Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-02-04
W. c. N. U. COLUMN.
Edited and Compiled by the Wonsn's
Christian Temperance Union.
Sacramento Wines.

We live in an age Of progress. Re-
form Is the watchword of the hour.
Laws and church usages once thought
perfect before theincoming light of
science, research, ethics and jurispru-
dence, are discarded, and give place
to wiser and better, and we wonder
at what has been. The true states
men and christians are ever in the
advance, ready and anxious to lead
their followers in better ways, and to
a higher life. They question not
the popularity of their acts or words,
but their country's good and the up
building of Christ's kindom upon the
earth. They may be prosecuted as
fanatics, scoffed at and frowned upon
as lunatics and cranks, but if in de-
tense of the right, future generations
will rise to call them blessed. Re-
ward for well-doing is sure. A word
for the right, a vote for correci prin-
ciple cannot be lost, tho towering
majorities stand ever against. AS
christian people, standing in the fore
front of the great temperance reform,
as churches in solid phalanx, led by
devoted and untiring ministry in
defense of the home against the sa-
loon, the acknowledged foe Of the
rum power, 1t is meet that we exam
inc our practices, as churches and
members, that we may be out of the
reach of the just criticisms of our
enemies, and free from all inconsis-
tencies that hinder our influence.
Irefer to the use of fermented wine
in our sacramental service still in use
in some of our churches. While we
are aware that our liquor laws, both
state and municipal, have made this
exception, and the usages of the
church through the ages has been
such, yet we can but deprecate it as a
practice inconsistent with our pro-
fession, and detrimental to our Chris
tan advancement. True, the visible
emblem is but minor point, COM
pared to the spiritual, yet by it we
commemorate the most solemn event
the earth ever witnessed, by which
our hearts are made better, and we
are again reminded of the great sacri'
fee for our redemption. The ques-
ton of scripture wine" is much de-
bated, and men who never read Gods
word, resort thereto to frame an ar.
gument in favor of the Intoxicating
emp, and in defense of the drunken
practices. 1t needs no defense t.
prove that sweet wine, the blood O
the grape, as food and drink Is nour
ishing, invigorating, good for the
"stomach's sake" and our "often in
irmities," easily kept, if excluded
from the air, yet when fermented, tht
beverage that might bless becomes {
curse. May the day soon come wheI
the same labor, talent and capita
will be employed in preserving thu
sweet Juice of our fruits that now i
in the fermented. We believe tn,
bible consistent in all its teachings OF
the wine question. How dare w,
affirm that our BLESSED Lord" made
intoxicating wine at the wedding
feast for the guests to get drunk on %
in concentrating his death and sui
fering, partook of that wine that 81
mocker" that "biteth like serpen
and stingeth like an adder" Coulc
he bless and curse the same cup
Shall we renew our covenant in usinI
means that might not only caus
some weak brother to stumble, bu
awake that terrible appetite in som
one struggling for the mastery? No
better ten thousand times use tina
life-giving element, Gods own gift
that reflects its beauty in the RAINBOW
tint, is distilled in the dewdrop, an,
gushes from a thousand springs.
TEMPLAR, FOR w. O. U.