Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-08-28
For the Beacon.
DOTS ON TEMPERANCE,
No. 4.

Satan, to demonstrate his great
concern for the welfare Of the visible
kingdom of Jesus Christ, and bis
vigilant opposition to every nova
tion calculated in his judgment to
MARI its peace and curtail its elevating
influences upon the hearts Of the chii-
dren of men, tells US that, "God,s
Church is temperance society enough
and that these outside organizations
ought to be opposed by every meek
and humble fUllowet Of the lowly
Lamb of God" VIZ his concern!
Is this exhibition of interest a true
exponent of the feelings of his heart
for the purity of the Church OF God :
Nay verify! To the law and testi.
mony. What says the Holy Oracles!
He is branded in Gods Word as
murderer and liar from the begin
ming. Bearing such a character, is it
not strange that be has found in every
age of the world willing subjects in
side of the Church to do bis bidding!
Seeing that the success of the temper
ance movement must give fatal stab
to his kingdom, in that it proposes to
sober men and bring them within the
range of the glorious Gospel OF tine
blessed God, be holds a convention in
his dark domains to concoct measures
to arrest its onward progress. In the
bosom of the Church be sounds the
tocsin of alarm along its shining
ranks, and selects one of its members,
q man of great influence but of ques-
tionable piety, to do his work. This
agent of his discourses eloquently
upon the holy mission of the Church
and the necessity o: keeping it discon-
nected from all earthly institutions, so
that its power for good may not be
crippled. The Arch Enemy knows
full well what counsellors to employ
in every locality.
heard of an incident which illus
trates the great administrative ability
of Satan to meet any and every
emergency, which is too good to be
lost. In q certain church one Of its
members was "overtaken," and made
q visit to the gutter. This intelli-
gence was heralded throughout the
neighborbood. The world stood on
tiptoe to see what the church proposed
to do. The case was so plain that it
was found necessary to exclude this
party from its fellowship. At the
next meeting, in the deepest sorrow
and contrition, he comes forward,
acknowledging the justice of bis exclu-
sion, and asks to be taken again into
its fellowship. He is received with
every demonstration Of joy, and q
melting scene is the finale. Before
the next business meeting temper.
ance society was orgaized in their
midst, and, feeling the need Of every
earthly aid to keep him steadfast in
his VOW to bis God and his brethren
he joins this secret order. The church
meets in solemn conclave, and {
charge is preferred against him fo
joining this secret society, and be il
excluded from all its privileges ant
immunities.
Outside of the church he sits him
self down and soliloquizes thus: I"
got drunk and the church excludes
me-she did right. l made acknowl
edgements, and was received bac
again to her fellowship-my hear
was made to leap with joy. Feelin
the need of assistance to keep me ur
spotted from the world, l joined th
temperance society. The church Q,
cluded me for that / did not know
was crime till the church said so j
my exclusion. What shall / do?
must make an effort to get back int
the church; cannot be happy in th
world. There must be q midd
ground some where betwixt the ten
perance society and the gutter. Pc
haps it is to keep about half drunk q
the time-I am willing to stand upo
that ground. I shall go at once 90
tell the church my decision. Yes,
will compromise the matter upon th
halfway place, and die in the fellow
ship of the brethren that love {
tenderly. Bless the Lord, o my sou
and all that is ,oithin me bless has no
name.m
It Is not denied that the churc
ought to be temperance socie
enough; that is not the questio
The question is, does she occupy Il
high and lofty position assigned b
in Gods word? In that precio'
volume she is set forth as the LIANT
wife," the "Light of the world" al
the "salt of the earth" Salt p,
SERVES and purifes. Does the chur'
exert this saving and purifying powe
It is her high and holy privilege 50
do. Does she check the dow Of wbi
Nv and close up the "doggsries"
our worldi This monster evil c,
not be stayed by Legislative ens
ments. Every effort in this directi
only increases the evil. Moral pow,
and moral power only, can arrest
iireful tread of this destroyer Of
hat is good and lovely in our wor
More anon. A. K NJ.
Alto, La, Aug. 28th, 1875.
-S>o~s
To understand the world is wiz
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