Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-11-19
WHAT OF IT?
Dr. Lyman Abbott's Absurd Assumption
on the Wine Question The True
Issue in the Drink Problem.

printed in a New York paper, is being
eagerly copied far and wide, in various
forms, by papers which are the creatures
of the rum power, and which truckle to it
on all occasions:
"The Prohibitionists received a knock
down blow from the pulpit when the Rev.
lyman Abbott, himself almost an ascetic,
wrote that although in the time of the New
Testament there was a sect of Prohibition
lists in the church, they We're not counten-
anced by Jesus, for He was a moderate
drinker. and by making wine and by His
example encouraged others to drink. But
the Prohibitionists have this to fall back
npon-wine is not what the majority of
men are thinking of when they demand
that the liquor trade shall not be interfered
with"
Whatever Rev. Lyman Abbott may say.
and with all due Difference TO his learning,
there is not one ioa of proof that our
Savior ever was "a moderate drinker." We
do not intend to 60 into discussion of the
time worn question rs to whether the wine
which Christ made at the wedding feast in
Cana or Galilee was fermented or infer
mented, and hence whether it was intoxi-
eating or simply the harmless Juice of the
grape freshly pressed from the fruit. The
opinion of those who have gone furthest
into the necessary historical research to
elucluate this question is that it was not
intoxicating, because unfermcnted. For
ourselves we are not willing to believe that
the mighty Founder of the faith Of mill
ions, the Son of God Himself clothed with
humanity. either coun,enanced or per-
mitted. during His sojourn upon earth, the
habit Of drinking--eyen moderate" drink
ing.
No, we do not believe Lyman Abbott nor
his assertions. He may lie sincere in them,
but sincerity of belief does not make what
ever he may believe the truth. But, for
the purpose OF argument, let us assume
that his statements NAV be true; what then?
We, as Christians, a,e bound TO observe
the commands that have been laid upon us
by Jesus. Are We commanded to drink
wine. save in commemoration OF the death
of our Saviour, at the solemn celebration
Of the Lords Supper? No.
The assumption in the paragraph above
quoted is that, rs Christ, according to Ly-
man Abbott's belief. drank wine in moder-
ation, therefore it is not wrong for all men
OF the present day to be moderate drinkers;
nay, more than this-that the example of
Our Savior is to be followed.
This latter assumption does not follow.
Christ was a Jew, and He followed strictly
all the ohservances of the ceremonial law
of Moses. Shall we do the same? Are we
to understand that we must avoid eating
pork, in any form, because Christ never
used it? That we must eat only the food
recognized as clean by the great israeliish
lawgiver, because Our Savior did 80? The
argument is absurd.
What, then, shall be said of the arou-
ment involved in the assumption that be-
cause Christ did not in SO many words pro
hlblt drinking, that it is permissible to us?
inns 1sn common argument with the up
holders OF the rum power, as the Scliptural
argument, Cursed be Canaan" was, Thirty
years ago, one of tie sheet anchors of the
defenders OF the nccursed system of human
slavery.
The plain fact in the matter is, that it is
not OF the slightest moment to us of this
latter day whether Christ drank wine. or
made VINE by miracle at Cana, or permit
ted His disciples to drink wine.
The only question that is presented to us
i'll the drink problem is whether a man is
as good citizen, as good a son, as good
husband, as good a father, when he drinks
as when he does not.
Drinking wine made from the pure Juice
OF the grape in the days of Christ is one
thing, and drinking rum, and gin, and
whisky, and brandy. and beer-all of which
were then unknown-is quite another.
Wine is mocker," and at the best lit
biteth like serpent and stingeth like an
adder, says Holy Writ What form of
words is strong enough TO formulate the
awfnl consequences Of drinking the hell
broths that are prepared by the brewers,
and distillers, and rectiiers of TODAY. with
10
crease tenfold the evil of the alcohol and
other constituents of the liquors them
selves: With all the warnings scattered
through the Scriptures, Of prophets and
apostles, who can say that Christianity
conferences drinking?
The true rule for mankind as ia INV
gwen line OF conduct should be: What
are It's effects upon the person-upon his
physical system, upon his moral nature?
What are they upon his standing as /. use
tnl citizen and member of the common.
wealth: And what are its effects upon the
community at large and the nation? Meas
ure rum drinking by these standards. and
what do We find?
We lind that all drinking is dangerous
even moderate" drinking. There is no
habit that SO insensibly steals upon q man,
and makes him its slave. The grave has
encountered thousands of moderate"
drinkers who died of rum-base. abiect
victims OF the terrible thirst which over
powered them.
TO the body it is poison. 1t ruins the
nerves, it enfeebles the brain. it DESTROYS
the stomach and digestion; it poisons the
liver, it destroys the kidneys; it bloats and
dlsiigures man, it ruins his skin by blotch-
ing and reddening it; it shortens life even
where it does not kill outright
TO the moral nature, it is equally as
great an evil. 1t deadens all sense Of right
and wrong. 1t intlames the passions and
leads directly to crime. 1t makes a man
forget his duty TO his parents, his wife, his
children; it destroys his usefulness as
citizen. rs Il contributor to the wealth and
natural prosperity Of the nation. 1t is an
evil to q man, and no less an evil to the
state. 1t is the most potent factor in fill
ing our jails, and penitentiaries, and in
sane asylums. 1t increases our taxes for
all these things, and for the support Of
almshouses flied with the helpless wives
and children of these victims of rum. II is
evil to all, and nothing but evil.
And what is there on the other side2
Nothing! There is one good thing that
can be said of rum or rum drinking.
IL IL VI