The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-10-23
THE ONLY SAFETY.

Extract from Sermon on Intemperance,
Delivered by Lyman Beeeher, ID. D., in
1926.
There should be extended through
the community an aI-pervading sense
OF the danger there is of falling into
this sin. Intemperance is q disease as
well as crime, and were any other dis
ease as contagious, of as marked symp-
toms and as mortal, to pervade the
land, it would create universal con-
sternation; for the plague is scarcely
more contagious or deadly; and yet we
mingle fearlessly with the diseased. and
in spite of admonition we bring into
our dwellings the contagion, apply it
to the lip, and receive it into the
system.
| know that much is said about the
prudent use of ardent spirits; but we
might as well speak of the prudent use
of the plague-of fire handed pru-
IDENTITY around among powder-of
poison taken prudently every day or
of Yipers and serpents introduced pru-
IDENTITY into our dwellings, to glide
about as a matter of courtesy to visitors,
and of amusement to our children.
First or last, in spite of your pru-
dence, the contagion will take-the fatal
spark will fall,upon the train-the dele
terious poison will tell upon the system
and the fangs of the serpent will in
flict death. There is no prudent use of
ardent spirits, but when it is used as
medicine. All who receive it into the
system are not destroyed by it. But if
any vegetable were as poisonous to as
many as the use of ardent spirits proves
destructive, it would be3banished from
the table; it would not be prudent TO
use it at all If in attempting to cross
a river upon an elastic beam as many
should fall in and be drowned as at
tempt to use spirits prudently and fail,
} the attempt to cross in that way would
be Observation-Disclosures would be no pru-
dent use of that mode of crossing. The
effect of attempting TO use ardent spir-
its prudently is destructive to such null
titudes as precludes the possibility of
prudence in the use of it. When we con
slider the deceitful nature of this sin,
; and its irresistible power when it has
obtained an ascendency, no man can
use it prudently, or without mocking
God can pray while he uses it, lead us
not into temptation. There is no ne
cessity for using it at all, and that it is
presumptuous to do so.
~ A wakeful recollection should be
maintained of the distinction between
intemperance and drunkenness. So long
as men suppose that there is neither
crime nor danger in drinking, short of
what they denomnate drunkenness,
they will cast off fear and move onward
to ruin by silent, certa n course, unit
destruction comes upon them, and they
can not escape. 1t should te known
therefore and admitted that to drink
daily, at stated times, any quantity of
ardent spirits is intemperance, or to
drink periodically as often as days, and
times, and seasons, may furnish tempta-
ton and opportunity is intemperance.
1t may not be for any one time the in
temperance of animal or mental excite
ment, but it is an innovation upon the
system and the beginning of a habit
which can not fail to generate disease,
and will not be pursued by one hundred
men without producing many drunk
ards.
1t is not enough, therefore, to erect
the flag ahead, to mark the spot where
th drunkard dies. 1t must be planted
at the entrance of his course, proclaim
ing in waving capitals: ",This is the way
to death!F' Over the whole territory
of ''prudent use," it must wave and
warn. For if we can not stop men iii
the beginning, we can not separate be-
tween that and the end. He who lets
ardent spirits alone before it is meddled
with is safe, and he only. 1t should be
in every family contraband article, or
if it be admitted, it should be allowed
for medical purposes only. 1t should
be labeled as we label Iaudanum-an
"Touch not, taste not, handle not
should meet the eye on every vessel
which contains it.