The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-06-23
[Independent.1
THE TOBACCO PROBLEM.
MORAL VIEW.
BY META LANDER.

LII l. uc DOCGIlueS dlu DlSClpilu'
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
is found the following:
"Resozoed, 1, That we advise all ou1
ministers and members to abstain from
the use of tobacco, as injurious to botl
soul and body.
"Resolued, 3, That we recommend
to the annual conferences to require
candidates for admission to be free
from the habit, as hurtful to their ac.
ceptability and usefulness among oul
people" :"
The English Wesleyans will not
receive into the ministry a man ad.
dicted to the use of the noxious weed
and Bishop James, of our own coun:
try, cheers us by his avowed belief
that the time will come when congre.
cations will not accept a pastor who
uses it.
The New York State Congregation.
al Association few years since adop-
ted, without dissent, the following
resolutions:
81. That the tobacco habit is an
enormous evil; and, on account of its
waste Of money, positive injuries to
health, and pernicious example to the
young, Christians ought to abandon it
"2. That this Association earnestly
recommend to all our churches thor
ough measures for instructing the
people as to the manifold mischiefs
flowing from the use Of narcotic drugs,
as we'll as drinks; and that special ef-
forts be made to guard children and
youth from any and every use of to-
bacco."
A Baptist missionary in India, writ
ing Of the interest in the mission
work by the native helpers, states
that they have resolved to abandon to-
bacco and the betel nut, which has a
similar effect, and to give the money
thus saved to the good cause. Why
not send some of these converted, sin
renouncing Indians as missionaries to
this country, that they may exhort
alike all tobacco-sinners and all to-
bacco-Christians to cast their detesta-
BILE idols to the moles and the bats, and
to consecrate the gold and silver thus
redeemed to the service of the one liv-
ing and true God?
At one of the annual meetings Of
an English anti-tobacco society the
chairman stated that they had met in
the name of science, humanity, and
Christianity, to enter their most SOL
emn protest against the growing use
of tobacco. The following resolution
was moved by DR.. Edmunds, of Lon
don:
"That this meeting, impressed with
deep conviction of the physical,
mental, and moral evils resulting from
the use Of tobacco, and regarding with
profound alarm and apprehension
the rapidly extending habit of smok-
ing amongst the youth of our country,
calls upon parents, Sunday-school
teachers, members and ministers of
Christian churches, and all true patri-
OTIS and philanthropists to discounte-
nance the practice to the utmost, both
by precept and example"
| cannot forbear to quote here one
or two passages from the humorously
effective remonstrance of "a Smoking
Minister" In writing to The Adcance,
he says:
Il had hoped, it seems vainly, that,
after the death of Mr.. Trask, no more
unjust and exaggerated statements
and no innuendes and covert reflec-
tions upon us who puff and chew
would be admitted into the newspa-
pers, or prayer-meetings, or the pulpit.
| write while smarting under some
spoken and some implied criticisms
that have touched my sensitiveness."
After enumerating at length the
benefits he has derived from
tobacco, he sums up:
''If | am deprived of my usual
smoke, my nerves are so unstrung
that | am untitled for any utterance
demanding consecutive thought, ac-
curate expression, and deep religious
feeling. 1t only aggravates my diff
Guilty to have it referred to in the Sab
bath-school, or prayer-meeting, OF the
pulpit.
Il do not, however, object to a quiet
discussion of the subject in ministers
meetings, if the majority are smokers
and are very witty. [ am Congre-
gatlonalist, from conviction and early
training; but [ have seriously thought
of joining the Presbyterians, as have
heard that, while they are strict in
doctrine, they are more liberal than
we are in the non-essentials Of prac-
tice. lie The AdUance would use its
influence to have all the public or
printed illusions to this trivial and
entirely personal matter abated, it
would be a great relief to me and
many brethren, in the ministry and
out. Indeed, it might save us to the
denomination
But the question presses: How shall
we stem, if we cannot turn the mighty
current? Shall we petition Congress
to pass laws for abating this nuisance? =?
But are not many of our wise men
and our honorables in both houses in
completely with it? Are they not
themselves helping to swell the cur
rent?
Shall we implore the pulpit and the
press to cry aloud and spare not ?
Thank God for all that has been done
and is now doing! Thanks for the
grand apostle, George Trask, who
fought single-handed till he went up
to take his crown.
The pulpit and the bress!-the au-
thorized rebukers of wrong, the crea-
tors of public sentiment. Sorry am |
to be obliged to admit that such num-
bers Of the moral and religious leaders
in the land, the should-be besiegers in
this warfare, are themselves among
the besieged, that it is felt to be too
delicate a subject to be dealt with un-
compromisingly. One is permitted to
walk softly round about it, and to
touch it very carefully; but no sword
must be lifted lest blood be drawn