Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-05
Hon. John Bright, MP, on Temperance.

1
phecy, suggesting the crime that occurred
l.9O9 years after, in States unboin and ac-
cents yet unknown" when Caesar died?
Hon. John Bright, N. p, on Temperance.
The following excellent and very powerful
appeal was first published about thirty years
ago rs one of Jarrold's series of ipswich
| Tracts"
| Christianity proves its superiority over hll
the other systems of religion and morals in
| many ways, but in none more clearly than in
the means it employs for the conversion of
men. The followers OF Mahomet employed
force-the followers of Christ work by love.
The believers in false systeMs feel little or
| no anxiety for the conversion of mankind
generally belief in the true religion is
always accompanied by strong desire that
the whole human family should become par
takers OF its blessings. Hence the great
efforts which are made to convert the heath
EN- by missionary enterprise, for the support
Of which very large sums are annually and
| voluntarily subscribed 10y the various relg-
| ions bodies in Great Britain. Hence the
ral I'D increase of schools in every corner Of
the land, also supported by voluntary con-
tributions hence the establishment and sue
cessful working of the Bible Society, by
whose means almost every cottage III the
| kingdom is provided with "A Bible. Every
pious man is interested ill one or more of
these or similar institutions, and the prayers
Of ithuusa.-dsa are ii II cending that the bless
ing OF mnip"tcnse may prosper the good work
| Whilst We pfuy Tor their success, are We do
| in,g our part TO remove the obstacles which
obstruct the progress of the Gospel? What
| is the chief obstacle to the evangelization of
the heathen? Hear the report of the Mis-
sionaries Through the drunkenness of
British and American seamen. and the ex-
tensiye introduction by them of ardent
| spirits amongst the natives, many of the
little churches gathered upon the heather
strand-the pledges, as We have accustomed
ourselves fondly to regard them, of the
worlds conversiun-hase been broken up
the labors of the missionaries thwarted and
their lives endangered the beautiful islands
which gem the bosom of the Pacific in peril
OF being flung back into the scathed and
blighted desolation of spiritual death.
What is the greatest obstacle to the diifu-
sion of education amongst the masses OF the
people of this country Their love OF strorg
drink How many thousands of innocent
children are deprived of instruction. and
reared III contact with vice and every delas-
ing influence through the drunkenness OF
their parents? What chiefly prevents the
good which II general distribution of the
Holy Scriptures Is calculated to produce ?
The drunken habits of the people Look
into the pawnshops and you may see loads of
Bibles +! and ask who brought them there ?
the answer will probably be, "a wretched
woman reduced by extreme want through II
husbands intemperance r. The missionary
societies the school societies, the Bible so
cieties, and every benevolent institution, ut
ter the same complaint. "Our path is be-
fore us, but amonster obstacle is III the way :;
strong drink, ale, wine, or brandy, by what
soever name it presents itself, whether in the
beerhouso or the dram -sLop. III the DINING
room of the man of the world. or on the table
of the serious professor this. this prevents
our srccess Eemoye this one Obstacle and
our course will be onward and our Lhnrs
will be blessed ten thousand fold. Reader do
Won support nny of these societies by vour
i,bors vour nonev or vour nrav.rsI Arc
Won sincere in yonr wishes for their pr,sn,ri-
ty? If sincere. Won can surely give mn some
thing for their advancement You may bs
richoto give n subscrintion lis AN eosv tbinn O..
Won may have leisure 10 giva a IittIe fine o.
labor is no great sacrifice but can Won Iive
mn practice which tbonph sanctioned hv
almost universal custom. clearly and direct
lv contributes tn d,t.ot yopr own eyertinns Ia
Leneft vour felIow.men2 Are Won ,frniJ of
heinz tbonDbt less bonitshla hy ,hose rbn
onIy vaIue Won ,or vour n,i,t,kan bosni,,I;,,,g
Can Won Lear 10 he sincnIor3 C,n van re-
sign !. little nnltrv protifentiop of the senses
that Won may moi stand in the wav of :, ore,t
reforinationi If Won are r.Iipious il Won
! vslue vnur nrivilepes if you tel anv emo
lion oi gratitude for the BLESSINGS Le.,nw.J
mon vnn reflect without bi,s If van can
mon ihis ouestion ASK vours,If mr.. ynn
doing all Won can for the glory ofthe Creator,
and the Lapuiness of His Creatures ty.
anime how inr Won ure causing ..your brother
10 stumble :" compare your conduct with tLnt
of the Apostle. who saws. .If meat make
| my brother to offend | will eat no flesh while
the world standeth, lest | make NV brother
| IN offend H. Car. viii I3l md n.,.in H..
| saws alt il good neither To eat flesh ,nr IA
| drink cine nor ANYTHING whereby thy brother
stumtleth. or is offended, or is made weak. "
| Romans Niy. 2l) Consider we'll th.s. mas
| sapes2tbey are of solemn moment and
| r.collect that M Won will have TO render an
account of YOUR actions at bar where tri-
| fling excuses will not avail, and where every
heart will be laid open, so will YOU be held
| responsible for the employment OF YOUR in
| fluence and for the proper use of your .x-
| annie
| 10 drink d.cply-tn sbe Jruuks- ia "A sin .
| this ia not denied At what point does th,,
taking of strong drink become IA SIM The
| state IN which the body is when not excited
| by intoxicating drink, is its proper and nn-
| tnrnl stnte drunkenness is the state fn,th,st
removed from IL. The state of drunkenness ~
il IA state of sin Mt wbnt stag. does il he
como sin We suppose IA man p.rf.,tlv sn-
her, who has not tusted ANYTHING which can
intoxlcate one glass excites hin. and 10
| some extent disturbs the state of sol,ri,tv
| and so far d,.troy%it another GLASS .v,.;t.,
INN sill more n third fires his eyes heats
ms Dioo"' 'Vosl ',l . a'n ,iii''iii's ms
| IhsHlohs ioui'l ihcIe'tscS hli inns nun