The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-16
FoR. TIE OENrRA1 PREsBYrERIAN.
LIQUOR-sELLIEG CHURCH-MEMBERs

In the COroner'S inquest held in connec
ton with the recent terrible tragedy at Farm
vile, one of the witnesses deposed as to th'
melancholy condition of Kennedy, and as tt
the fact that he had taken several drinks on
the morning of the Tragedy" He also says
" Kennedy was not drunk on the morning oi
the shooting" Be it so. This poor man
was not "sot." And for that very reason
the "several drinks (sOme say three, some
four) were enough to make him wild. They
were sufficient to drive him to the deed OF
madness, when their influence was added to
the burden of his already melancholy con-
dition. 1t is a question which can be res-
sonably answered in the negative: " Would
he haze been insane enough to do the dreadful
deed, aOSthout those several drinks We
know the effect of liquor upon men. We
know that some are made most dangerous
when only highly excited by it, and net
drunk. The world is full of proofs. Now
then, there is Kennedy with his "several
drinks" and there is his deed, committed
Immediately after taking them. What is the
conclusion, Just and unavoidable? {? Liquor
was the cause of Berkeley's death. His de-
stroyer shot him under the instigation of, or
by the help of the "Devil of the rum cask. "
And this is but one of many thousand deeds
of like character, from like causes. =" Such
sorrow; such abounding and excuseleSs woe;
brawlS and contentious; babblings of sense
less and polluting words; cauSele8s 0Oamds
inflicted when the passions are infamed )"
weeping, povertya and misery; sensuality and
all wretchedness; a scourged, racked and
tottering system tortured, unhappy and out
ragged conscience; poisoning of life and all
peace; blightipg of intellect and crushing Of
love; man ruined morally and spiritually,
for time and for eternity Look at this list
of troubles caused every day by liquor =
Open the Bible and read the awful words /:
" No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of
heaven !" Can man think of all this and
yet deal out the deadly stuff to his fellow
man Alas yes. Not only can men do
it, but even church members are doing it in
many places this very hOur They deal out
the liquor, drink after drink,-which is fit
ting their fellows for ruin here, and perdi-
tion hereafter, and then 60 on Sabbath to
the Lords table as blandly and composedly
as If the blood of souls were not all 0ver their
skirts and money too "The love of money
is the root of all evil" 1t has become much
the fashion now for those who fare badly in
business, to become sellers of liquor. 1t is
pro6table-an easy and rapid way of replen-
ishing the empty purse. The bar.room stands
in some corner Of many an otherwise decent
store. 1t attracts trade. 1t tempts custom
ers. Yes, iDfame them with liquor, and
then they will spend their money with you.
And many chwrch.memberS are doing 1t =
Would God it were not true! But it is
true. Church.meubers, in many parts of
our country are seeking worldly profit in this
way Yea, church members-of all other
people o, consistency, where is thy jewel
0 shame, where is thy blush! Let no one
say 81 am not responsible for mans drink
ing too much" You are, if you sell it to
him! You are, if you are the man from
whom he buys it And for that mans un-
lawful deeds-the deeds of the man whom
you have crazed with your liquor, God will
hold you responsible! Deny it now, you
can. But refuse to answer when God calls,
you cannot You know the man ought not
to have that liquor; but for love of his mon
ey, you give it to him. There is as much
and as real guilt as if you were to put the pis-
tol in his hand, with which you know he will
certainly kill himself. Yea, more. The curse
on his life, family, soul and salvation broad
ems and deepens with every drink of your
LIQUOR which he takes. Would Jesus Christ
stand in your place and deal out drinks p
Ask that? Think of that # yOW are go
ing to serve Christ, do 1t. If yOu are deter.
mined to serve the deul, do that. Choose one
way or the other But don't wear the liv'
cry of Jesus Christ, yet continue to do the
work which damns souls, and makes hell glat
and full If "nO drunkard shall inherit the
kingdom of HEAVIER" you not helping tc
keep your fellow, men out of heaven =? Sure
ly. For you are helping men to be or be
come drunkards. The very liquor that yor
sell, makes men drunkards. Stop selling 1t
or leave the Church.! But before choosing
the latter course, consider that you will thu
choose to lose your own soul, and destroy al
many more as your trade can destroy, fOI
the sake of liquor. money
Meditation.
Ok, ,ron5 =, olmoot obeoloko - fbo Chris