Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-17

ID. Huddle. at the Sunday School
Anniversary Held In the Evangelical
Church, Sabbath Evening July 0,
1884. ...ul.,i-i -.t-.I.o..,
Temperance is the crown Of all Chris
tisn virtues. It is the brightest jewel in
character. 1t makes life in its various
vocations pleasant, honorable and success.
full. We admire the lives of those who
have adopted the noble principles or tenn.
perance as. their guide. We appreciate
their heroism, we love their history.
When God called man into existence
from the lifeless dust, He did not intend
that he should become a slave to the in
toxicating cup, and thereby demoralize
himself. Nor did he design him as an in
telligent being. bearing the stamp Of his
own image to become a victim to the gut
ter. But it is sad and painful fact that
so many of our friends even in the morn
ing of life have fallen victims to the cursed
cup. 1t is indeed mortifying, yea disgust
ing to see so many of our race who might
have become distinguished luminaries in
the galaxy of genius, had they not al
lowed themselves to be led by the vile
hand ofthis monster enemy, down into
the lower regions Of vice, there becoming
moral wrecks, mere ..ciphers aud drones,
in the busy hive of society.
To the boys and girls of the Sunday
School let me kindly forewarn you of this
fact that you have many friends about you
who will tell you there is no harm in tax
ing glass of beer or some other strong
drink once in while. II you are thus
prevailed upon, beware Of the danger that
turks within such words. What did every
drunkard do to enter his professionf Did
he not take his first glass, and was it not
his first step toward the drunkards grave.
1t may be true that the moderate drinker
does not becomes drunkard. But where
is his influence?
We are taught in one Of Gods COM
mandments, "Thou shalt not kill" The
intoxicating cup does nothing less than
kill men and destroy their souls, so then
ifany one should attempt to persuade you
that there is no harm in a strong drink
you mark him down as you enemy, yes
worse than that, mark him as your muir
derer. If FIVE were to ignore the temper
ance lessons in the Sabbath Schools I
would almost deem 1t a perfect failure in
its mission. You as Sabbath School teach
ers are bearing weighty responsibilities.
1t ought to be the goal of your ambition
to elevate human nature to the zenith OF
purity; to raise higher and higher the
standard of morality. Have you ever
thought of this established truth that the
happiness and the future welfare and
prosperity Of our nation depends upon
your instruction, upon your example.
The gospel, lever is placed In your hands
with which 10 move out of our land this
organized liquor traffic. Some years ago
we concluded to escape the bondage Of
rum and take journey toward the prom
ised temperance land. Some of our men
by the way turned out deserters and trait
ors, others became stubborn and disobe-
dient. Through the delinquences of these
men, we were involved and perplexed in
the wilderness of intemperance. Vic
tories and defeats, discouragements, and
hard strugglings, characterized our tenn
persnce tour. And yet by the loyalty,
faithfulness and diligence Of the majority
of our temperance band, we had been en-
abled to reach within sight of our land of
promise. We behold with joy, gladness
and high hope, of soon possessing that
land of prosperity, flowing with "milk
and honey" But we also see within its
dominion great giants of evil, which we
must conquer before we can enter the land.
There stands before us, especially mod ern
Jericho, strongly fortified with walls and
bulwarks, with gates Of iron braces, which
the Lord of hosts has given us to capture
and to destroy. There sits King Alcohol
on his exalted throne, proudly and boast
ingly, counting his forts by the thousands
and his soldiers by the tens of thousands,
his wealth and provisions by the millions,
and defying our temperance armies to at
tack him. He and his friends have their
forts established with painted windows
and screened doors standing in wait with
their snaky lassoes in their hands to throw
around the appetites of our soldiers to
draw them into their ranks. Modern
Jericho is noted for its ,wickedness. The
devil and his agents have their headquar-
ters there. Nearly every sin committed
in our land has its origin there. This
liquor traffic is strongly lntrenched in the
perverted opposite of our men. 1t has
mighty hold upon our political parties.
Yes it is growing at the core of our ma
I.tion. .....
1t behooves us as temperance workers to
rally together our forces, form in line,
take Christ as our Captain. and march
around these walls of Jericho, and by
faith in Jehovah the walls will crumble to
the ground. King Alchohol and his
friends will be slain. Then the shouts of
victory and the jubilee trumpets will
sound and reecho from pole to pole and
from shore to shore. Then, yes then, our
nation will wear crown of triumph. up
on it shall be inscribed, Prohibition now
and forever.
This aytroYoa tirad foal;pn ,,,o have ~