Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-05-07

never be exercised WneH any Iloi"l
evil is likely to flow from such eXer-
else. Especially will no such prac-
tice or usage be abetted as tends to
the physical or spiritual ruin of those
"for whom Christ died" The ques-
ton of eating meats used in idolatrous
sacrifice belongs to the past. But one
of the most vital questions for our
time is this. Am | justified in my
Masters sight, in drinking what may
be quite ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS tomyselt
if by such an act encourage another
to drink what may destroy him? In
plain English ought | to give coun-
tenance to the drinking usage of So
ciety? Every intelligent observer
will admit that these drinking Gus
toms are the chief snare in enticing
young men into the use of the intoXi-
eating glass. Few young men begin
to drink by themselves, the contagion
of example and the requirements of
pernicious Fashion" draw thousands
into this vortex. 1t is the drinking
usage which often makes it so difficult
for an inebriate to reform; the glass is
set up before him and his intlam-
mable appetite takes fire. The drink
ing usages feed the dram dens. If
these fatal usages could be done away,
prohibitory laws against the liquor
traffic would be almost SupertluOuS.
Now it is an undenIable fact, that pro-
Tossing Christians have quite too large
share in the perpetuation of these
social usages. There are too many
bottles of wine and ale Saying moth
ing of stronger alcoholic drink.) on
the table and sideboards of those from
whom we expect better things. st
is good neither to cat flesh, nor to
drink aOine, nor anything whereby thy
brother stum6leth."
Let this noble principle of Christ
chiefest apostle once become the law
Of every christian action and the
Church of God would take at once its
rightful attitude towards the most
terrible curse and crime of our day.
The "bloodn of lost souls which SO
perish would never be found on "our
skirts.n
five go to the very core of Christi
anity. We find there the principle of
self denial. Not what we take up for
ourselves, but what we give up for
Christ sake, or for the good of others,
makes us rich. Lodge this principle
deep down in the conscience, and it
will sprout up into hundred beauti-
full and beneticient acts, and one Of
these will be the practice of entire alb
stinence from intoXicants. DR.. Phil
ip Brooks, of Boston, in his admir-
able discourse on ''The Willing Sur
render,n remarks: '"There is a quiet
beauty which think nobody can help
feeling, in the fact that thousands Of
people in England and America to-day
are unostentatiously refusing them
selves an indulgence which they more
or less desire, and which they know
would be for them wholly innocent
lest they should do harm to the lives
and character Of any of their brethren.
But that word "innocent" demands
careful scrutiny. A thing is innocent
which produces no injury. We are
willing to admit that there are some
persons who can use alcoholic bever-
ages 1--WE are not discussing medical
prescriptions without producing that
injurious effect called drunkenness.
Not every man who drinks a glass of
wine becomes sot. But let it be
carefully observed that glass of al
coholic wine is not innocent in the
same sense that a glass of milk is, or
glass of water. They have no ten
dency to infame the appetite, Or to
disorder the brain, or to poison the
blood, or to get deadly mastering
over both body and soul. No
one feels called upon to deny himself
milk or water or coffee for the sake Of
his neighbor. 1t is just because alco-
holic beverages contain in themselves
these qualities Of infiaming appetite,
and disordering the brain, and de-
stroying the reason that they are
dangerous. Surely no beverage which
contains in itself according to Gods
Holy Word a "serpent" and q "viper"
can strictly and honestly be called in
nocent. It may not overcome every
body who hampers with it, but the
very fact that it contains these en-
dangering qualities, and the addition
al fact that it has slain it's millions
upon millions for time and eternity,
puts it under ban.
None of us liveth to himself alone;
our influence is as inseparabie from
us as our shadow on sunshiny day.
"Why don't you take glass of wine Pr
said distinguished clergyman, at a
public table, to his next neighbor, be-
fore whom he pushed decanter.
The quiet answer was "On account of
my example"
The ministers countenance tinged
little, and he secretly resolved to re-
member hereafter Paul's precept that
bishop should not be given to wine.
No; nor should any other man or
woman who regard their bodies as
temples of the Holy spirit, and who
desire to shun the guilt of tempting
others to destruction. Total alb
stinence is the absolutely sure and
safe course for everybody. Total alb
stinence plants itself on this Bible
basis, eff wine make my brother to
offend, I will drink no wine while the
world standeth."
RAGING FOREST FIRES.