Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-18
AN APPEAL.
From the Ladies Christian Association
to All Who in Any Way Use To-
bReeO.
Exposure of an Infamous Plan for the
Ruin of Young Girls by the
Wholesale.

Ruin of Young Girls by the
Wholesale.
EDITORS APPEAL-f have long felt q
strong desire TO enter my protest to the
public, and especially the christian pub
lie, against the use Of tobacco, and to
make an appeal, as a christian woman,
for q part Of the money thus expended,
for carrying forward the Lords work.
We have organizations for the suppress
sion of almost every evil that flesh is
heir to but this use of tobacco. Our
temperance men, and even cur ladies,
are doing good work in the suppress
sion ofintemperance. But no one has
raised a voice against this most
common and widespread Of all
evils, whose effects are almost,
II not quite, as fatal to the NOR
ais of the community as the effects
of rum itself, fer the reason that it is 50
much more Respectable, and therefore SO
much more universal to smoke than to
drink. l presume that nine-tenths Of
our southern men use tobacco in some
shape, and many both chew and smoke.
Can we make anything like true esti-
mate of the effect of this upon the pros
perity and the physical and moral well
being of our southern people? l think
not. 1t helps 70 paralyZe all public and
benevolent efforts. Our streets and high
ways are IN a terrible condition, and ask
why, and they will answer, "Fhere is no
help for it; our city treasury is empty,
and our people arealresdy taxed beyond
endurance" And yet public-spirited
man will cheerfully pay tax of fifty
cents per day for an indulgence that he
acknowledges to be demoTalizipg in it's
effects, filthy in its appearance, and in
furious to his health. "Oh, consistency,
thou art a jewelv Our benevolent OBJ
jects are languishing for means Of sup.
port, and ask one OF these gentlemen for
a donation and his reply will be:
MADAM, the demands upon my purse
are now more than can meet; and, be-
sides, have been compelled to curtajl
my own and family expenses" And
yet, has he denied himself single
cigar, or the use Of tobacco for a single
day? Besides the terrible Wsste of time
and money, it blunts the keenest sensi-
bilities, and renders man incapable Of
the highest moral development.
1t makes him satisfied with himself and
his present condition, and stifies yearn-
ings and longing for that higher and
nObler life, which is the birth-right of
every immortal soul. Does not the
habit amount to species of idOlstry &?
Are not it's vOtaries slaves? Will pa.
rents, who are addicted to this habit,
encourage their children to follow their
example? No, they will almost all say,
81 wish could quit it myself" What
is that but an acknowledgment that its
indulgence is wrong, and il wrong, is it
not sin! And If our hearts condemn US,
how much more will God condemn US
who knoWeth all things and who can
not look upon sin and uncleanliness
with the least degree Of allowance. l
once heard person addicted to its use
say, "I felt, as Christ's freeman, could
no longer indulge in such habit with
out great sin, and 1 resolved for Christ's
sake would give it up, and the way l
managed was this: whenever the time
come to use it took my Bible and
read until was free from the appetite,
and after time lost all taste for it and
grew in grace wonderfully. God did
bless Ine in giving it up, and feel ten
times more Christ's freeman since I
have, through the grace of God, over
come the habit" Now what Is the duty
aud what is the responsibility of Gods
protesting children? Are we bringing
all 1.-THE tithes into the stOrehouse," that
We may receive all the bless-
ing? We are commanded to
write on every vessel of our house
"Holiness to the Lord" and l would
ask the question so aptly put by one Of
our clergy, "Can a man have the au.
dacity to write that Oh rum cRsk?"
Can christian have the conscience to
write that on q cigar or snuff box. AS
stewards of our Lords goods, the ques-
ton should be, not how much shall we
give, but how much have we q right to
consume upon ourselves and families.
For God to dwell in US, and to work in
us, to will and to do Of His own good
pleasure, we must deny ourselves and
take up our cross and follow Him.
"Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all 70 the glory Of
God" Can we say We are glOrifying
Him when we indulge in such habits?
You may say these are ultra views, but
are they not right, and sustained by the
word OF God itself? And until the
church arouses herself to her whole duty
in the matter, she will never
go forth coDquering and to con-
quer. Now, dear friends, in the
church and out of the church, l have
a proposition to make to you. The
Ladies' Christian association, of this
city, is about beginning a work for
which there is public necessity, Snd
although the Howard's have made them
q generous donation, there is much yet
needed for its accomplishment / refer
to the "Ref0rm Home for WomeB.n
Now, if al the yotaries of tobacco will
give US the price OF their tobacco, for one
month, we will begin the work on a
grand scale, and the blessing of God
will rest on the givers. Now "tO him
thst believeth all things are possible
and have faith in this matter, and be.
lieve that God will incline the hearts of
some, il not many, to respond to our
appeal. We would ask all who are
willing to consecrate this habit to Christ,
to send the money, ueekIy or monthly,
to the Intelligence office, 15S Main
street, in charge Of the Ladies' Christian
association, and we will promise that it
shall be put to noble purpose. Now,
hope that other friends of the cause will
he heard from, for much more can be
said on this subject.
A MEMBER OF LADIES' CHRIS. ASSN.
CentennIaI-DRnger- Voice of Warm
ing.
The Women's christian association of
Philadelphia desire to call your atten.
ton to bsse letter addressed to young
girls, which has been circulated broad
cast through the country. Ii purports
10 come from "Hsyes, Arlington & Co, y"
protesting 10 be "sgents Of the Centen-
nial committee" and offers remunera-