The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-11-16

To DIR. Reynolds and "Psrsnthesis. -
To 'he Editor Of the BrLLErIH
From the "Disclaimor" Of Mrs. Mar.
tin, the remarks OF some OF my friends.
and the reply? Of Parenthesis, Infer that
my position upon this temperance move.
ment is mistaken. |, like all other
honest and sensible nom Christians, am
as much In favor Of temperance as any
Christian and careful reader Of my first
communication would have so under
stood 1t.
Tie position that did take, an that |
am willing to defend is, that no Christ>
Ian can consistently sign the pledge
drawn up BY DR.. Reynolds.
In the course OF his remarks Wednes.
day night the doctor said that lie was the
author Of that pledge; that 1t forbids the
use Of alcohol only as 9 beverage; that
DR.. Dunning aid Nesars. Barclay Ger
tainly did not believe that 1t prohibited
them from prescribing or selling alcohol
asa medicine, and gave US to understand
that those who thought that 1t did were
halr.splitters. Non. Christians are used
to being called halr.splitters for holding
their Christian friends down to many
seriptural commandments. They are
therefore not at all surprised to hear
from Or. Reynolds, that to take few
swallows Of wine "for ones stomach
sake" or "for ones aiten inirmaties, or
drinking 1t at the alter was not using it.
The pledge plainly says: ave, the under.
signed, pledge ourselves not to buy, sell
nor use intoxicating drinks" DR.. Rey.
nolds did not tell US tchy taking liquor as
medicine or at the alter was not using it;
nor did he tell US in what manner the
plain English words: "Nor use intoxica-
ting drink" were changed into: "Nor use
intoxicating drinks as 5ererags,' mere
ly by the opinion and belief OF DR.. Rey.
nolds, Dunning and Messrs. Barclay.
have been told that al the alter the
wine is used as the blood OF Christ and
not as wine. On the same principle q
signer OF the pledge may 20 into sa'
loon, drink brandy and say; 81 drink
this as water and not as brandy" with
out violating the pledge. But would
that destroy the properties OF the brandy:
Your own opinion does not change
the fact-whether you drink wine a;
such or as the blood of Christ, 1t remains
wine-and if you drink too much you
will get as drunk at the communion table
IS in q saloon.
lrepeat and challenge reputation, that
q Christian cannot consistently sign thai
pledge.
But enough. Parenthesis, the person.
who in yesterday mornings BULLETIN
attempted to answer my communication
Is o rambling writer; one, who with hi
long sentences, only makes point to fine
himself of the subject. lie has not an
swer my objections. But he is very good
and advises me to read tho Bible In the
spirit of Q ''sincere seeker" after thu
truth. Possible. Behold the ditferen
churches. all sincere seekers after truth
and each having found the other wrong
| aud only itself right. Parenthesis sayl
further: but, surely, *"s misunder'
stood DR.. Reynolds about setting himsel
up as a non-C Christian teacher II re
garied DR.. Reynolds as teacher Of any
thing it was not as q non Christian nor a!
q Christian teacher, but simply as teach
er Of temperance who would keep hi
words, when be said: "These meetings
regardless Of religion or religious belief
will be TOR ALL" s'*