National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-19
rEMPERANoE.
A DISCOURSE BY THE REV. BYRON H.
SuNDERIAND d. D.

I
SUNDERLAND, D. d.
There was a tolerably full congregation In at
tendance at the First Presbyterian church last
evening to listen to discourse on the subject Of
temperance which was announced at the morning
service would be delivered, in response to re-
quest Of the Ladies' Temperance Union Of this
city. The reverend gentleman selected as the
basis Of his remarks the last clause Of the sixth
verse Of the fourth chapter Of Zachariah, as fol-
lows: s.Not by might nor BY spirit saith the Lord
| OF hosts" and spoke as follows:
At the close Of the captivity God visited his
people to deliver them from bondage and resettle
them in their own land. It was great move
ment involving stupendous reformation. He
raised up his Instruments and agents 70 prepare
ana quicken their countrymen for what they were
about to experience. Among those who appeared
whose words are here cited.
He came to open to his people more fully the
gracious designs OF Heaven and IN view Of the
vast obstacles to be removed, the formidable diff
hculties 10 be overcome, and the great changes
in their condition which would follow, he set at
rest their doubts and apprehensions BY declaring
man might or power, but pre-emtnently OF the
spirit Of the Lord God Of Hosts. And so the Sc
quel proved IL. There was great activity among
men. Both enemies and friends we're brought ND
to the highest pitch Of excitement by the events
which followed each other In rapid succession,
and no man can read the story without ascribinR
the nnal triumph Of the Jewish people TO . super
human power. But the great truths here enun-
elatea are not confined 70 any period, people or
-
country.
When the moral forces Of society are to be
ehsnged-When kreat revolutions among men are
TO be ehected-When long standing and enormous
evils are 70 be resisted and overcome, there is
nothing in the whole universe for ehectual power
against them like the holy spirit Of God. And
this Is particularly true Of the evil Of intemper-
anee: During the last year new phase Of the
conflict has been inaugurated. The women have
been aroused into anew activity and the principal
weapons they employed were personal kindness,
remOnstranee and prayer. The women Of our city
embarked upon this mission and did what they
could.
1t is eminently q WomAn's movement, which,
beginning in prayer, seems now to be going out
in other forms Of activity, and making appeals 10
Christian ministers and Churches for aid. Now,
In the irst place, say that my conclusion, FROM
long course Of observation that there s but one
cure for the evils Of intemperance and that is the
Spirit Of God radically changing the heart Of the
Individual and uprooting the appetite for intoxl-
eating drink. In my view, nothing but this can
do the work effeeually. highly approve the
WOmen's work Of prayer, and believe that more
good can be done in this manner than any other
way. Any other interference will cause an oppo-
sitiOn which will be overwhelming. That the
Christian Churches Of to-day are not free from
greater necessity for constant, importunate
prayer. The evils Of intemperance arise chiefly
from vicious Rppetites. 1t Is vice inherent In
human nature, and not mere political institu-
ton; hence the necessity Of q radical change Of
the heart. and this can be done only by constant
II the women Of Washington wish to accom-
plish mighty work. let them drop all other
schemes and engage IN prayer; let temperance
prayermeetings be multiplied in every part Of the
town, so that q volume Of prayer may 90 up to
God, and he will fight the battles for them. He
did this many times for his chosen people. One
Of the most notable as we'll as most recent in
stances Of this spirit Of prayer fell this Ameri
can nation Just prior TO our recent war. 1t was
baptism Of the spirit in proportion TO the solemn
and awful scenes that followed and but for that
baptism the nation never could have gone through
that terrible struggle. 1t would have been ut
terly swamped in the very midst Of the tempest.
At the present time the three great powers OF
darkness that are arrayed against the Cross are
intidel philosophy and science, lcentious press,
and social impurity and corruption; but earnest,
fervent prayer will overcome them all.
The Bible is full Of these assurances Of the
most high God. 1t seems that new wine made
men drunk or set them crazy, as we'll as old; and
debased that they could net tell the difference
between the effects OF the spirit OF God in his
gracious regeneration and power and those ofthe
demon alcohol in its degrading and soul-destroy-
ing power, so that they mistook the one for the
other This is signal proof OF the dreadful
losses into which the whole nation have fallen.
1t is the visitation Of God that puts TO flight the
skepticism OF the world. The prayer-roOm Is the
Christians fulcrum, especially against this giant
evil Of intemperance; il can only be put down by
the spirit Of prayer.
That is the only human agency by which it can
be efectuAlly conquered. All other means, as
societies, pledges, &c, are auxiliarieE. i shall
pursue the way pointed out for myself, God being
my helper, and shall strive to set personal ex-
ample oftemperanee. shall continue to pray to
God that he will appear for this cause in his own
time and in his own way. j DO not intend to take
active part in a social or political agitation Of
this question, unless I change my mind from
what II now is. ! have laid these views before
you as the minister Of this congregation, and L
wish you to stand right before God on this cues
tiOn. IfyOu sympathize with these views you
will act accordingly, and may GOD guide you to