The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-03-17
Temperance.

OAKLAND. Md, March 10th, 1888.
ED. OF THE REPUBLICAN Dear
SIR I'm your issue of this date you
have misrepresented my views OF
the temperance question as delivered
last Thursday week before the people
of Oakland. That / do not "rehect
the views of the Band of Hope" is
correct but that "took q position in
opposition TO total abstinence" is just
as incorrect.
After pointing out that temperance
is the teaching of scripture treated of
total abstinence" as a remedy in Ger
tain cases to procure the same. There
are certain classes whom l ddoised,
for obvious reasons to be total alb
stainers, viz: youths and young men
those who are unable to be temperate
without abstaining totally and those
who may benefit others that are weak
by denying themselves. In my lee
ture 1 advocated the views of the
Church Temperance Society, which is
doing so much good work in New
York at this present time, and in
many other places a branch of which
1 am only awaiting papers to organ.
ize in Oakland and at Westernport.
This society admits into her ranks all
who are interested in the cause of
temperance, whether total abstainers
or not. Representative men of all
denominations have endorsed her
views as the most practical yet pro-
mulgated.
Total abstinence Is not the end TO
be sought, but temper ance and when
ever total abstinence is necessary to
dttoin this, then it is the remedy pre-
scribed. Carry. for example, the
doctrine of total abstinence to its leg
itimate end in other branches of in
temperance. Fashion is one of the
gods of this order. Its behests are
all-powerful with very many, and
very many souls are lost by following
its dictates, thereby 'neoLecti1g SAL
Vation." Shall l tell a person to alb
stain from clothes altogether, or dress
in temperate manner? Whatever
we may say of the former, the latter
is the desired result. have the right
to teach all men temperance in dress;
but | cannot assume the authority in
the light of Scripture to tell the de.
Gently dressed that they must doff all
and only wear a Good TempIar's
scarf. Neither have L the right to
tell a glutton that he must totally
abstain from eating. All Gods gifts
haye their legitimate use it is their
abuse that we must endeavour to pre-
vent; and this by teaching that
"whether therefore We eat, or drink.
or whatsoever We do, do all to the glory
of God"
Very truly, yours.
WIN. HERBERT AssHEToN,
Rector of st. Matthew's Parish
We fail to be convinced that we
were incorrect in saying that the lee
turer ''took position in opposition
to total abstinence" and we believe
we will be borne out in the assertion
that the lecture, from beginning to
end, was in opposition to the prin-
cipIes of total abstinence, and was so
accepted by all total abstainers pres
ent. And further, we claim that the
whole tenor of the above article is in
the same direction. If the wearing
of clothes caused as much suffering,
misery and crime as intoxicants do,
and they could be dispensed with
without doing violence to health,
comfort and decency, who would adj
vocate the wearing of clothes? The
same may be said of eating. If the
above examples be applied to the
position assumed by the writer, it
will appear as ridiculous as that he
would have total abstainers assume.
ED. REPUBLICAN,.