The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-03
another compliment to ~M. IA"

llt the veil, 10 snow the iOuHuativil4e7S
stand point assumed, from which ne
hurls his thundeFbolts against wh-t he
calls in his ''rejoinder," the Prohibition
Party" but in his article of the l3;.i of
March, "crusade" fanatics" and total
abstinence"
Now the truth is apparent to any one,
that the so called prohibition party
bears no more relation to the "N. W.
w" than Mahonet's Koran, to the word
Of God; and 1 can refer the reader to
the record of DR.. Dio Lewis; as we'll as
the manner in which the leaders Of the
prohibition party, have always been
snubbed, at any or every effort yet made
by said party to eoalesce. The w. w.
w. is aimed at the rum traffic, and its
ruinous effects; and, against these fair
warriors, this modern expounder of the
"Bible" and "Koran" lifts his hand,
reeking as it is, with the filthy poison of
the dram shop, from which he is bot re-
Gently fedged; yes, against the best So-
men of the age; whose unselfsh dcvo-
ton, pure christian love, and unparal
Ieled noble deeds of heroism, for the
welfare of our race, challenges the ad-
miration of all mankind; and will go
far toward making up one of the bright
est chapters, in our worlds history.
Now does this presumptuous individ-
ual suppose that because he asserts that
the Bible is not "total abstinence"
book and, with his garbled quotations
as proof, that mankind must at once be-
lieve his doctrine? Although my reply
of the goth, sufficiently refutes the Dr's.
proposition on this point, yet l will state
further, that all who know right from
wrong, can but know that the scriptures
are emphatic against all shades of crime
and sin, telling us plainly to shun every
appearance ofevil, and, warns US to touch
not, taste not, and handle not, the un-
clean thing. And if dram drinking
and imtemperance, are not evils and un-
clean things, then the Dr's logic is
sound, and ours absurd.
Now NJ K. says all Christian nations
approve of the use of ardent spirits,
&c. How? I answer by saying that the
evils produced by the use of rum, have
given Christian nations of all ages more
trouble than any other one thing in the
world. And Christian nations approve
of it, just as they approve other evils ex-
actly. Intemperance, or the use of rum,
has been legislated and preached against
| ever since its existence: The same can
be said of murder, theft, profanity and
sin of all kinds.
Now, heather nations generally, (and
the opium eaters especially, are more ex-
empt from the effects OF liquor drink
ing, than Christian nations, from the
fact, they are not proficient in the arts
! the numerous compounds attained, which
are temptingly arranged before the eyes
of the unwary ones, thereby causing
many thousands to touch, handle and
taste, to their utter ruin and death.
Our glorious nation is a Christian na-
tion, yet we have host of evils cling
ing to us as nation and people, against
which both press and pulpit have cried
for years; and yet we are still cursed with
crimes of all shades, sins of the deepest
dye, and pollution and uncleanness still
abound among which dram drinking,
and its train of evils thereby in-luced
stands prominent.
| And as the DIR. has taken up the
sword in favor of intempertance, and its
! followers he subjects himself to crit .cisms
thereby; and, we take up his new de-
parture on the order of "Good Temp-
lars" and see what there be in it. | in
| ferred that 'tthe DIR. had taken the solemn
oath, or obligation, to forever abstain
from the use of the ardents, as wep as
not to furnish to others &C." And we
hear him, in his rejoinder charge this
as being false! and he has the au,!Lcity
to undertake to quote the I'd article of
the constitution, in proof Had yoI not
b4tter take the "Koran?" or some of the
heather mythalogy for proof? or may be
verse of homemade scripture would
help you out? will notice few facts
here, which will give those who are un-
acquainted with the workings of the
order, an idea in regard to how easily
the wiley NJ. K. can pervert the truth, and
make the wrong appear the right. Now
bug" and promises "neyer to do SO any
more,, and now we propose to show
what person must do in order 10 be-
come G. T. First, it is expected of all
who join that they are acquainted with
the constitution and by laws, and know
something of the object, for which the
| 10
Secondly, every candidate for admis-
sion into the order, promises to the P.
w. G. L. in the anti room, to be obedi-
ent to the laws and rules of the order
and to take solemn obligation to forever
abstain from the use of or giving II 9TH
ers as a beverage, anything that will in
toxicate; after which in the lodge room
he solemny promises TO the w. c. I. in
the presence of many witnesses, to take
upon himself Solemn obligation OF
total abstinence earnest. and imperative
in its nature and "tife long, in its dura-
ton. The w. V. re then administers
the oath, which is impressed with many
emphatic declarations, to fasten the mat
ter firmly upon the mind, after which
the initiate signs his name to the consti-
tuition and by laws, and becomes mem.
Der of the order
Regarding thef'elearance card" which
this expounder of law undertakes to
show in false light. 1 will just say
that it is exactly the reverse of what he
makes it in the first place, and secondly
from the best authority have, he, this
man who claims that 25cts. clears him Of
a life long obligation, totally absolves him
from all the injunctions, which are earn
est and imperative, and are to last for
ever, never received even clearance
card, )" never had the card, never paid
the 25cts. even, although clearance
card big as barndoor would not have
availed him, even put his own construc
tion on it, unless the worthy (?) Bros
stability of character were woefully ira
duced. l will here explain, that a tfear.
ance card is letter of Recommendation
from lodge, which can be obtained only
by members in good standing, who are
clear on the books, by the payment o.
25cts. this clears them of paying dues
and fees, for specified time, and can bt
used as a certificate of membership, in
entering other lodges of the same order
!: or when handed in will entitle the hold
; er to the rights and privileges of mem
bership. So much for the clearance
, business. Now we will notice NJ. K.
slander on our lamented Lincoln, whom
he brings up from martyrs grave, and
: exclaims, 81 am as good as he" I am
|, just like Lincoln, I sold whiskey, and sc
did Lincoln:
Now the fable of the toad and OK
would well apply here; and l vow thai
"There lives not, any other man" with
soul so dead. Unless he be indeed il
| hred ,uho oonId fbus unhlush;n1Iv bav.