The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-25
Temperance Meeting.

L
Christian workers of this city, under the
leadership of the pastors, to hold series
of union services in the interest of tenn
perancc. The first of these meetings
was held last Sabbath night At the Con-
gregational church. The building was
densely packed, even the standing room
being occupied, and many were turned
away, being unable to enter. Through
out the entire service the very best atten-
ton was given. All were highly pleased
with the excellent singing finely render
ed by the choir. The sermon, OF which
we present merely an outline, was deliv.
cred by the Rev. Mr.. Savidge
TExT-Prov. 1881 ,32.-"Look not upon the
wine when il is red, when II giveth Its color In
I'm the cup, when II mOveth itself Alright. Al
the last 1t biteth like serpent and stingeth
like an adder"
First, VIC draw from the text that the
drink custom is mighty evil this
taught by the text and by the whole
Bible. The Bible artists have painted
pictures to show this evil of drink
What glimpses are given to us of Lot,
Noah and BelshazZar Then the divine
penmen write words that strike like
Damascus blades at this great wrong.
Such are Eph. 5:ls; Col. II 81; Cor.
1910.
The pages of Profane History speak
right out on this mighty evil. An en-
pire that rules l20,00O,OO0 of men has
the first blow struck at her by drink.
Seventy six licentious Pretorian guards
would never have cut off the head of
Pertinax had they not been inflamed by
wine. Alexander the Great, the most
celebrated of all military heroes, was
finally overcome by the fatal cup of Her
cules. The Middle Ages were dark with
crime and wrong, traceable ofttimes to
drink. The brilliant writer of Scottish
poetry knew something Of the curse of
drink. And our nation still mourns that
dark cloud hangs over the career of
that New Hampshire boy, who had
gained, while yet in his early manhood,
a seat in the chief council OF the nation.
The drink custom explains, too, why the
Virginius was caught asleep in Cuban
waters, and why crime lies at the doors
of the Loeb Earn.
Our own senses confirm the testimony
of Sacred and Profane History concern
ing drink. We can look around and SEQ
how many homes are made desolate by
drink. We miss the young men who sat
with US at table, and some one says,
died from drink" The Persians plant
red flag wherever tiger kills man.
Alas! how many red flags would drink
have To set ups
Secondly, the text points out the cure
for the drink evil q" Look not thou upon
the wine :" that is, practice total absti-
hence. Drunkards are made by moder-
ate drinking. But man who never
drinks will never become a drunkard.
We would to God that young and old
would obey this counsel before they
have to wrestle with passion as strong
as death. The text tells us by example
to speak outplainly and forcibly against
this wrong. All should speak. God
has ever used human words to overthrow
human wrong. The other day l heard
of little child, Lizzie Leslie, who beg
ged the saloon-keeper not to sell her
papa any more liquor. The promise was
given, and in year after the drunkard's
family had home of their own among
the trees.
The text does not say so, but we be-
lieve an effort ought to be made, if pos
sible, to enforce our present laws with
reference to selling liquor on the Sab
bath, to minors and to confirmed drunk
ards. But men who stand high in this
city have tried to have our laws enforced,
but have been unsuccessful. The truth
is, these laws are not made, in our judg.
ment, to be enforced. What would you
think of such law as this :
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Mime
sofa: That no one shall steal or murder on
Sunday-no one shall steal from a minor, OIL
within two miles OF a Methodist camp ground
Then we shall have to vote as we pray
ere this wrong of drink is wiped out
The State has a right to command any
thing which enhances the public free
dom. If the State sees any man or Sc
of men engage in a traffic detrimental
to the public good, she may prohibi
this traffic. There is now no real issue
between the two great parties. Wiscon
sin has lately made good showing il
the field for prohibition. Look at wha
Kansas has done. There the law is onl
six months old, but glorious results ar
already seen. -Four hundred and eight
drinking houses are closed. Crime ha
been lessened, general business improves
and the poor made happy. One woman
said, ~ think Kansas is the best plac
l ever saw. I used to go hungry ant
rarely dressed decently, because ever
pay day my husband would get drum
and spend all his money for drink. Blu
here in Kansas he can't get whisky AM
he spends his money on his family"
Then we must look to God to aid u:
. John xv:5-Without me ye can do moth