New-York tribune., 1874-03-30
PLEA FOR TOTAL ABSTINENCE.

IN, R,r Richard MersdiA at the 7Artyrsnths NJ r. Church
The Rev. Richard Meredith, pastor of the
Thir y-seventh-st Methodist Episcopal Church, near
secondave preached sermon last evening, in favor OF
total abstinence His text ThessaOnians v, % 4:
Abstain from all appearance of evil" Among other
things he said The has come, when it ia longer
necessary for the minister Of the gospel to apologize for
the introduction OF such theme propose to discuss
this evening. Christianity is the divine OF all
genuine moral reform Is is designed aud adapted to
lift from the oppression aud degradation OF vice In
all its forms into liberty aud enjoyment OF pure md
elevated manhood 1t denounceS sin not only in general
but detail. 1t is armed with broad and cOmpre-
hensiye principles capable OF and eectual appca-
ton to every habit, custom ana institution OF social
life. When therefore. the Church is true TO her great
mission she is found in the OF moral reforms, her
influence cast unequvocally the side OF truth JUS
tice, and purity; her ministry and membership are
closely allied in sympathy with every effort, organ lied
otherwise that aims to suppress ana destroy vice. No
Christian nelligently and consistently hesitate
for moment the position he ought 10 occupy in
reference 10 the aboundng evils OF intemperance The
friends OF this great temperance reform have TO con,
tend with an enemy subtle powerful influential and
bold even defiance. II behooves them, therefore, to
stand sosetbher b n "d @ n@ ' Is '6 f6e word Of
God and the principles eootr cthrl'ti@n1ty tnr
abstinence and prohibition to which must come II
are ever witness the overthrow OF this monster evil
evil What is that against which insist every good
man should unhesatngly and absolutely cast Die IN
resenative M All those vllIan0ns compounds which in
toIcste the BRAIN dethrone reason, infame the pas
sons and poison the blood. Rum, as an article OF
tional and international commerce, trade in itself
worth hundreds Of millions OF dollars, recognized and
protected by law yielding vast revenue distributed IN
hundreds OF thousands Of barr0oms exposed every
where for sale In fighting therefore we have TO
fight a many headed giant. Moral suisoD may accom-
psh some good but In combining ourselves 10 this part
inent OF moral effort. abOriDg at a tremend0us
disadvantage Plainly IL If the duty Of every good man
and woman abstain wholly from ihe Of intoIi-
eating drinks OF every KIND and thus give The benefit Of
their example and influence TO the present temperance
movement The arguments OF a hundred years ago in
favor the moderate drinking of wine. as founded on
certain passages OF Scripture, not applicable 10 the
present time In the time OF Lord, the pure and nm
Juice OF tho grape used rs occasional
beverage and IL was this that Paul recommended 10
driven pure out of the market. pure art
Gle is in fact unstable. Everything must be drugged
and favored and poisoned before IL s considered ut for
the human stomach. The reference TO the mira
Gle at Cana by the advocates OF mode ate
drinking is altogether out OF place. With far
better reason might the Bible be appealed 10
In favor OF poly gaIny slavery We deny that the
scriptures can have any thing do with the OF these
yillanous pOisons. Our salvation must come through
prohibition but we have no right 10 demand proh0i-
Iion unless from the platform OF total abstinence.
There must be privileged arisocracy. III the rich
man can have his liquor in large quantities for moderate
home the poor must not be denied the bar
room and the tipping house. Hence the friends OF
total abstinence all along have charged moderate and
crime Of drunkenness. To this we must come TO be
logical, consistent, and powerful Haul down the nag
temperance and run up the nag OF total abstinence
and prohibition.