Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-21

The present age is one in which child
hood is pre-eminenty the study, | do not
say among all classes, but among advanc-
ed thinkers. "What shall we do for the
childm is the great question which
preets the new century. In the issues Of
his question none are more deeply inter-
ested than the friends of temperance.
The Catholic priesthood prove their wis
dom when they say, "Give us the children /
and we care not who have the men and |
women"
While public attention is arrested by |
the truly wonderful work Of reform in |
nropress among men and women who are /
the slaves of appetite, many thoughtful |
people are asking, rs there not better |
work even than this-the work Of prevent |
ing such experiences :"
Life boats are good when ships have |
gone to pieces on the fatal rocks, but now |
much better the lighthouse that saves |
from wreck. Il
Who that really wishes to rid the land |
of the great evil of intemperance can |
doubt that we have our legitimate field Of
labor in the child-heart Of the wOrldP In
this warm, uxuriant soil, whateI er sOwn
Yields an abundant harvest We have
seed given us TO SOW Of which our farmers
never dreamed Of. Science and religion
ioin hands in the temperance reform OF the
present day. The battle with intemper-
ance, fought in this nineteenth century, is
not blind combat with the demons OF
drink.
Science is flashing light on those words
Of deepest wisdom uttered so long ago:
"Wine is a mocker and strong drink is
raging; and whosoever is deceiYed thereby
is not WISE" AS never before, through
uuickened religious conscience, is appre-
hended the sacredness Of the human body
because it is the habitation of God through
the indwelling Of the Holy Spirit
We dare not claim to be better than the
noble pioneers in this righteous cause but
we have more light than they, and shall be
held responsible for the results OF our la
bOrs in proportion to that light.
Upon the Christian Church the burden
Of responsibility largely rests, and the
work of education must be carried on main
ly through its agency.
The question is sometimes asked why we
should make a speciality in regard TO tenn
perance instruction in our Sunday schools
The answer is three-fold. First-The ne
cessity Of such instruction is imperative,
in view OF the fact-now generally admit
ted-that intemperance underlies and in
cites well-nigh every other sin.
A story is current IN the Orient OF wis,
old Sheik, who gave to young Aral
Prince, from whom he was about to part,
list Of crimes, and bade him choose the on,
which seemed the least harmful.
The young Prince turned in horror from
murder, theft, and loss Of virtue, and TOLD
the Patriarch he would choose int0mper
ance, "You have chosen that" said tn
wise old man, which will bring You all.
Second: We have the children an'
youth in our Sunday schools during thei
Il 40 n
being are set either toward good or i'll.
Our teaching should be practical. WI
cannot afford to waste in glittering gener
alities the time and strength that should b
given to those things which concern th
every day life of the child, and to such in
structon as will make them strong allies o
God in tho contest with evil.
The necessity of knowledge or right in
struction TO correct course OF conduct
strongly emphasized in the Bible and i
human experience. Hon. Henry Blair sai
in recent speech in Congress. "The es
sence OF the institution Of slavery wasignor
ance." Can we not as truly say, the essenc
Of the liquor traffic is Ignorance OF tn
moral, mental, and physical effects OF alec
holic drinks.
Again and again from the wrecks O
manhood that gather daily in our temper
ance prayer meeting in Farwell Hall,
wrung the bitter cry, "ifsome one had toll
me about this accursed thing | might no
have fallen.
Especially have we duty most urgen
in respect TO the children of intemperat
parents, and those who have no helpful
home influences There are thousands O
such in every large city, and there is N
work of deeper moment thad that OF edu
eating and outstanding these spiritua
orphans whom the providence Of God ha
cast upon our hands.
According to the report of the Commii
sioner of Education, for 1870, there are i
the United States 5,459,077 persons bt
tween the ages of 8 and 1S not attendn
any day school, 45 per cent Of the entir
number in the country. There are seve
million of actual illiterates Chose that ca
neither read or write) over ten years {
age, more than two millions Of these ar
women, 10 whom Is committed the tTair
ing of children, and as ignorance an
vice so often go hand in hand, we can In
agine the kind Of training their childre
receive.
When we bear in mind another fae
shown by the official report Of 1870, this
there are in the United States 10000
more persons engaged in the liquor bus
ness than in preaching the gospel and
school teaching, we realize the great nee
there is for an increase Of home missionaT
effort.
large proportion OF our illiterate poi
ulation are Of foreign birth, and am we
aware that there are difficulties In the wa
Of temperance work among these, especial
the Germans; but they are much less 10
midable than we are apt to think. It
said. 1--WE must respect the preiudices
the Germans" We ought indeed to 7
member kindly their national inhueno
and habits, but the welfare Of any people
much more worthy of consideration thu
their prsjudices. All the more because
their lack Of education upon this pol
should we endeavor most earnestly
teach their children, who are to becoi
important factors in our Christian Repv
lic either for good or Ill,
From the commune crowd that clamC
for the destruction Of our Sabbath a
those religious institutions which arc I
bulwarks Of our national peace and pr
pority, we have everything TO fear,
from the honest, industrious, and lOl
German we have much TO hope, IL we 4
prove the opportunities for religious
huences and education which are open
us.
From experience, affirm that wise a
patient effort on the part Of sunday scht
teachers will meet with kindly receipt
from this class.
The very life of our republic Is involy
In the issues Of the question, whether
Christian portion of our nation recogn
and fulfil their duty towards those, "
even in this land OF Gospel light, are
a. /. /. n q VI. a a