The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-04-22
TEMPERANCE SERMON
Delivered by Rev. c, w. KetchRm,
Sunday Morning, April 18th, 1885,
at the M. L. Church.
pa 200. ]. d "And 70 Knowlsdg0 Tem.

Cd Peter, /; 6; "And to knowledge Tenn
perance"
The theme before us to-day is Temper
anoe. To all the previously noticed graces
aud eEcellencies we are to add temDsrdaCs
Mr.. Wesley in his note on this passage,
says, "Christian temperance implies the
voluntary abstaining from all pleasure
which does not lead to God. It extends to
all things inward aud outward the due
government of every thought as well as
affection" Binney, defines it TO be, "self-
government, self-control-n regal power to
| limit or resist
Temperance is an essential element of
Christian character. It is self-possessiou
moderation, equilibrium of feeling, wise
regulation of action, and the complete sub
! iugation Of appetite and passion to the
sway Of reason, enlightened by the C0rd
and by the spirit Of God.
! The modern use Of the word temperance
is mainly If not entirely confined to the
matter Of abstaining from all intoxicating
drinks. 1t turns the thought at once to
Che eXcegses Of iH1temperGRcs. Every one
knows that the mention Of the magic word
Temperance lifts the curtain, and reveals
the dark back ground of poverty and crime,
drunkenness and revelry, debauchery and
reeking vice. oIphanage and widowhood,
frenzy aud delirium, blasted hopes, ruined
bodies, and lost souls. These and the
trooping demons that surround the unhap-
py victims, together with all the blighting
effects on society, give an awful and lurid
grandeur to the subject.
The sad havoc Of intemporance rises so
fearfully to view, that it becomes almost
impossible to speak in moderation on the
subject Of temperance. Certainly there is
no room for us to encourage a moderate
use of intoxicating drinks. The oft re-
lpeated failures In this matter ought to be
enough to convince us that there is no pos
sibls security only in total abstinence.
Perhaps no better definition of temperance
can be given than this, total abstinence
from all things hurtful or Intoxicating, and
a moderate use of all things beneficial
The plea that Paul advised Timothy to take
a little wine for his stomach's sake and his
often infrmities, can hardly sanctify the
Ruzzling habits of some who seek to per-
vert Scripture and find an excuse for their
evil practices. Paul's companion was
Luke, who is called the beloved physi-
cian.N And Paul's advice to Timothy was
undoubtedly simply the medical prescrip-
ton Of DR.. Luke
It is q very difficult thing to speak on the
subject of temperance to-day, not because
the theme is barren of interest, but because
Of prejudics against it, from political OF
other considerations, and also because we
as friends of temperance have been deceived
and bafiled by legislation, till there is dis
gust, and some degree of discouragement
in the public mind. There are those who
say nothing is practicable, and nothing
need be hoped from legislation, or from
mixing tho subject with politics." All oi
which of course means, they do not intend
to meddle with the matter for the time
being.
But at this point, will only ask few
questions. Can any one claiming to be @
friend to law and order sit down and dc
nothing while the rum power is debating
Legislation, over-awing politicians, corrupt
ing the Judiciary, and paralyzing the ad
ministration Of law, fostering crime, anC
sndangsring the very foundations ot
society? Can you fold your arms, nurst
your wrath and do nothing, while the
liquor business by day and by night gosl
on running your neighbors, and perohanct
your own family? Will you sit and lOol
on while an incondiary is firing your owl
home? win you wait till a robber hal
plundered your home of all its valuables
before you seek to eject him {? Let me say
to you in all kindness, you can not GB0rC
! to ignore this question. No matter Wha
has pleased or displeased you, you have TOT
much at stake 10 be Indifferent. You car
not ignore the subject if you would. Poll
tieians can no more crowd this subject ou
< Of politics than they can turn back Niagara
f OF prevent an eclipse. They may throw
+ dust in the air, beat their gongs, fire thei
= crackers like superstitious Chinees, but al
to no purpose, the eclipse marches righ
on, as i. did the other day Once upon
, time it was determined to keep slavery on
, of politics, and even solemn religious as
6 semblies decreed that ministers and peopl
= should have nothing to do with its discus
: sion. But the agitation went right on 81
y will it be with this temperance issue.
3 1t will be in politics for several reasons
: First, because the saloon men and liquo
& dealers persist in putting it there, they ar
y determined to rule or FuiH Secondly
/, because the people have some sense o
2 manhood left, and have conscience on tn
o subject of submitting to the tyranny ant
= havoc of iRteRDerGHCe. Thirdly, / thin
Z it will be in the politics of the land, be
3 cause God has not lost his interest in Ou
u country, and doubtless means to rid it o
the curse of intemperance. And who Bhal
8 say that the foulest blot on modern civil
q zation, the evil that loads society wit
y heavier burdens, and more intolerabl
a woes, than any and all other things, ough
b not to be in politics. No other quesio
ID before the American people, has in it hal
q the veal or woe for the commonwealth tht
"a this has.
3 Therefore it ought to engage the atteu
!. ton Of every philanthropic legislator
M But not to follow this thought further
30 present, let us remember that our text seel
sy the general good, by requiring each iudiyiC
DO ual 10 cultivate temperance, aud to be ten
y- perate. Whatever may or may not be don
~ by legislature, or in the line of prohibition
st each individual must be pure, or forfeit h
ld Christian character. Christianity seek
%. here, as in oil moral reforms, 10 wor
s, through individuals. And when conscience
principle, and character are developed
I'd these being united become the resstle
nm power behind the throne, bring about thor
Ss beneficial revolutions that overturn dyua
ties, and establish righteous reforms, an
civil liberty
But after you and have obeyed the to-
so far as our experience and practice mt
go, there still remains Rn obligation upC
us to do what we can for the removal
5s- this unmitgated curse Of intemperan
"a from society. Politicians vi
lg' do nothing only as they are forced by Il
of people.
n. Politicians say ut is dangerous to par
on interests, to touch the temperance question
BiE But they ought to know they can not