Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-21


not Disease, but Sin---The Cure
Comes from the 'sGreat Physi-
cian"---His Personal Expert
ence.
Correspondence Of the Register.
WHEELING, December 70.
In your issue OF to-day / notice an ed
itorial comment upon an extract from q
Chicago paper, which discusses "cure"
for drunkenness. / cannot refrain
from an expression OF opinion upon this
subject, based upon bitter and disas-
trous personal experience. Some shrewd
and speculative, and ] am perhaps safe
in saying ''conscienceless," medical
practitioner claims to have discovered q
"sure cure" in all herb, growing in Peru.
remember many similar discoveries?
30 called, within the past twenty years,
and nearly all from South America,
prominent among which was the Can
Ger Plant Cure" which the United
States Government stupidity espoused,
only to become laughing stock. This
last discovery is about OH par with
| the previous ones. 1t is simply trap
to catehithe unwary," and 1t Is calcula-
ted to work much harm il encouraged
or recognized.
When man talks about the disease
OF drunkenness" he talks simple non
sense, and none know this fact better
than medical men themselves. Show
me a physician who will claim to have
cured case OF drunkenness and | will
show him an array OF names OF the
most brilliant members of his own pro-
iession from time immemOrial, who
have gone down to perdition from the
| effects of alcoholism. Surely il it is
disease the physician could and would
prove the efficacy OF his practice on
himself. Ii any physician can convince
me that the Creator Furnishes mankind
| for disease, then will confess my
error, but | cannot believe that God
ever meant to recognize the drunkard
| as diseased being when lie declared
that "The drunkard shall not inherit
the kingdom of heaven" In the scrip
lures the drunkard is classed with the
idolator, the fornicator, the wicked, and
the vicious and God-deiying class The
penalty attaches to each and all
alike. They are outlawed from future
state of happiness. Why? For atfiic-
ton, misfortune, disaster, or diSedse.
Ne; but for the commission of Sin. |
argue then, Mr.. Editor, that drunken
nsss is Sin. 1t is Il vice like unto any
other vice; in fact, the worst of all vices;
| the mother vice OF wicked life, and as
such it carries its own curse with it
throughout life, and merits eternal pun
| ishment. As we'll might the Chicago
doctor attempt, with his Peruvian weed,
to cure the gambler, the libertine, the
fornicator, the idalator, the infdel (let
him try it by all means on Bob 1nger.
sollJ, AZ to talk OF curing the rtce of
drunkenness.
Let me cite my own experience: |
was drinker for tweuty years. At sew
enteen began as learner; at twenty
was moderate; at twenty-five habit
ual; at thirty an excessive, and at thir-
ty-three confirmed drunkard. fought
the fearful curse for ten years OF the
twenty in every possible way.
/ accepted the disease" theory for a
time, and endeavored to destroy the
fearful appetite by the use OF drugs OF
various kinds. practiced the "tapering
off, plan and always found the taper
end to, become the larger end of my
debauch, experimental with fare
naceous food" compromised on
"tonics," swallowing the pernicious
mixtures known as "Purefiers,'' Elk
| irs, "Invigorators," &c, all OF which
are based on alcohol. All these plans
failed. ] found myself growing weaker,
physicially and mentally. My will
power overappetite and desire was going
last. | was becoming Nh imbecile.
Ambition was bunted; hope was blast
ed; seli-respect was stunted; personal
pride had yielded to a feeling Of cowar-
dice and seli-accusing inferiority. | be-
gan to realize that | was an object OF
pity and commiseration. ! became
miranthrope, grew tired of life, lost all
| love for the good and beautiful in ma
ture or art, found my love OF home, OF
wife, OF children, growing unconscious
ly weaker day by day, until at last, ut,
terly discouraged. grew disgusted
with life and determined upon sell
murder. Drowning out the better
nature within me by incess-
ant potations, l coolly, calmly,
and with sort of insane
cunning planned self-murder, and was
only saved by providential interference.
| The escape from horrible death
prompted reflection. With my judg-
ment warped by medical decisions /
argued that Was hopeless and helpless,
and was in no way to blame for any act
| might do. In word, decided that
! WAS lunatic from the excessive use
of alcohol. -
| At last, in an agony OF mental anguish,
] asked myself, "Can it he that God
thus a. a mere brute, without hope of
heaven" The answer came as revela-
ton from on high, drunkenness is sin;
look to God" 1t cost me fearful
struggle, but the prayer for help came
invoiuntarily. 1t came as il does to the
drowning man, who, although he may
1 have ridiculed Divine power for life
| time, discovers when no earthly help is
available that he must look to the
| Creator. lie involuntarily cries out in
agony, God help me-" 1t was all clear
10 nv mind now. Drunkenness Was
sin. | measured il with the many
other lusts Of the flesh and of the car
nal mind, and ] saw ii in all its
horrid defonnity. determined, .tiod
helping me," that would never drink
more. Inever have. trust not my
self; | trust God only. Ny promises
have all been broken. HIS promises
| never have. lie had said: Those that
seek win find" sought; found.
discovered that the only remedy for the
rum curse Was through Divine aid. The
desire for alcohol ceased. The appetite
doubtless remains, but when / pray,
Lead me- not into temptation, don't
propose to lead myself into a saloon, and
then to ask God to lead me out God
helps those who help themselves. |
sought help; gained it. The struggle
was ended, and for two years and half
/ have lived a sober, sensible, useful,
happy life, and have induced large
army Of people 10 quit the cup, sign the
pledge and seek God.