The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-18
GOSPEL" TEMPERANCE.

|
ANcE NsrITUTE-THE BIBLE DECLARED THE
REFUGE AND SUPPORT OF MODERATE DRINK
NEGOTIATIONS IN EVIDENCE.
The following open letter has been addressedto Mr.
J. b. Gibbs. president of the National Temperance
Institute by ex-vice president Of the society
Mr.. j. b. GIBBS President of the National Temper
ance Institute:--
| DEAR BRorHEn GIBps-I feel constrained to
my connection with the association OF which you are
the presiding officer, cannot conscientousy re-
main member of society which. while flying the
total abstinence colors and proering with its right
hand the total abstinence pledge, yet with Its lett
losses the poor drunkard copy Of the Bible life
preserver to him from the pillows OF rum into
which he has fallen. To discard metaphor protest
against this so-called Gospel temperance" pro-
test in the name Of common honesty and frankness
against connecting the glorious principles or total
abstinence with book that with perfect justice
and irrefragabe show Of right. has ever been
and will ever be the refuge and stronghold OF the
moderate drinker." / protest in the name OF COM
mon fairness against allowing this so-callod "evan
gelical movement" to capture our total abstinence
societies and with the cry of Gospel temperance"
just anger and wellfounded indignation, against set
ting this evangelical movement as rider upon
the milk white seed of total abstinence. There is
there be. no possible connection between the
Bible and total abstinence. No sophistry. no false
gulf that separates Them I defy you to point out
single passage in which the principles of total absti
cover it's pages permit the moderate use of wine.
and, sir is it not mockery is 1t not crime. ay.
than o cr1me-an act or Qesp1c8Dle cOWardlce
to attempt to inculcate truth by suppressng truth
That day has gone by. The age in which live will
never countenance such proceeding. In the name
temperance total abstinence folks bother our brains
about what the people drank or did not drink, in
Bible days? II the moral principle We strive to in
culcate has not strength enough to stand without
being held up under the arms then let it fall Our
| u theory, us we think, of human interest.
Had the founder of Christianity lived in our day
His teachings would have been different Even when
1~a, ,l,av- II .~
He does not raise His voice in denunciation OF the
| practice. He nowhere says. "Drink no wine" To
created wine at wedding feast when guests were
already under the influence of that beverage. Then.
why should the name of Jesus be heard at our meet
ngs? Is it logical? Is 1t consistent? Is it honest?
That is tho question. They stoned adulteress to
death in those days. Must we do so now? Do our
justice sit to enforce the laws OF Leviticus?
Are we to be bound by the notions Of Paul to the
proper raiment for women?.
QUOTATIONS FROM BIBLE.
But let me call your attention to Of the pas
| sages of the Bibe-this great temperance manual
relating to this question pass over the drunkenness
divine reprimand is given. On the contrary, this is
the only man of oil men "who found grace in the
| eyes OF the Lord" pass the drunkenness Of
| Lot, again apparently with the divine sanction l
come to the Book Of Ruth ill.,. IL
And when Boar had and drunk and his heart was
| merry &C.
Again, in II. Samuel XII, IS. is . full temperance
\ record, surely
when David had called him Nri.h he did eat and
| In the Book Of Esther you find the words "wine."
| ''banquet Of wine," drinking and feasting" on
nearly every page. Again. in lsalms. CIV. l5 you
| may read OF ''wine that maketh glad the heart of
| man" Honest. now. is this total abstinence? But
this is not all. Read further In Proverbs xxi.
and L.
wine unto those that be of heavy heart.
Verify. this is not total abstinence. Again.
him drink and forget his poverty and remember his
Now Brother Gibbs why not read these lines to the
poor wretches who and then crawl into your
meetings with pinched cheeks and worse pinched
hearts, seeking for kindly word to cheer them in
their resolve to drink no more? But there is
to come. Be patient. and if you be honest think
poor drunkard who would break away from the curse
Of rum. Turn to Ecclesiastes. tx, u
thy way thy bread with Joy. and drink thy wine
with merry heart.
Again, chapter x, 19:-
A feast is laughter, and wine maketh merry
Oil oh! total abstinence. forsoothl But the priest
might not always drink wine for in Ezekiel Xiv,
21:-
Neither any priest drink wine they enter into
| the inner court
In Joel, l.. S, we find Joel arousing the drunkards
| with
Awake 70 drunkards weep; and howl all 20 drink.
ers Of wine, because of the wine
What for2 Because drunkenness is sin? Nay;
simply because the new wine is ..cut Off, from their
mouths by a strong nation, which has ''laid waste
| FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
| But let pass to the New Testament. In
| Timothy, ", 3D.
Drink no longer water but use littlc wine. &c
Truly good advice to society of cold water drin-
| ers! All, Paul. Paul. thy words 'little wine" were
bad enough, but thy "Drink no longer water render
| thee Ineligible to society. Yet, again. Brother
Gibbs. examine Paul's letter once more; the same
one-chapter ill.,, 3d.
| Deacons DO given much winc
| Indeed much wine!' Well. well. WELL
| Now. let me say right here that. the world over
Christian clergy adhere to this advice In every land
| have ever visited read of they are everywhere
moderate drinkers" to their honor rarely drunk
And what better authority for the practice do thew
need than the words OF Paul? / hold the Christian
Bible responsible for this almost universal Of the
| wine cup / charge openly and boldly that the
Christian Church has never been the advocate OF total
| abstinence.
| HABITS OF THE CLERGY
Christian clergy in England famous for the
magnitude Of their wine cellars and German clergy
| and l say to you that it is u shame and a dis
honor to read the Bible at the meetings Of total alb
stnence society But sottly-I have not quite done.
There il u sadder page than all yet to come You,
Brother Gibbs. are u married man. Iappeal to you,
is 1t not disgrace to civilization that wedding
parties often but another for orgy, revelry
and drunkenness? Is there step in life that man
| should take with his eyes wider open, his mind
clearer and body soberer than this union of man
and woman for better or worses have always held
that any feasting upon this occasion Is ilogcathat
it is hurrahing at the wrong end OF the line Then,
what can you say OF "a man who, entering friends
house, where marriage feast is in progress, and
finding the guests more or less intoxicated de ibcr
such a proceeding is described in John.
! H.. L.. and Jesus of Nazareth h that
man. "Oh. impossible" you say. Ay, but
IL il shall prove to YOU Mark we'll. 1t In moth
ing against the character of the divine teacher In
our day lie would not have done il. The age not the
reformer, must be held responsible But He did do
it, so now and forever let His name be unspoken ut
meetings OF total abstinence societies.
| THE MARRIAGE AT CANA
| There was a marriage feast at Cana. One Of the
guests had been chosen govcrnor-that is, now,
president or toast master-to lead the drinking and
| Nil Qi 10 Is
good wine, the best wine. put forward first and
for that total abstainer would blush to
| mention. Well the drinking bout progresses The
cups flash in the hands the guests pledtting
health (alas and happiness to the bride and groom
They drink deep. The supply is exhausted Can you
not hear the cries of the impatient jewellers, now
heated with the fatal fumes?-
"More wine, more wine. this way!"
Jesus Is present. They know His powers; they
appeal to Him. Ii He refuses His fame is gone for
| ever He yields; lie creates wine better than
the best which the house had afforded ut the begin