The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-10-15

greas OF those organizations among the
people which foster these virtues and
have accomplished % much practical
good IN the world By their advocacy. Iis
Legislation has incorporated. recognIxed
and protected them. But these a-s0cis.
Itione grow ont or voluntary action Of
their members. Their beneficial work
is built upon counsel. persuasion, en-
treaty; not upon statutes or constttu'
Itional provisions.
That certsin persons should mutually
bind themselves BY pledge Ia live with
lout the use Of intoxIcanss is an exercise
|ot their free choice as 10 mode Of life
that no man can question. But that
these nars0ns III any considerable nun.
her should vote for and enact policy 20
compel al men. whether they wish or
not. 10 become members Of their socieiys
this would be ~ unreasonable ns II is H.
legal This Il precisely what the Prohi-
,hifionisis require that all men should
be compelled by law to Join the total ab-
stfnence society. 70 would perhaps be
best that every man or woman in In
dianapolis belong 10 some church. Sup.
pose 4 majority. sincerely convinced OF
this. should pass law compelling every
person az 4 certain age 10 join some
church or religious body. What would
ho Thought OF such an enactment? Or
what benefit would member so ac-
quired be 10 the church? ? What advan.
tage would the church and its affairs be
to 4 member 90 forced TO become One5
Or what account 10 the individual or
community Il . moral quality practiced
from compulsion. because even the op.
portnnity TO offend therein IL taken
awayl Chastity and confluence are
great virtues; but suppose the opportu-
nifty for intercourse between The sexes
were wholly lost. efFectusily prohibited,
Where would then be the merit In pure
life?
ABSTINENCE FOR TUE SAKE or GTHEKS
4 The Prohi6ifionist says even II a right
be inalienable, snd be exercised purely
without danger 70 ourseIves, we should
he willing 70 surrender Il Tor the sake
or others. We can see that this is :
, great duty and that is practice is
Christian virtue. Bnt how Il this duty
! 20 be performed and this virtue 10 he
!. encnuraged3 Certainiy not BY force, BY
: law, hv compqlsion, by constitutional
asnendRent or BY IegisIatiYe euactsneMt.
. For what Is comnondabls in this high
Z quality. abstinence for the sake of Others,
. Is the spirit Of self-sacrifice. But man
! forced BY Law 10 surrender right acts
: in no such spirit. he doee not deny
!. himseit. but il forced by others-that T.
! by the law to do 90. The great apostle
Z Of the Gentiles WW the frst and ablesl
Y advocate Of this doctrine af total abssi.
!. nence and OF the duty Of nbstaining foi
!. the sake of others. 81. Pant decIared
= thai II eating OF meat offended his hrp'h'
:. er. he w0uii eat no more while The
!. world stood. Bnt IL whit words did he
!. mske this vow OF seIf-denisi Did he
I. cav II eating OF meat offended nv
7 brother, Cesar must make decree for
" bidding Ii 10 he eaten there mnst b
! law passed prohibiting the ssle or pur.
. chase Of flesh IN the market the butcher
!. and his occupation must be abolished
: No: none OF these things. The divine
= TEACHER says: 'If eating of mest offend
7 my brother I will eat 10 more This Il
!. voluntary act and uiterance ofhis owr
Y voiition, not compelling or forcing oIh
ers. NOT aholishing meats or forhiddins
the traffic ii flesh. hut saying, with mea
70 and flesh al around him urged hv appe
~. rite, surrounded BY seinpia lion. one 4
II which he might yield without injury Il
At himself. vet for the sske of others VI
At would refrain. This Il pure. simple
1t sincere seIi-renunciation, noble. gencr
r. ops. sublime. worthy OF the sanity maj
st who made II. Bur 10 speak Of = lav
D. n-lcqmpelling snch self-deniai u 10 sink III
a'scs and motive with All iis virine into Al
a'slmost nameless infamy ~ hvpocrisy sn'
az degra sstion. D4yuD TURrIs-
noi