The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-08-19
A Remarkable Sermon on 1ntomporanoo,

Que o { the best, most courageous, earnest,
aud complete sermons on the subject Of in
temperance we ever had the pleasure OF
hearing, was preached on last Sunday
evening in the Reformed and Lutheran
church, of Weissport, by the Rev. j. E.
Freeman, the pastor Of the Reformed con-
gregation meeting in that place. Coming
as it did from clergyman of the Reformed
church, we were more surprised than II IL
had been preached by minister of the
Evangelical or Methodist church for as is
we'll known, this is a common subject with
most OF them, and the members are SO dis
cipined and educated on temperance tnst
they expect sermons on this subject.
The rev. gentleman, took his text from
Gal. V. 81. Drunkenness, revellings and
such ike-they which do such things shall
not inherit the kingdom Of God. Alter
giving the two principal words of the text
in the German language, (sauffern, fressen)
which agree with tho English words,
drunkenness ana gluttony, he simplfed the
word revelipgs. He then, among many
other excellent points and strong arguments
against this gigantic evil, spoke as follows (:
"The reason for taking these two words for
my text, is because drunkuness and glut-
tony generally go togeth ther," he then referred
to the shrewdness of the drunkard in eating
and the drunkard- maker in selling salt
pretzels to create thirst, TO be able TO drink
more. "Mauy are gluttons, and the proyelb
is true that more dig their graves with thu ir
teeth than with Spades but this plea Of ex-
cusng drunkenness and arguing that the
custom Of drinking is right, because many
eat like guttons, is very illogical, and yet
we find some who excuse themselves in this
foolish way. Because one thing Is evil docs
not make another evil right. Drunkenness
and the custom Of drinking is a very great
wrong to prove this | need simply refer
you to the fact that 10000 persons Gil
drunkards graves in the United States alone
every year; picture to yourselves the misery
aud wretchedness and poverty of the
drunkard's family, the tears of the widowed
mothers, the sorrow and disgrace of the or
phaued children, the rags and degradation,
and awful misery Of the poor drunkard
himself. We have some IN our own church
in Weissport engaged in the sale Of strong
drink but they say the man 50 engaged
must make living; but shall he make a
living by robbng others aud making hum
dreds and thohsands of drunkards shal!
one man pay high rent, aud make money
besdes,by making hundreds and thousands
sufferers. 1t would be good If the hotels
and saloons in which intuxicanS are sold
would be prohibited altogether, and wish
for the day when this great evil will be
lu our own church, and we should not al
low such to remain members. More strict
discipline is necessary in our churches, and
this is one of the things that makes our
churches comparatively powerless and cor
rupt. Many preachers are afraid to speak
plainly on tins subject, and many lack the
drive some members out of the church, and
decrease their salary, in other words, it
might effect their popularity and pocket
book, bu: ii is time to talk plainly on this
subject, and if cannot preach here because
preach the truth, can go to some other
place and preach il. The church and church
consistores should take bold stand on the
subject Of temperance; the church should
take leading part in fighting the eyils of
lntemperance. This great evil would soon
be swept from our land, if we had only the
moral courage and the will to undertake it.
We have the power to do it, by the laws
which God has placed IN our hands, and all
that is wanted is the moral back bone To
engage in the work of reform. Intemper.
ance would be swept from our land very
soon, il the strong hand Of woman could do
it. Those who never drank anything that
intoxicates, warn against taking the first
glass; do not say that you are strong enough
to stop before becoming drunkards, the ex-
perience of drinkers in the past proves the
contrary, and the only safe way is to follow
the bible and let it alone Let HIM II at
thlnketh he stGndeth take heed lest he fdll.'
We sometimes find young men, lin some
cases, church members), sitting in front o.
hotels and lager beer saloons; if you have
done 50, do not do it again for this is often
the first step to drunkenness aud ruin. /
would like TO give little advice to the
single ladies' present,it is this; Do not marry
a man if he drinks do MT even keep the
company of young man who drinks mod
erately, avoid such a man as you would a
black snake. Do not think you can make
the young man sober by marrying him, lor
you will certainly be plunged into life OF
misery"
We consider this a model sermon on in
temperance, and feel sorry that space an.
fOrgetiulness prevent us from producing il
entire. 1t was a plain, practical word to
ca h in due season, and we would especial
ly recommend il as model to many
pre- lchers of less courage aud truthluluess,
who in some cases that we have known,
have drunken and drunkard making church
members. In conversation with Rev. Free
mau afterwards, he told Inc that drunkards
in the church should be brought to disci-
pline, and that he intended disciplinlng a
number. lie also assentsd to the fact that
the the moderate drinker Of to-day, will be
the drunkard Of next year, and eventually
be Que eof 10 900 filling drunkards grave. In
four weeks, from last Sunday he will preach
on the subject of Temperance. and we be
speak for him fu ! house. Come and hear
solid temperance facts. c. S. W.
Friday evening Col. Jas. ]. Miller Post
No. 273, G. A. r. of Weatheriy, We muster
ed in by Department Inspector General
Thomas Munroe, of Wilxesbarre. The new
post started IN with some 40 members, and
/