Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-05-19

Prudential and Moral Aspect - Why
Many Will Not and Can Not Indorss
Prohibition. .~
A LECTURE By How ARD CROSBY, d. D., Ii. D.,
A PROMINENT EDUCATOR AND PRRsRYTER-
IAN CLERGYMAN. PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK. AND NOT LONG
SINCE MODERATOR OF THE NORTHERN PRES
BYrERIAN GENERAL AssEMBLY---A CALM
VIEW OF THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION
DELIVERED IN FREMONT TEMPLE, Boston,
JANUARY 10, 1881. g..r.,
The object of temperance associa-.
tions is TO prevent drunkenness, and
the cardinal principle of all such So
cieties is total abstinence. But the
questions arising IN connection with
such proposition are. FIRST, will
this plan of total abstinence be adopt
ed? And second, ought it to be adopt
ed? The first is prudential the Sec
ond is moral.
And first, In regard to the pruden-
tial question. Will the plan of total
abstinence be generally received? In
measures of reform men demand the
practicable. They cannot be satisfied
by an unproductive theory. Herein
reform differs from religion. Religion
demands adherence to principle; but
the DOMAIN of reform lies in the expe-
dent. 1t seeks to elevate society, and
if that cannot be raised to its highest
plane, reform will raise it as high as
it can. 1t will not prefer to let society
wallow, because an Utopial idea can
not be reached. Even the religious
man will not object to pursuing such
a course. He will be glad to see men
leave Off strife, even if they are not
actuated by the highest possible mo-
tives. He will no be injured by their
improved condition. The want Of this
distinction between the conduct of
reform and that of religion has pro-
duced confusion and inaugurated err
ror of thought and action. The COM
mon argument of the radical temper
ance agitator IS, that his conscience
cannot stop short of total abstinence,
and that On that account he will not
affiliate with those that seek to sub.
due intemperance by other means
In this, he forgets that his conscience
applies only to his personal actions
and that it cannot rebuke him if it i.
impossible to get others to think anc
act as he himself does. In laborine
for others, therefore, he should re
joice if an approximation to what ht
considers desirable is attained, ant
should be willing to labor for tina
with all zeal but, alas! too often tina
which is called conscience is mer,
obstinacy of opinion and mere per
sonal pride. Even large part o
the fanaticism Of history was made u,
in this way. Men have gone to til,
stake as martyrs for conscience sake
when the heresy, they professed, ex
tended no deeper than their senti
ment.
In this matter Of arrcsting drunken
t ness, therefore, men may take yer,
different views OF the means prope
to bo resorted to, and may conscien
tiously adhere to their peculiar idea
of working for that end but 1t is dii
ticuft to see how any can csnscien
tiously object to any means to reac
, the same result put into operation b
others that are not in themselves i'm
moral, and it is certain that if sympa
thy and cooperation among thos
, that seek abatement of intemperanc
/ were once established, we should Sc
results that are now thwarted by d
visions and hostilities among thos
who profess to have the same end i
D view.
e Another error that has been exter
sively committed is the violent wres
I, ing of the word temperance from il
legitimate meaning. By perslser
u use of d moderate word for radios
e measures many have been led to re
q gard these radical measures as til
r only path of duty, and to look upo
every opposition manifested to the'
as inimical to temperance. The lab,
!. has been affixed to wrong goods, an
j. the deception caused thereby hi
Il been potent enough to make man
r. think that temperance and total abst
= ncnce from all that can intoxicat
,, mean the same thing. But what
q fearful prostitution of noble wor
s is this application of it! From i
l. high position as signifying gran
moral suhjection of the whole man
the sway of reason, it is degraded
/ the MANNED and mutilated function
:. representing legalism that mere
l. prohibits from drinks that intoxicat
It In Revelation, however, temperate
ranks as one among the list. of r
quired christian virtues, and by th
a prostitution of it many are led to b
is lieve that it is total abstinence that
a demanded of them. But perversit
d and false argument always rea
- against those that resort to ther
and while the unthinking are deceiv.
ID the rejecting portion of the chur,
is itself is disgusted.
le Another deception resorted to
in the circulated theory of an unfe
:. mented, Misunderstanding wine. The
Nv is not chemist or classical schol
81 in the world that will risk his reput
st tod for truth by asserting that the
s. ever was an unfermented, uninto,
or eating wine in common use. 1t wou
- have been impossible to have Ike
NC such drink, and no unbiased read
It. Of the scriptures can think for m
ly ment that it was such wine t
On Savior made and circulated, or th
lv the wine referred to by Saint Paul
:, his rebuke of those that drank
oe much of it in their celebration of I
r; Lords supper was not intoxicatin
ut These three elements of decepti
,al as to the meaning of temperance c
~ never be extensively and serious
accepted, and in the end the flaunti
ls' display of them will disgust all n
30 OF intelligence and brains. .as il
H. A second reason for believing Il
mt the plan of total abstinence will !,
-. be generally adopted is its want
' manliness. To stop using thi
EST from fear of abusing it, is an expe
ent for the diseased and enfeeble
1t is an exceptional plan for exc