The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-04-11
HOME MATTERS.
THE TEMPERANCE WAVE

have yet watched the daily reports with some
care, and can see no statement in the vigor and
carnestne,. of the crusade That ii would be a
mere cphemeral gtlst-a nine days wonder-a
thing to be expressed by any other figure inGi-
eating shorncss of life, is certainly thus far not
verified. Deep down in well defined conscious
ness OF rectitude there is apparently amoAg the
laulcs who have taken the matter III hand a set.
tlcd conviction that to fight it ont on that line Is
as much mandate of religious duty as the pos
session OF the holy scpuchcr was 10 the Crusa-
dcrS of the middle ages and they threaten to ad-
here to their purpose with the same pertnacity.
In Ottawa, the occurrences of the week may
be summed up as follows:
Rev. D. J.. Steele, at the Episcopal ,hurch,
preached a sermon on the subject of temperance
on Sunday evening. His points were about
as follows; That while the bible every
where strictly cnioined temperance, it yet toleg-
ated the use of wine Its use to excess how
ever, was very pointedly condcmned; indeedIew
sins were held in greater adherence by the sa-
cred book than drunkenness Brandy, whisky,
gin and fiery drinks of that class he held to be
medicines, and their use allowable only as such;
there certainly was nowhere in the bible any
Justification for their use as beverage. While
! the use of wine, however, was allowed, and in q
few exceptional cases even cnjoined, the scriD-
lures laid down another rule and that was the
rule Of eXpedicncy. "All things are lawful 10
me-" said st. Paul, "but all things are not eXpe-
dent" While the Christian man might, there
fore, under certain circumstances, lawfully drink
! wine, the question was very grave and solemn
one for him to answer whether, in day and age
when drunkenness was the crying sin Of the
times, aud when the example of the protesting
Christian was closely watched and 50 potent for
good or evil he was not bound in Christian duty
totally TO abstain. Itwas case which it certain
ly became every Christian man TO take with him
| to his closet Maintaining such views, the
speaker could notfai strongly to sympathise with
any movement likely to prove instrumental IN
staying the great evil OF drunkenness: yet as 50
many plans in that direction, however promising
in the start, had proved abortiye, he thought Il
was allowable for Christian men and women 70
choose whether they preferred to labor on this
| plan or the other, and nothing could be more in
furious to the cause ITSELF than spirit Of higo-
try, intolerance and prescription on the part Of
those who advocated one plan towards those who
preferred another. We had an excellent temper
ance law in this state, and for himself he regard
ed the education Of public sentiment up to the
rigid enforcement OF that law as for the present
the most hopeful means within reach to strike
effectively at the great evil Of intempcrancc or
drunkenness,
On Monday evening the Board OF Managers
held Il regular meeting in the basement OF the
Baptist church. On motion, Charles Snow was
elected chairman and John Collins secretary
The announcement having been made tina, T.
/. Breckenridge, Esq, of Joliet, had been cngag-
ed to deliver Il lecture in the church on Tuesday
evening, on motion, Thos. McDonough and 4. ?.
Mason were appointed committee TO raise
funds to pay expenses.
On motion Of Mrs. Dewey, the chair appointed
Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Fyfe and Mr. McDonough
finance committee to devise some permanent
method to raisc funds to meet the expenses Of
the league.
On motion OF Mrs Dickcy, Mr.. Snow was ap-
pointed to preside at the meeting on TuesGoy
evening.
Mr.. McDonough was authorized to have port
crs printed and circulated announcing Tuesday
evenings lecture
Adjourned, subject to the call Of the executive
committee.
Tuesday evening, at the appointed hour, tie
Baptist church was well filled with an eager "U-
deuce 10 hear the lecturer. Mr.. Chas. Snow
took the chair, and Mr. Thos. McDonough was,
on motion, appointed secretary. The chairman
then introduced the Hon. T. J.. Breckenridge,
who proceeded to deliver a thrilling address lie
somewhat startled the audience by announcing
hot. b,, np- n
come to hear temperance speech they WoId
be disapponted--hc was for total abstinence
nothing short of it. His speech abounded IN
strong arguments and thrilling rcctais, mixed
with many amusing anecdotes At the conciI-
sion, he asked the audience to vote on the CUES
ton, "All in favor Of total abstinence, say Aye"
The ayes had it by very decided vote in0e'',
nobody saying no.
The Chair announced that the next meet
INC would be held four weeks from Tuesday eve
Inng at place 10 be named hereafter.
The meeting then adjourned
We believe there has been no visiting al 81
looms during the week, but the ladies sho"tu
their interest in the cause by ATTENDING the pros
ecution before Judge Leavens, OF when we Wv
an account elsewhere.
FIRE IN WALTHAM,-On wednesday evening"
April 1st, the barn belonging to Games W. Ear
gent was consumed by fire. The flames were hrV
discovered about 10 o'clock, and had made sGeh
progress that it was impossible to save anything
about the premises, and five horses, new corn
planter grass cutter, rs bushels Of oats, t"o
sets Of double harness, - bushels Of corn and ~
tons of lay were consumed. The loss Is about
$1,000 and i, particularly distressing to Mr.. saT-
gent, he being renter, an having just finished
nnrin.. Cor IN lnr.nS nnh rrticlnS lestroNcl.