The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-27
TEMPERANCE.
Meeting Last Night at washing tor
Hall,

ADDRESSES BY REvs. D. W. FISHER AMI
1T A'LURE.
Washington Hall was again the center
Of attraction for large number OF people
last night, and the floor and galleries
were well filed. After the usual pre-
llmInAries Of singing and prayer, the
President Of the Ladies' Band introduced
Rev. D. W. Fisher, Of the First Presby-
teriSn Church, who came forward on the
platform and addressed the audience Is
follows:
For nearly thirteen years l have beer
the pastor Of one Of the churches OF thi.
city. Ny position "a such has Of necessity
brought me more or lesR prominently be,
fore the public. And as to night | look
into the familiar faces Of this audience,
feel that can say as did Paul when he
was addressing the EphesiAn elders at Nit,
etuS, Eye knew from the FIRST day that
came into Wheeling, after what manner
have been with you at all seasons"
With reference 70 the particular object
which az an organization you have in view,
in life and speech l have maintained a
uniform course. On the one hand, my
whole weight has been thrown on the side
Of Temperance. On the other hand, have
striven 10 avoid bitterness and inconsid.
eratenesS which certainly cannot advance
the cause, aud which may greatly hinder it
do not purpose this evening 10 deviate
in the least from my past line Of conduct.
II was at this moment endowed with the
necessary authority, and il by a word OF
the stroke Of pen I could close every
drinking saloon and place where drunk.
ards are made, and il I could bring back
every man who has become the victim Of
intenperance, and save every other who il
liable TO it, would say instantly let the
edict go forth. In September, 1852, Mr..
Lincoln, as President OF the United States,
issued his proclamation that under cir
cumstances, on the first Of the next Janu.
uary, all the colored people Of the States
then in rebellion should be henceforth
and forever free. Drunkenness is a form
Of servitude a thousand fold worse than
any which ever obtained among the ne.
groes Of the South. Il enslayes not only
the body but also the soul, not only fol
time but also for eternity. And if could
with word, break these shackles, would
say, Let the captives go free.
But no such summary process, or any.
thing approaching to ii, is practicable.
The vice Of intemperance has its seat in
the appetites and passions of the nature Of
man as it now exists. At the earlier peri.
cd Of human history 10 which even scrip.
ture introduces us, it already was at work
There has been more or less Of it in all
subsequent ages, and there will continue 10
be, at least until new order OF things il
introduced BY Christ into the world. Asa
consequence, we need not expect to make
an end Of it in any siugle campaign. In
the years to come, no matter what may
now be accomplished, We will have to fight
the battle Ger again. but so also will the
generations which succeed us. The forms
Of the conflict may change, but the war
must be waged perpetually.
As an organization, you have committed
yourself 10 the principle Of total abstin'
ence. In this entirely agree with you
and have 50 done from my youth. The
church in which ! am minister also has
in the most formal manner, committed it
self to this principle as the best under ex'
listing circumstances. It has solemnly ad
vised all its members to abstain both from
drinking and from dealing in intoxicating
liquors as beverage. 1t cannot be main,
tanned upon either scriptural or other
grounds, that all deviations from total alb
stinence which do not terminate in drunk.
enness are sinful in themselves considered.
The consequence is that you have no right
to set down every individual who does mol
fully indorse this principle as of necessity
foe Of temperance. II that position wa,
correct, very few Of the most godly Of the
ministry in other lands could be reckoned
as with US. Nevertheless, am prepared
to endorse and practice total abstinence fol
two sufficient reasons One is, that il i.
the only course which 10 most persons il
safe. If they deviate from il they are il.
able TO go too far. No man can, in adj
vance, be sure that this is not true in re.
gard 70 himself. The other reason is, that
the example is calculated to injure the
weak. What you may do in safety, they
may initiate to their own destruction
Out Of benevolence to them, therefore, give
up intoxicating liquors. Neither sell i OF
drink it as beverage.
The basis Of your organization is pledge
Of total abstinence. As a minister of the
gospel, by the VOWS which took when !
entered the sacred Office, consider mvseli
to be pledged in the most solemn manner
to this and every other kind of sobriety.
could not therefore, without inconsistency,
fail 10 oppose the acts of others who may
sincerely subscribe TO this obligation.
There are some who have conscientious
scruples about the formal assumption of any
VOWS Of that kind, although they NAV
thoroughly approve and practice the prin-
ciples which underlie them. If you meet
with such individuals, be careful not to
rank them among the Indifferent or your
opponents. This you have no right 10 do,
unless their lives contradict their profes.
sions. Indeed, you will do well to beware
Of all such denunciations Of persons who
may not adopt some Of your methods, al.
| e'ASuSA 80 W ySuA OuJNGb luey JUN le1II
and band with you. Yours is a voluntary
organization. Whether man signs or
does not sign your pledge is matter TO be
determined by each one in the exercise Of
his or her own freedom. will say that
it ought not to be subscribed merely be.
cause Of the pressure Of popular excite.
ment. Il should be subscribed only as an
act in keeping with the most thorough
conviction Of the heart. It should moi bc
signed unless the intention is to keep il
come what may as long as life itself shall
last. 1t is better not 10 VOW than to vow
and not to pray. But with all nv heart l
can advise you, il you will 80 perform the
act to put your name to these obligations
As to the propriety Of prayer, and The
disturbances Of activity Of woman in this
cause, provided It assumes legitimate
forms, there can be no need that / should
speak. All friends of the cause will agree
to these things.
| There ia ono THING for ,yL;oI ,,o,, -