The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-09-09

ca tb, and wine that maketh glad the
helrt of man." Ps. CIV, 15. l will
bring again the captivity Of my people
Israel, and they shall build the waste
cities, and inhabit them, and they
shall plant vineyards and drink the
wine thereof; they shall also make gar
dens and eat the fruit Of them.
To be deprived Of wine was repre-
sented as punishment, while Its
increase WAS looked upon as bless
ing. "Tbe new wine mounteth, the
vine languishetb, all the merry
hearted do .sigh.v Is XIV, Z.
"Thou hast put gladness in my heert
more than in tie time that their
corn and wine increased" Ps. ~.
Nor must our Lords own words
be omitted here. When comment.
ing on wine he says, 'fNo man put
teth new wine into old bottles, else
the new. wine will burst the bottles,
and be spilled, and the bottles per-
ish." This shows that it was fer
monting; and again, "No man also
having drunk old wine. straightway
desireth new: for he saith the old II
BETTER" a common proverb which
nc accepts without condemnation.
The movement towards prohibit
tion has recent history we can
trace It's origin and know its leaders.
In dealing with the scriptures they
have not asked themselves the ques-
tlon, ''What do they teacb," but
ffcan they not be made TO further
our cause" By sad stories OF dis
tress they have - worked upon the
feelings OF the people that kind of
sentimentaliiy has sprung up that all
the moral evil in the world Is due to
drink; societies have arisen waich
will receive and enrol on their lists,
as examples for their drinking
brethren TO follow, men guilty OF ev-
cry crime. To join one Of these re-
spectacle societies all that Is required
Is 10 abstain from wine, and though
man may be convicted OF adultery,
theft and perjury, he Is permitted TO
urge upon his fellow men temper
ance so called. Their chief leaders
and speakers are reformed drunk
ards, men who according 10 their
own account have like sows rolled in
the mirc and filth, and too often lika
the sow that was washed they return
To their wallowiOg in the mire.
Their only safety lies in total absti-
nence, and they cannot believe that
other men have strength Of character
enough 10 resist temptation because
they themselves had it not.
lie who would practice Christian
temperance must not read scripture
according n his precOnceivcd opin-
ions Of right and wrong. The church
Is the only society In the world that
can effect a true reformation, and the
onlyplace where strength Is furnished
10 resist temptation. Grace Is prom
ised and grace Is given TO use the
gifts of God Alright. II a man fall
under temptation, as ne has taken
no vow OF total abstinence, he Is not
pcjnred In the eyes Of his fellow
men, and the door OF repentance is
open TO him. am well aware that
in publishing sdch sentiments many
will say | am hurting good cause,
but feel that many earnest Chris
tiaB peop q are wasting their Efforts
which should be dirt cted To the
strengthening aud uphnlding OF the
cause Of Christ, and the furfherdnce
Of an object which has not the sane
tion Of his teaching. There Is grow.
ing up well defined feeling aiming
the masses of the peoIIe that the
church is interfering with their lib-
critics, and for Chriiians to aid in
forcing prohibition oa tile t,e pile
will weaken and inIure HIS cause.
We have enough laws now and good
ones, but there + Hot the moral
couroge In the community to en-
force them. Cnrislian temperance
cannot be forced on amy one, and
the effect OF representing prohibition
As Christian doctriue cannot but be
disastrous.
Let the re.hrcn them b ~ art ~
Of the vocation wherrwith they are
called in the churches. More good
will he done in the eHd hy consist
ent Christian example and zeal than
In any other way, for Christ will
have the glory not tho temperance
societies. We are not condemning
any movement that would afford
men quiet place OF resort for read
ing or any other innocent amuse-
ment, when they would be free from
temptation not only to drink to ex-
cess but idleness aud immortality as
well: but we do condemn as unserip-
tural the teachings on prohibition
which have appeared under the cci-
umns edited by the Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union.
ROBERT L. STEVENS.