The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-20
coNCwEoAvuoNAL CHURCH..
sermon ON Temperance by Rev. }. q
Johnson.

| the pastor oil the ABOVE CnuICIl, hcN. d.
Gibson johnson would deliver Il sermon
yesterday morning pertaining especially TO
the subject of temperance, the audience
that assembled to listen to ii was unusually
large.
The exercises were opened by the choir
singing in a fine manner the hymn, "lherc
is stream whose gentle ilow," followed by
reading of portion of the list chapter of
Luke and prayer. After singing the 3O3d
hymn "Now be my heart inspired to sing,
the pastor took fol the subject Of his dis
course the following words For we
must appear before the judgment seat OF
Christ, that every one may receive the
things done in his body according to that
he hath done, whether it he good or bad.
IL Cor, 3, 10.
THE SERMON.
The theme of the discourse which | am
to address TO you to-day is the subject of
intemperancc. which is delivered because
think that the well being of our society de-
mands it. Upon us all rest;he responsibility
of crushing out this evil and each one OF us
must share the burden and heat Of the day,
and let not the verdict Eye have done it
not, rest upon any Of us. No one hcsi-
tates to call intemperancc an evil whatever
his political, moral or religious belief. II
there be any here who have been taught
that by experience | will not attempt TO
teach them, for no one knows better its
effects than they. We acknowlelc that it lisa
sin. its roots, its blossoms, and its fruits
are sin as are those of the deadly upas tree,
the smell of whose flowers is death. ] do
not accept the liability of men TO intoxica-
ton, as the inherent sinfulness of it. The
disputes now going on between scientific
men as to whether it is poison or not. or as
taken causes intoXcatlon, enters not into
our discussion, this evil is destroying
man for whom Christ died and for whom
the church is formed. No drunkard him
self, or no one who recognizes it, fails to
discover that he is tasting the awful fruits
of this evil. In passing from the drunk
ard to the drunkard- maker, we find avaricc
exhibited mostly He is always awake to
his gains, and sezes the paltiy sums that
pays Tor that which destroys meas souls;
secs young men in numbers come to him,
and none knows better than he the sure de-
struction that awaits them; not for any
good but for money he sells them, that
which destroys minds, causes anguish and
sorrow, and breaks up homes, and makes
crime and pauperism more frequent. Can
anything worse be found?
Not in the very widest stretch Of charity
can we find need for the grog-shop or the
bar-room. Thoy are ''the gates of death,
the mouth of hell" AS one of the results
of these sins we are ready to see that the
warfare against it is life struggle. We
cannot end it in one battle or one crusade.
Our children must be enlisted, and we
must gain a victory for them to carry on.
In the last few years the cause of temper
ance has gained. There is now less drunk
enness, less crime, but the warfare must
never cease. External vigilance is the
price of liberty" and by constant warfare
only can we accomplish our end. We must
leave the plan Of the campaign so that whcr
we lay down our arms those that follow
after us can continue the fight We are
engaged in saving men, so let our warfare
be manly, for convinced that we are right
we can have no doubl of our success.
If for any reason none believe in US Lei
us have right means, for many good cause,
have suffered by the use of dishonorablC
means. 1t is repeatedly said by some, tha
the aid of the law should not be required
1t is sail that it is not successful but years
of operation show that it is as eifcctua a.
any OF its kind, no more, no less. In oul
language we are apt to use legal force oil
one side, moral on the other, The lega
force is that which upholds the moral fore
and there is no reason why the law SHOULD
vide for his family the law is called upol
to compel him to. In regard to drunkar,
makers where will you more clearly dchn
the typical criminal, the enemy of man
A liz 10 u thiti WI Stttio tli1 lIbI
: the palsied hand that reaches it to him
bread from the mouths of children, am
beds "and clothing" from the backs o
weeping women. He is murderer for h
those who are dying by slow torture
e Shall we wait to convert him ? If he is
y y a man and see the evil going on he is col
= verted, or if he does not we find an cX
o ample of the evils of damnation. | beliey
s that the time will come when such n ma
: will be confined until he shows signs of
true repentance. 1t is said that the la
takes the matter from the people. If tn
q is SO the law is the fault not the people
e but it would be folly to reject it on accoul
=. of this.
The cause of temperance Is identc;
N with that of religion. The aim is the san
~ the method should be the same, He wi
70 came into the world to save men should |
a. our example. Men can be saved from il
a temperance only as they are saved fro
other sins we must save them by love AZ
suasion we must cause them to see the
l. sin to God and to themselves we mu
r. show to them respect, love, and friendshi
and the chief weapons to be used are IL
d. carnal as their work is soon done, when Y
as come back to the main one winch
4 brothcrly love.
ry A drunkard maker, bar room, a gr
1t. shop and tipping shop is disgrace
ed religion and humanity, and we see nothil
lie, il. the law of love which prohibits OPT
ations against them. The cause of tel
III perance says that drinking places sh
utterly cease from the face Of the earth, a
the war against them is righteous war,