Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-21
Gcmpfrante.
The Working Temperance Church,

Every true and timely reform should be
born and nursed and reared and supported,
by the church of Jesus Christ. There Is
not single moral precept which sinful
humanity needs but the church should
teach it; there Is not wholesome exam
pie to be set but the church should practice
il The Christian church will he the
most Chris like which does the most ITO
seek and save the lost"
Among all the great moral reforms, none
has Il stronger claim on Christian men and
Christian ministers than the enterprise of
saving society from the crime and curse
OF drunkenness. And intemperance never
VIII be chrcked. the liquor traffic never
wnl be prohibited, the drinking US ,ges of
social lite will never bs overtnrown until
he members OF Cnrist's church all feel
tnat they are also members of c ,rist 3
great temperance society. If the church
does not save the world, then the world
will sink the church. And what bur
laSque IT is to style that church organizi
uon salt of the earth" which h - Il
trimmer in its Iulpit and tipplers in its
pews!
Holding these incontrovertible opinions
we earnestly insist that every Christian
church which expects to do its whole
work must have temperance department
as much as Sunday school or u mission
ary department. 1t must have machin
cry to promote total abstinence, Just as
much as machinery to promote Bible
distribution. or Mission schools, or Sab
bath observance. A we'll appointed steam
or must not only have good engine in its
hull, and Il good pilot at the wheel, but
good supply of llfo preservers in the
cabins.
What are some OF the essential features
OF working temperance church,
l. We reply that the first essential is,
thorough teetotaler in its pulpit An ac
tive temperance church with wine bib,
bing minister is AS rare curiosity as a
victorious army with Il drunken command
er. A Jealous teetotaler will not only
practice abstinence from Intoxicating
drinks. but he will preach it as vital
part of his gospel message on the Lords
day. The Bible abounds In temperance
texts; and every community abounds in
people who need 10 hear them 1t is the
pastors office TO expound the causes and
the curse OF drunkenness, It's his office to
create temperance conscience among his
congregation. 1t is his duty to take the
lead in arranging and conducting temper
ance meetings in his neighborhood.
Not onl y may Jealous temperance pas
tor look for revivals in his flock, but also
for more extended influence among the
surrounding world.
A fearless preacher against popular sins
commands. in the long run, the popular
ear and the popular heart. He may repel
few trimmers and time servers; he NAV
awaken some bad passions In the self
indulgent and the lovers of their lusts
but he attracts to him the warm hearted,
the philanthropic, the spiritually minded.
Drunkards' wives will persuade their hus.
bands to come and hear him. Mothers
| will rejoice to place their sons under his
faithful ministry. The benevolent will CO.
operate with an earnest advocate of
Christian reform. The masses love and
honor bold defender of the right. It Is
not the man who drifts with with the cur.
rent of evil, but he who, like the sure an
| chored rock, stems the current, that Is sure
to arrest the popular attention and com
mand the popular heart.
2. Every efficient church should have
one or more we'll organized total absti-
nence societies, which should be auxiliary
TO national or state societies, as the w. G.
L IT,, |, D. G. L. or prohibition alliances,
etc
In Surrey Chapel, London, the celebra
ed Newman Hall has temperance socie.
" which has enrolled 5000 members In
| fifteen years; $50 reformed inebriates have
been received into membership with the
church in which Bro. Hall Is SO b,ld anC
faithful spiritual loader. There is also
n Band of Hope which enrolls a grea
number of children.
| This leads US to say that workine
importance church will lay out no small
part of It's efforts on the youth of its Sun.
iay school. As the Sunday school deal ID
with the beginning of life. it should logic
ally deal with tho beginning of SIN. fall
our children could be kept from touching
the first glass, iutemperance would dlsap
| pear.
In efficient Sunday school operations
the following ar9 absolutely indispensa
ble
Good temperance books in the library
A circulation of some temperance pape
among the scholars.
The total abstinence pledge discreetl,
administered by the teachers or superin
tendent.
Frequent and simple addresses TO tn,
school on the dangers of tampering witt
drink, and on the sin and sorrows of To,
drunkard.
| No teachers breath should ever be fla
yored by the odors Of the wine glass O
the beer cup.
| Total abstenence should be taught as
Christian virtue. Woe unto him VIII
causeth one of these little ones to STUN
blc."
Our urtinalrecommendation s,that ever,
church member should make temperance ::
part of his daily religion. The bottle Il
the deadliest foe to Christ In our churches
and our communities. A friend of Chris
must be the enemy OF the bottle. Nor,
souls are ruined by the Intoxicating cul
than by any single vice or error on tn
globe. Every professsd Christian VIII,
gives his example to the drinking usage
ls partner in the tremendous havoc
which those evil customs produce.
"lf any man will come after me- sai
the divine Master, "let him deny himself.
i And thegreat apostle only clenohed this glo
rious precept when he said, ut is good no
to drink the wine whereby my brothe
stumbloth, or is offended. or Is mad
weak" On this immutable rock OF self
denial stands the temperance reform
There the divine Founder of Christianity
placed 1t; with Christianity 1t Is linked
with Christianity 1t will stand or perish
Wedo not hesitate to close this brief pape
with the declaration that with the triumph
and prevalence of Christian selfdenial il
the church is bound up the only hope O
the triumph and prevalence of pur
christianity In cur world. -ReU. Thco. l.
Cmyler D. D., Of Brooblws. " ].
Ono Sunday. at Montgomery we wer
talking about duels, and when the name
!, of coxoucI s,a -A;o, ~vhn hnI r~ono -. /.