The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-06-16

an example. When you have re.
formed those Of your own profession
it you will apply to me, will give
fifty dollars to reform the rest of man
kind
In discourse to a graduating class
at Williams College, President Hop
klns, after some preliminary remarks
on the use of tobacco, thus sums up:
Il may express to you my conviction
til at habitual narcotic stimulation of
the brain is not compatible with the
fullest conservation of the body as a
temple Of God. Good men may do
this in ignorance, as other things
prevalent at times have been done,
and not offend their consciences; but
believe that greater earnestness,
more self-scrutiny, fuller light would
reveal it's incompatibility with full
conservation and sweep it entirely
away. The present position on this
point Of the Christian Church as a
whole, and largely of the Christian
ministry, | regard as obstructive Of
the highest manhood and Of the spread
of spiritual religion. | know that
strong men have in this connection
been bound as in fetters of brass and
cast down from high places, and have
found premature prostration and a
premature grave, and that this process
is going on now. Let me say, there
fore, to those of you who expect to
be ministers, that ] believe that SER
mons, even those called great sermons,
which are the product OF alcoholic or
narcotic stimulation are service of
God by strange fire; and that for
men to be scrupulous about their at
tire as clerical, and yet to enter upon
religious services with narcotized bod
les and breath that smells to heav-
en- of anything but incense, is an in
congruity and an offense, cropping
out of the old Phariseeism that made
clean the outside of the cup and the
platter Not that abstinence has
merit or secures conservation; it is
only its best condition
The London Christian World, af-
ter commenting on the Spurgeon case,
thus closes: $40 ourselves this tobac-
co pest is a daily martyrdom, and we
could earnestly wish that every Chris
tian teacher, at all events, felt no de-
sire to indulge in habit
which is unquestionably most fearfully
destructive both to the bodies and
souls of tens of thousands Of our
young men,"
And with what conscience can a
temperance man, who is unwilling to
give up his tobacco, urge drunkards to
give up their drink, especially when it
is the prevailing testimony of medical
authorities that tobacco-using leads
naturally to liquor-drinking, that it is
the '''fdciiis descensus AUermi, and that
multitudes of reformed inebriates have
fallen again by its use? In point,
here is the wish of the poor, doubly-
wronged Indian: II want three things;
all the rum in the world, all the to-
bacco in the world, and then more
rum. | smoke because it makes me
love to drink"
But, disheartening as seems the out
look, every now and then our hearts
are cheered by the glad tidings that
one and another of these good men
who have long struggled in vain for
deliverance have, by the help of God,
cast off their chains and now stand up
in the integrity of free men.
A clergymen Of Rockport, Me-, Rev.
Job Washburn, who had used tobacco
from his boyhood and who had made
several unsuccessful attempts to give
it up, at length, at the age Of ninety
two, made the matter a subject of
earnest prayer, and, greatly to the joy
of his family, was enabled to attain
Immediate emancipation from his
bondage victory which brought
him improved health and for which,
ever after, he gave thanks to God.
A distinguished pastor in one of our
city churches relates that he was led
to abandon smoking by the innocent
remark Of young convert whom he
was examining, that he 'had given up
all bad habits, including smoking.
The shepherd felt that he must not
fall behind the sheep.
The Congregationalist recently con-
tanned the following item: 1.-TWO we'll
known clergymen, than whom few
are better known all through the
state, happened to meet in our office
the other day. Both have been in
veterate smokers; but both stopped
short more than year ago and have
not blown a Whit since. One had
tried it for thirty-two years and the
other for thirty-nine." They came
to the conclusion that the only way
to stop was to stop. And neither of
them is likely to repent of his repent
ing. Who will go and do likewise?
Another cheering consideration is
the fact that many German, French,
English, and American physicians OF
the highest standing are waging war
upon this wretched drug. A meeting
Of Sunday-school and weekday teach
ers in England was recently held for
the purpose of considering measures
to check its use. 1t was presided over
by an eminent physician of royal
eye infirmary, who affirmed that par
alysis of the optic nerve and other
diseases Of the eyes were directly
caused by tobacco.
1t is encouraging, in the almost
overwhelming current of public SEN
timent that sets the wrong way, to
note any little straws floating in the
right direction; and among such hope
full straws we reckon the following:
A minister of talent and piety, a
good preacher and of acceptable man
ners, who had supplied three different
churches, receive no call from any of
them, and, as was plainly stated,
simply because he was known to be an
immoderate user of tobacco. Should
he be a candidate in every church in the
land, God grant that no invitation for
settlement may come to him till he