The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-05
TEMPERANCE ADDRESS!
DELIVERED BY REV. D. J. JENKINS AT
NJ. E. CHURCH.

eral times before to make few re-
marks in favor of the temperance
cause, but l have declined the invita-
ton. But l want you to know that
this reluctancy to comply with the
request was not because that deemed
the matter Of no great Importance,
and not because that felt no interest
in the success of the cause, for | am
fully convinced that this is God's s
method to stay the deluge of debauch-
cry and drunkenness that threatens to
overflow and destroy our great coun-
try. But my reluctancy to take part
in these meetings arises from the
sense of my inability to speak publicly
in English. But be this as it may
have felt that the voice of duty ought
to be obeyed; so at this time | have
yielded to the pressure. | can not
stand here, my friends, as some of my
abler brethren. and relate to you any
of my bitter experience as drinker,
for through the care and influence of
pious parents I was brought, at very
tender age, under the wings of Gospel
Temperance, and by the grace of God
I have been not only what some peo-
pie would call temperate, but total
abstainer from all intoxicants as a
beverage, and an unrelenting enemy
to the liquor traffic. can not feel
otherwise if l abide by my honest con-
victions, for I am fully persuaded that
in our age and in our country this
gigantic evil leads the host Of hell in
its onslaught against the true comfort
and happiness of my fellow men as
social, moral and responsible beings
Consequently, I have no hesitation in
saying that it is the sacred duty OF
every member of the church of God
whether he be young or old, rich OF
poor, and indeed the duty Of every
man that processes to be Philanthro-
pist, to subscribe to the pledge held
out by this Godsend society, and unite
in the grand effort that is being made
by this society to rescue the poor
souls-thousands upon thousands
that are being trodden down under the
iron heel of this grim monster in the
mire Of wantonness, debauchery and
every form Of crime. 1t will not dc
for you and me, my friends, to fold
our arms and say tive are in no dan.
ger; we are safe and our families are
safe" "No dangerp Safe" did you
say, while the enemy is in our country
in our town and at our gerry doors
And If we shut not our eyes we car
see him daily dragging our neighbors
and neighbors' children down to pow
erty, degradation and ruin. To sci
forth its work Of devastation and de.
struction, we can very appropriately
use the words of the prophet: "The
land is as the garden of Eden before
him, and behind him desolate will
derness." Perchance you feel that
the liquor traffic does not interfere
with your liberty and your happiness
and the happiness Of your family; but
yow may live long enough to see and
realize the awful fact that some OF
your dear children have become vic
Tins of this assassin. Well do | re-
member family, consisting of father
mother and ten children. The parents
were members Of The church, and the
children as well as the parents were
seen every Sabbath going to the little
sanctuary near their home. Each
morning and evening for many years
that father of6ciated at the family
altar, and the mother and children
united in singing Gospel hymns and
kneeling before the throne Of grace
all were happy and prosperous. But
OH I saw the light of that family
turned into darkness. That father
yielded to the persuasion Of a would
be-called friend to take his beer, and
from step to step he went onward and
downward, and as a natural conse-
quence he abandoned the reading of
Gods word, neglected family prayer.
At length he was expelled from the
church. He went on from bad to
worse. In few short years that wife
and mother went down broken-hearted
to her grave. The boys have wandered
from God. The father still fingers on
the brink of the grave, mere wreck
of humanity; beacon, as it were, to
warn those that pass by not to play
with the enticement to indulge in the
intoxicating cup. Thousands of the
young men Of our country, and | am
sorry to say many a young man in
Jackson, play daily with the entice-
ment to this great evil, resorting reg
ularly to the saloon, spending much
precious time in the debasing society
of immoral characters, and thus daily
with the temptations to drunkenness.
Remember that the word of God not
only forbids the sin itself but also all
the occasions to it and the first mo-
tions of the heart towards it. It says,
"Be not drunk with wine.' Yea, it
says more: "Be not among wine
bibbers." !" Look not thou upon the
wine when it is red; when it giveth
its color in the cup; when it moveth
itself Alright" The power of moral
principle is to show itself not by going
as near "a nossihle to the sin without