the service OF the adversary OF souls
Be he young or old, rich or poor, educated or igno
rant, the probabilities are he will be lost. The
apostle classed drunkenness with other gross sins
and crimes. Society, at the present time, is dis
posed to treat 1t as disease. 1t is not regarded
as q sin SO long as 1t is held in check and is under
restraint. Is this a safe view9 There are reasons
why intemperance should not be treated as dis
ease. 1t then is pitied, If not petted. Moral
power is thrown away which is needed to combat
the monster. BY calling it sin you tell the truth
by act as well as by speech. You array society
against IT.; You destroy the feeling OF commisera.
ton which the victim delights to cherish you ar
ray the nober nature against the baser the higher
against the lower.
THE CLASSES OF DRUNKARDs.
1t might be well to divide drunkards into six
classes The animal drunkard is first and lowest.
lie drinks to be drunk. Habit and appetite are
alone his tempters and his rulers. The house OF
correction and the prison receive such as he In
scores. No one pties them. They die in garrets
and cellars and iii pauper graves and go down to
the sleep OF death without tear of pity or word
OF love. The rowdy drunkard Is OF the second spe.
cies. His class is composed of people who delight
in being called "fast.n They talk of a ..glorIous
drunk OF a 'staving time," OF show they drank
so and SO under the table," as though drinking was
an honorable business. Getting drunk is to them
an Innocent recreation. They are not ashamed
Of It, Call them criminals and they would
resent 1t. They call drinking bout q spree.
OF the consequences OF dissipation. They call 1t
bravery to smash things. They know nothing OF
the social refnements OF elegant society. They
keep away from the house OF God They pass
| down until thcy rank with the animal drunkard
and are lost to society and riSnds. Drink brutal
ICES them, grace redeems them. This class keep
| your dens OF shame, tend bars, guard the ballot
box for so much per day and do the mental work
their mouths with tobacco in the horse
cars cars and glory I In passing for the class
| they represent. The Jovial drunkard ~ OF the
third class. They are, loved and when they
| die society mourns them. The respectable
urunkard OF the lourtn class IL more c0nVlvlal ana
| Wild. He leads a dssolute life occasionally, but
| has fine business talents, and commands regard.
! When the duties OF iie come upon HIM, he very
often lays aside his cup and swears of for the sake
OF business. others 20 on drinking, not TO excess,
but constantly, and exert q terrible influence over
| the young They are mighty to drink wine, and
| men Of strength to minQle strong drink, Seldom
do they tall to the low state ofthe animal drunkard.
| All In their social position and surroundings
| tends to hold them back from that, and yet some
OF them must reach their ranks II life lasts long
enough Step ny step they pass from want 10
want, and In despair they go down TO the grave.
The fifth class comprises all drinkers rom tne
literary circles and Is comparatively small. In,cy
are those whose mind makes them drink, III D, oLue
that, through the exciting and stimulating cvvcs n
OF intoxicating fluids, whose effects aioho uoy
seek, the 'intelgence may keep pace Will mu uh oh
certain occasions be made to outatrip i.soa. SUI,
forget the law that tney who gain ING aio
| temperate" z.m
THERE Is NO NUTRITION IN ARDENT srIRITs
All that 10 does Is to concentrate inc strength OF
the system Tor the time beyond tne capacity
| for regular exertion. IL II borrowing s,rehgtn
for an occasion which WI be a. needed ior
futurity without any provision Tor payment
and with Inc certainty OF ultimate bankruptcy.
Among this class are tho mightiest ntelects
| OF the time and age. They are IN the immediate
] aud active performance VI the highest works ot