The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-22
An Answer to "C. Cy
To HENRY A. PARSONS, JR..

In your issue of Dec. Is, 1881. T no
tice an article signed &c. c." in which
the writer attempts to tell what he
thinks about temperance. 1 am much
pleased that he frankly informs us
that he is in Ja0or Of the cause. as
without such information, one read.
ing the remaining portion of the
article would be strongly impressed
that he was opposed to it. He at once
applies the endearing term of "soul
inspiring drug" to that which tenn
perate man understands to be vile
whiskey, and poison. 1t is we'll that
&c. c." has at last discovered what
has long been apparent to so many
others, that is, that there are so many
people in Ridgway that cannot con-
troll their appetite when once they
have tasted the poison. We agree
with him that it is too bad that such
is the fact, and we would act i'm ac-
cordance with what we say and would
use all honorable means to check the
evil of drinking intoxicants to excess.
We further think that Major Scott's
effort with us has had more influence
in that direction than any and all
other agencies known to this commu-
nifty. What do the liquor dealers sayP
&c. c." inquiries, "Must all be bound
to be temperate?' docs the Divine
or human law oblige us to be abso-
lutely temperate?" In answer to the
first question L would say, that all
ought to be temperate. The answer to
the second question is, that the Divine
law requires us to be temperate; the
law of humanity also requires 1t, and
i might add, that the law of MANY of
the states require it. But the terrible
habit of drunkenness proves to us that
no law obHgcS all TO be ten,perate as
some will be drunken and lawless. &c. |
c." claims to have read all the Scrip
lures and never to have found any OBJ.
legation in the Divine law to be !
totally temperate. L would advise
sc. G." to search the Scriptures, for
in them it is required. Space will not
permit me to give each separate text |
for proof, and 1t is evident that it will |
not iDiure &C. CO. to read the Scrip
lures again, while other readers will |
readily call to mind the passages.
&C. G." asks, "Does science con-
tenn the use of stimulants?" Not |
being scientist would not answer,
md again it is foreign to the question
under consideration. Why urge all to |
sign the pledge? Because it is right |
for all that understand it to do so. 1t
Is as follows:
National Christian Temperance Union.
With Md'ice 7oucrd None and ChartyJor IAU. |
|, the undersigned, do pledge my |
word and honor, GOD HELPING |
NJ Il, to abstain from all Intoxicating |
Liquors as beverage and that I will |
1y all honorable means encourage |
others to abstain.
Will &C. c." over his own name
state what word or sentiment he OBJ |
ects to in the above pledge? We
agree with &c. Co. that it should |
'nly be signed after careful and cool
elaboration. 1t does seem, however.
rs though good mind out to be able
% understand that pledge after three
weeks of careful and cool delibe
ion." Has &c. c." signed it? &C.
y" thinks the pledge should not be
given to children not having arrived
1t the age of reason" In this con-
'ur. | am not aware that any such |
have taken the pledge. Allow that
some poor, weak-minded person, has
aiken the pledge who does not under
stand it, in our practical life such |
-hlngs must occur, yet we would not |
cease to live for that reason, nor |
would we stop the onward march of |
this great and good work. Our friend |
&c. c." seems to have great respect |
for the church, and rightly. But does |
he not know that generally children
are baptized, and required to answer
the questions in the catechism before |
they have arrived at the age of reason? |
sc. C."i much opposed to blasphemy,
nfidelity, divorce, and immortality.
We wish he would dig them all up |
root and branch and cast them into |
limbo. And as long as he is not en-
gagged in this temperance movement,
ne might give his whole attention to |
It, knowing all the time that the tenn |
perance people will lend him a help
ng hand, and that when their great |
work Is done, that his also will be
Whom the gods would de-
iestroy they first make mad-drunk.
"C.C.' says, 'Intemperance though |
. very wicked sin, has never brou ght
curse from God on the whole human
amily, but immortality has as in the |
;ase of Sodom and Gomarrah." Allow
ne to ask &c. G." if God at the de-
truction of Sodorn and Gomorrah
brought a curse on the whole human |
amily? 1 think humanity suffers
more in Ridgway on account of drum
than on occount of the de- |
truction of Sodom and Gomorrah. |
&C. c." asks, "Have we not good
christian ministers in our town, that
lave been tried in the field and found
that can preach temperance
md all other christian virtues?n In
answer to this 1 would say, that when-