Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-05
The way to Reform.

/ think that tie most lonesome and dis
consolate of all Il ings is what might call
a dry reformation for man who has been
a liquid sinner. Drinking men have hard
times but then they have jolly lines too.
They feel good for while every day.
Where q man lives in squalid house, and
has scolding wife land every woman is
justified In scolding who has a drunken
h usband), and he is cold, and there is no
fire and no light, and nothing to eat and
nothing TO drink, and he goes round tho
corner. and there is some one there that
slaps him on the back, and calls him "old
fellow" and says, "Why didn't you come
RI" and sets him down and brings
him ioaming tumbler, and he drinks, and
it is light and warm, and there are pictures,
and "Jim" and '"Tom" and "Bill" come
in, he feels, "Well this is something likeW
till he goes into temperance meeting,
where he has opened before him tho dan
gers and the sure destruction (for it is
sure); and then he is appalled, at his peril
Gus situation, and, ih paroxysm of right
feeling, be determines that he will stop his
dissipation, and he signs The pledge. And
now he has q time of il Was there ever
anything so disconsolIte as virtue under
such circumstances The man is not 60
ing to have anything more 10 drink; he is
all unstrung; he is gloomy-gloomy in the
morning, gloomy all day. gloomy all night |;
he has horrid dreams. Besides, things are
not meDded in an hour. \ man cannot
build up all at once what it has taken him
ten years 20 destroy. Aud his wife does
not become an angel or n saint in a minute.
He is deprived of his companions. He
does not dare even look in at the window
of the place where everything is so tempt
ing. He is told 10 keep away from 1t. He
tries TO do something, but he cannot get
work. Nobody wants TO trust him. Ev-
erybody knows what his reputation is, and
gives him clear berth. He is a poor
wretch, physically broken down, impov-
erisbed, without occupation; and the
"means Of grace" at home are more than
he can bear. He is trying 10 keep temper
ate, but it is hard and my wonder is, not
that so many go back, but that any ever go
forward under such circumstances.
But suppose a man should take the true
course and should say, II have undertak-
en- 10 reform myself not merely because |
drink, but because l am in need of a high
er and better life; and it is my purpose, by
the grace of God, 10 be a man all over-not
alone in my mouth" The resolution is a
good one and 1 say to him, ''Go forward.
Go where there are Christian men and
Christian women praying, aud say TO them,
"Pray for me-" Go and vow, "I am for life
aud il die, will die struggling for saliva
tion." Go with tears into the sanctuary
where there are hearts that know how 10
echo the sorrow af other hearts, and say,
Life life ! life Save me from the fire,
from the flood, from the wolves! Go for
the whole. Go for everything. Go for de-
cency, for knowledge, for industry, for pie
ty, for faith, for loving other people. Then
it will not he so doloful. Then ii will not
be so dark.
When men undertake 10 fight these de-
mon appelites on The lower plane, without
larger purpose, aud without the hel. OF
their higher selves, 1t is hard work but
when they undertake 10 fight them on the
hi CHER plane, with larger purpose, and
18th the help of their higher selves, it is
not so hard. 1t is easier 10 go the whole
than to go one-lenth. II a man really wants
TO reform, let him make up his mind to
build his manhood all over, and he will
find that il is easier, because he will have
the stimulus, the moral help inside of him
self, of the newly awakened faculties OF
feelings, in controlling the old sinful pas
siuns.