The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-04-01
Pacific Christian Advocate j
The Filthy Weed.
BY TEMPERANCE.

I see there is a great deal done for
the cause of Temperance. [ have some
questions to ask and suggestions to
offer. Tobacco is poison. ltinjures
every person who uses it. The use of
it in any form is a filthy, bad prac-
tice. It is very offensive to any one
who does not use it and who has the
use Of his senses. Tea and coffee will
come in the same list with tobacco,
only the injury they do is not so great;
| would speak more particularly OF
tobacco. Is it sin to use it? Is it
contrary to Gods will? Can any one
enjoy religion who does use it, or who
sells it for others to use? Or rather,
the religion they might enjoy if they
had nothing to do with the filthy
stuff? If it is not sin to use it or
to deal in it, wherein is the sin in
using or in dealing in any other pol
son or Intoxicating drug? [ am glad
to see this subject agitated and dealt
with in plain English language. The
N. Y. Christian Advocate of Dec. IL,
1879, published strong article on the
effects of tea and coffee. The Scien-
tifc American in its issue Of Dec. 81,
1879, had long article on tobacco,
telling its terrible effects. | have just
received the book Home and Health
"the Christian Advocate premium"
by Fowler and DePuy, and on pages
one hundred and one to one hundred
and ten they treat Of 'iTea and Coffee
and HEALTH" and on pages two hun
dred and forty-eight to two hundred
and fifty-one they treat of Tobacco
and Health" I wish every person in
the United States could and would
read those articles and then act ac-
cording to the teachings Of them.
Children Of a very tender age are
taught to use tobacco. Parents use it
and teach their children to use it, if
not directly, their example will be
followed by the children. Professed
Christians use it, and deal in it. Min
listers Of the gospel use it, thereby
teaching all their congregations to
use it. Its use greatly Injuries and
sometimes nearly destroys the dlges-
tive apparatus. It causes the user to
crave something stronger. So opium
is eaten or smoked. Alcohol in all its
different forms is used. Then, and
not till then do our good people see
what they have done, and how they
will pray, and attend temperance
meetings, and talk against intemper-
ance! At the same time they keep
filing the drunkard's ranks by selling
everybody the vile poison that makes
drunkards. I make tie assertion that
tobacco is making more drunkards
than any other drug there is used. At
Conference at Portland last August, |
heard a very earnest Temperance
speech by brother Sharp, but nothing
was said about or against the first ten
or fifteen years of the drunkard's life,
while he was getting under full head
way using tobacco; and while ne was
making his speech there sat ministers
with the filthy poison in their mouths.
A few facts. A prominent mer-
chant of Salem tells me the value, at
wholesale prices, of the tobacco
brought into salem every year by her
merchants is $25,O00 This will retail
, for more than 100000. This is more
than is paid for education, religion,
and every benevolent cause in Salem.
The same merchant told me if he did
not keep tobacco he would have to
close up his business. He could not
sell anything. In the Salem M. E.
Church several of the official members
use tobacco. Some of our Sunday
school officers and teachers use to-
bacco. Some of our official members
buv and sell it. And then their pray
er is 20 Lord revive the temperance
cause in our land" | think such
prayers never reach the ear Of the
Lord. Why should they? You ask
tobacco user for a contribution for
the cause of God, and he has nothing
to give. He has paid all he has to
the Devil in the use of tobacco.
As Christians we need more virtue,
we need more frmness in standing by
principles and in defending them
and we ought never fear to attack
wrong whenever we find it. Here is
my temperance pledge: 1--WE, whose
names are written below, do give our
solemn pledge not to buy, sell nor use
tobacco in any form. >. This pledge has
been presented to the congregation at
the Salem M. E. Church and to indi-
viduals a number Of times, and how
many do you think have signed it?
Not one who had the filthy habit,
although we have number of signers.
Let our temperance people commence
work at the end of the line. Let our
ministers preach against the use Of
tobacco. Let the coming General
Conference make it part Of our Dis
cipline that no one will be admitted
to membership in the NJ. E. Church
whether minister or layman, who
uses it. Let our preachers teach the
people that they cannot defle the
temple of God-the1r bodies by the
use Of tobacco, and still be suitable
persons for the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit Let US all commence work in
the right place, right at the fountain,
and not wait till the stream has be-
come a mighty torrent! Let the above
pledge be circulated and signed and
lived up to. [ believe if it was, it
would have more to do in destroying
that demon intemperance than any
other one thing. Let any person sign
that pledge and keep it Conscientious
ly and there is but little danger of
that person dying drunkard. Let
us as Christians teach our children
temperance. Let us not only teach
them, but let us train them in tenn
perate habits. Let us be careful about
placing teachers over our children in
Sunday school who are addicted to the
filthy habit Let us be careful about
placing in authority in our Church
those who have Incorporate habits or
who are buying and selling the drug,