The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-05-16
SUNDAY Services.

Proverbs; the subject of the address of Rev. AL.
bert was temperance. Text. Matthew vi. 10:
And lead us not into temptation" etc. The be-
ginning OF the address was an explanation of the
Lords prayer and the petitions it contains, one
of which the text forms a part.
On the meaning of the text he said: 1--WE are
here to build a character. 1t is by being brought
in contact with temptation that character is
strengthened. Shut child up. entirely removed
from all contact with the world and leave it a
number of years. and it would have no character
The meaning intended by the text is lead me not
into temptation SO strong cannot resist its nfu.
ence. This requires an exercise Of the will
power Go not. voluntarily. where such tempta.
ton is. Man always falls at his weakest point
The spiritual body IL like the physical body in
this respect. Physicians tell me that every one
has some point of physical weakness. is more sub.
ject to disease of some particular kind. than
others. He cautions his patient against certain
acts which effect this weak point. So with our
moral strength it is weaker at one point than
at others. This weakness may be for strong drink
Then the application, do not lead me where this
weakness will be endangered. There are per.
haps those here who have fallen from this weak
ness. II so, you know more about the effects of
temptation than do, and what may say to you
will. hope. meet your own knowledge. The first
step toward temperance is to want to be temper.
ate. You cannot avoid ntemperance unless you
have the desire. Second. don't run into tempta.
ton. The words of the text cannot aid you un.
less you have the will. Get away from intemper-
ance. Never try to see how close you can 60 to it,
This may be heroic. but there are few heroes of
this class who are success. Do not form asso.
Citations that lead down to the saloon, There are
two classes ofpeople who differ widely on the
question of character. One claims character is
formed by ones self. the other that character is
formed by association. They are both wrong
There is mean cause between these two ex-
tremes If associations have been strongest in
causing the fall, then he cannot turn successfully
back amid those associations. This man must
change his associations. He must begin to cult.
vate his moral system, for drunkenness is a dis
ease. and disease is not like broken spoke
in a wheel that can be replaoe ed by a new one but
effects the whole system. He must cultivate his
will. Education means a great deal more than
intellectual development. The education of the
will is of the greatest Importance in building a
right character. We must measure the strength
of our will when surrounded by temptation, not
in the absence of temptation
The entire address practical and well calcu.
lated to cause the victim of intemperance to view
himself in the proper light. At the close of the
address much good advice was given those who do
not know the evil effect of intemperance from
personal experience. They were earnestly entreat.
ed to guard against this greatest of evils. In
forming associations we were forcibly reminded
that 1.-The church and the saloon stand on oppo.
site sides Of the street."