Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-08-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
LENS Enrn

I give below brief sketch Of my
early experience i'm temperance, as de-
veloped in connection with the church.
Soon after my Goth birthday, l joined
the Center Abingdon Congregational
Church, and my religion took in the
temperance cause. L had, however,
previously refused the use of intoxicat-
ing drinks, including wine, beer, and
cider as beverage, and was in earnest
urging others to do likewise. Later
on, I begas to question the propriety
of using alcoholic wine at the commun-
ion service, then the evil one present
ed himself, and said to me, what q
fool you are! Here is the minister, the
deacons, and all these old Christians
think you they would use it if it was
not right" Well, turned the matter
over and over again in my own mind,
but could not see it to be right. Well,
communion season came again, and as
I sat in a seat below, and looked up in
to the gallery above, and there saw the
young people to whom had been
talking temperance and the disuse of
all intoxicants, looking down and see
ing me use the wine in commemorate
ing the dying love of my Savior, said
to myself. This is not right; although
I am not using it as a beverage, still it
is not needful, aud my slipping it may
cause MY brother to stumble, and it
was clear to my mind that, to be con-
sstent, I must either stop urging the
importance of its disuse. or stop using
it myself, and said latter giving the
devil leave of abscence) 1 will neither
touch, taste nor handle it henceforth.
At this time (Which was in 1S34-1S35) /
never had heard of any persons refus-
ing wine at the communion able, but
in harmony with my highest convic-
tons of duty, / refused the cup from
the hands of the deacon, to use myself,
or to pass to another. After awhile,
another member of the church joined
me in refusing to partake of the wine,
and we conferred together in reference
thereto, and after due consideration,
decided to lay the matter in question
before the church, and at church
meeting held i'm the church vestry Sep
tember g. 1886, we did so, and the re-
suit was most gratifying. The Rev.
James w. Ward, then pastor, arose
and said On substance) that he was in
favor of the disuse of the wine referred
to, and for himslf, If satisfactory to
others, rather than continue the use of
alcoholic wine. he would substitute
water. "But." said he, "that is not
necessary, for can make raisin wine
for each communion season that will
better initiate the fruit of the vine, and
I hope will be satisfactory to all of
you."
A vote was taken, and carried, aud
the record on the church book is as fol-
lows:
.'To use in future at our communion
table, wine made of raisins, instead of
the alcoholic wine generally used in
this country. Attest.
J. w. WARD.n
The action above referred to, was a
result of Mr.. Wards independent lead
ership as minister of the gospel-a
leadership aud independence in the in
PRODUCTION and advocacy of unpopular
reform seldom exercised by the pro-
fessioD, but worthy of all praise.
4oUsE FOR RENT rooms and summer
1..tss.. a., .,cod or,Ier Auply to T. ZWart.
ao TO PAXTON Martins Livery Stable fol-