The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-04-09
ATENPERANoE A SERMON.
What Woman can do and What she
Might do in the Temperance Cause.
[ExTRAoTs FROM 4 RECENT SERMON FUR
NIsHED FOB THE STARK co. DEMOCRAT


Might do in the Temperance CanEe.
LEXTRACrs FROM L RECENT SERMON FUR
NIsHED FOB THE STARK co. DEMOCRAT
"Womeu have in some instances, with
club in hand, boldly entered places where
Intoxicating liquors were sold, and where
their husbands aad sons were being en-
tised to ruin, and have demolished their
contents. That was woman's power wrong
ly exerted. I admit that if there are any
circumstances under which meb-law would
be justIfable, it would be such as those to
which have referred. 1t is never safe,
however, for man or woman to trample
upon the laws of the country, and outrage
the private rights of their fellow men. If
the law of the land provides remedy for
an existing evil, let that remedy be ap-
piled, even though the powers should be
tardy. A moral reform was never safely
advanced by unlawful means. An evil
may, for the time being, be abated by
mob-violence, but an injury will be done
to the public consciences which will result
ultimately IN far more injury than would
result if the evil should be permitted to
remain until the steps provided by the
law can be taken for its removal These
remarks wifi not apply to the preSen4.
novel movement called the "aOOn1G7ls cru
sdde" against the liquor traffic. This,
though not provided for by the law, is not
in antagonism to any law, human or d.
vine, but in perfect harmony with the
spirit and intent of all law. That which
removes the sorrows of human wretchsd-
ness and crime, tends to promote the hap
ness ofindiViduals, the comfort and thrift
of families, and the prosperity of society,
cannot be against law. That which tends
to awaken right public sentiment on the
subject OF temperance, to move the people
to action, to secure the enforcement of the
law against those who are engaged in the
traffic in intoxicating liquors as a beve-
rage, is in harmony with the spirit of law,
human and divine.
The permanent success of the Temper
ance reform depends very much upon the
form atlon of right public sentiment on
the subject a public seutiment which will
make it dlsreputable for q man to make,
sell or use intoxicating liquors as beve-
rage. In creating such public sentiment
the influences of woman may be exerted
with tremendous power IN favor OF the re-
sorm.
am not among those who believe that
the effort of men in the Temperance cause
l.
with the facts of history before me. Where
had we been as nation, but for the fruits
of the great temperance reform Thous-
ands upon thousands have been. saved and
had not our population so multiplied from
abroad, greater far would have been the
result of the efforts made during the last
century in the cause of temperance. They
have been great, Notwithstanding, as any
who can recall what has been, still must
acknowledge. Yet we are compelled to
admit that the evil has grown IN the coun-
try. When was so much of the material,
out of which drunkards are made, manu-
factured? When was it SO beautifully
poisoned and drugged, that the work of
destruction might be FASTENED? When so
widely sold over the length and breadth
of the land? There seemed to be neces-
sity that some new agency should be de-
Vised-some new mode OF attack upon the
enemies works invoked. Who so proper
to inaugurate a new movement IN this re-
form as the women of the land? On wo-
man does the untold weight Of the evils of
intemperance fall, as upon no other mem
Der of community.
We see drunkenness staggering on our
streets and we are shocked, bp6 what is
that to having it in ones house, in being
made to live with it, IN being a witness,
day and night, of it's foulness, its boastli-
ness, its lmbecility in the person of hus-
band or son once admired and loved?
A father had favorite daughter, beau
tiful, accomplished, the Joy of his heart,
who, with her two children, went down
on the wreck of the ocean steamer Vile
de Havre. That father was telling his
grief and loss to christian friend Shor-
tly after, their conversation turned upoa
family whose members were all living
but all the sons were drunkards. That
friend said to that stricken father, "My
brother, what are the sorrows of your
house to the sorrows of that house 2"
He replied. Nothing. nothing"
The wives, the mothers are indeed to be
pitied, who are compelled to look upon
such wrecks as drunken husbands and
drunken sons. How many such there are
in our land? Into the souls OF the women
of the land this vice has gone. 1t is prop
er. therefore, that women should array
themselves against this evil, and unite in
8 crusade against it. They can accomplish
more than men in this work. While l
thus feel, am not prepared to endorse
every patron In the woman's movement,
inaugurated and encouraged by Dio Lewis.
4
streets and saloons ls the way to accom-
plish the most good with the least harm
In this cause.
More permanent good will be accomplish
ed with less prejudice to religion and less
bitterness of feeling if the women would
spend season in prayer at their home or
in the church, seeking Divine guidance
and assistance for themselves, and the Di-
vine spirit 70 be poured upon those who
sell and those who use intoxicating liquors
aad then go and talk with those who are
engaged IN the accursed business of max
ing drunkards, and endeavor to persuade
them to abandon their work of ruin and
death. It Is never wise to force religious
service upon men. Regeneration by com
puision Is not apt to be permanent. That
the women may accomplish much in clos
sing saloons-ln suppresslng the sale of in
toxlcatlng hquors--ln reforming drunkards,
in prevailing on modern drinkers to aban-
don the cup-by Just getting their own
hearts, by prayers, filled with the spirit oi
the Master and then going out to reason
and plead with more IN relation to the
sale and use of Intoxicating liquors, can
not be denied They can do much, fan
more than any or all other agencies 10
create right public Temperance senti-
ment, one which will secure the rigid en-
forcement of our excellent Temperance
Law.
There is an important work for woman
in the temperance reform, which belong:
to more private sphere. To make the
reform a success, and to draw the youth
and young men from the paths of intoxi
cation, something more is to be done thar
to close these places where Intoxicating
liquors are sold as a beverage. Woman
by her earnest and pathetic appeals tC
the dram-seller, showing him the weigh
Of his responsibility, making him see tn,
deep and awful gulf which yawns befor,
him, by pointing him to broken, desolateC
homes, blighted fortunes, blasted hopes
the ruin of bodies and souls, may influences
him to abandon, for time, his Infamous
work, but whether their work in this shal
be a permanent success depends very
much upon the future act ion Of the wo
men themselves.
1t is . fact not to be denied and which
must not be overlooked, that something
more than vitiated appetite is minister
ed to in the drinking saloon. In the Ian