New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-09
SMOKE IN THE SANCTUARY

SMOKE IN THE SANCTUARY
We begin to think that the Reverend MIR.
SpurgeOD must be jolly dog after all. In
deed, it is a notable fact, whichtn passing we
may mention. that many distinguished divines
of the gloomest theoretical views have been
remarkable for their festive conversation at
consolation dinners, as everybody knows who
| has read DR.. Sprague's charming Annals of
"the American Pulpit" Calvin himself was
not, we believe, cheerful man, but those old
| Doctors, Emmons, Hopkins, West, each loved a
| lively joke. And now it turns out Mr. SpurgeOn
for he hath owned it before the congregation
likes a vesper cigar as well as the excellent
Robert Hall loved pipe. The disclosure of
this amiable weakness happened in this wise.
| Mr.. Sturgeon, little while since, of Sunday
evening, had been holding forth to his flock
upon the way in which "habitual indulgence
| " in small sins leads to the commission OF
great ones" There was an American clergy
man present, name not given; but after the
sermon he felt moved to say q short say, and
apropOs of "small SINS" to utter an unfilial
diatribe against his cOuntry's nOblest prOduc-
tion He denounced the smoking of tobacco
as of the devil devilish, cOinciding in this
opinion with the late majestic James the
First, the well-knOwn author of the Counter
blast Finally, the reverend American told
| the company how he had once been in the
gall of smoke and the bond of nicotine; and
how, after the most tremendous struggles, he
had dlsenthralled himself and trOdden the
| weed under foot.
Then, with a genial smile upon his counte-
nance, up rose the great SpurgeOn. He had
been touched upon tender point. and felt
that he must relieve his mind, which he did
by saying that he could not permit the meet
| ing TO separate without telling the brethren
that he "did not consider smoking to be a
"sin." On the contrary, "by the grace OF
"God. he hoped to enjoy good cigar before
going to bed that night" There are excel
lent souls, both male and female, to whom
| these words coming from such mouth will
! bring establishment or horror. 1t is a hobby to
smoke 1t is also a hobby to denOunce smok-
ing; and when this hobby meets that hobby,
it is idle to talk of compromise. The rem
counter is like that of two Alpine goats upon a
narrow pass-one must go over. "PrO" putfs
and "Antin argues and of both putting and
arguing there is no end. 1t is one of those
battles Of which each gets the best-it isn't
exactly drawn, but the laurels are equally
divided "YOu are making beast of your
"self,n says "Anti.r "Then,n responds "PrO,"
blowing at the same time big cloud, 81 am
making beast of myself in the excellent
company of the juhcious Hooker, the piOus
Baxter, the inspired Milton, the meta
physical Hobbies. the polyglot Parr, and
the President of the United States, who is
nothing if not a smoker" 1t is evident that
the disputants may 20 on in this way forever,
without coming to any conclusion having in
il the least SAVIOR of agreement. The evil of
the habit, if there be such an evil. is too re-
| mote and indefinite. 1t would all be plain
sailing if nine men out of ten were thrown
into lively and dangerous commissions by
| smoking; but when a smoker reaches the age
| of ninety years, consuming all his life dozen
cigars per diem. the fact is troublesome one
| for the "Anticsn The difficulty of establish
ing a general rule lies in the wonderful
| adaptability of our physical constitution to
| circumstances, and in the infinite variety of
human temperaments. We do not need the
vulgar old adage to convince us that what is
zone mans meat is another mans poison
| There can be no PrOcrustean rule for stOmachs
| more than for stature.
| But do not let it be supposed that we are
arguing in favor of the use of the great plant
| It may be pleasant, but then it is poisonous
| it never killed anybody in our presence, but
there is an oil in it which, we have been
positively assured by Professor Of Chemistry
kills rats; smoke Is Aromatic at first, but, a:
| more than one excellent housewife has assured
us. it is the deuce and all-not that the ladies
used these ipsissima rerba-when it gets into
the paror curtains; you are fond of it at last
but how sick you were when you tried it first
| the long and the fat cigars are beauties, al
they rest in regular rows in the boxes, but
what heart breaking price the tobacconists
do ask for them, to be sure ! Smoking i:
cheering, consoling, and conducive to cogta-
ton, and chyme and chyle; and yet it is a
sensual indulgence, and reduces man and o
brother to the worst sort of slavery-a bond
age which brings no grief Are we In favor
of smOkingi No! Are we opposed to smOk'
ingY No! What is our opinion of it Bless
vour brains, we have mt any. Not an opinion
| THE KEYNOTE OF THE CAMPAIGN
II was sounded some weeks ago through
| .ba Administration press and all the cOnyen.