Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-08-17
THE CURSE OF TIE NATION
OR. TALMAce IN HIS SERMON SAYS
IT is DRUNKENNESS.

Theeef'-A More Fearful Massacre Il
Now Going an. tie Says. Than In the
Old Days.
HELENA. NJ. T.. Aug. II. The Rev.
T. Do Witt Talmagc. ID. d.. preached
here today 10 vast congregation.
Taking for his text, "Who slew all
thesei" ii Kings x. 10. he preached
powerful discourse ON drunkenness
the Nations Curse" lie said:
l wee long row Of baskets coming
mp toward the palace of King Ichu
am somewhat inquisitive 10 find out
what is in the baskets. look in and
find the CORY heads Of seventy slain
princes. As the baskets arrive at the
gate Of the palace. the heads are
thrown into two heaps. one ON either
side the gate. In tho morning the
king comes out. and he looks upon the
bleeding, CHASTITY heads Of the massa.
cred princes. Looking ON either side
the gate, he cries out. with n ringing
emphasis. Who slew all thcsci"
We have. my friends. lived TO see
more fearful massacre. There is no
use OF my taking your time in trying
10 give you statistics about the devas-
tation and ruin and the death which
strong drink has wrought in this coun-
try. Statistics do not seem To mean
anything. We are sd hardened under
these statistics that the fact that fifty
thousand more men are slain. or fifty
thousand less men are slain. seems Ia
make no positive impression ON the
public mind. Suffice il Ia say. that
l.,. .sl..s,.
able company of princes the children
Of Gods royal family; and at the gate
Of every neighborhood there are two
heaps Of the slain; and at the door Of
the household there are two heaps Of
the slain; and ut the door of the
Legislative hall there are two heaps
Of the slain; and nj the door of the
university there are two heaps of the
slain; and ut the gate of this nation
there arc two heaps Of She slain. When
look upon the dcsolation. am al
most frantic with the scene. while |
cry out, who slew all ihcsci" lean
answer that question in half "A minute.
The ministers Of Christ who have given
no warning. the courts of law that
have offered the liccnsiiic. the women
who give strong drink on New Years
day. the fathers and mothers who have
rum on the sidcboarl. the hundreds Of
thousands of Christian men and WON.
en- in the land who are stolid in their
indifference on this subiect-thcy slew
all these.
THE SORROWS AND THE BOON OF THE
DRUSKAL''.
propose in this discourse Ia tell
you what think are the sorrows and
the doom Of the drunkarl, so that you
Ia whom speak may not come To the
torment
Some one says: "Yom had better let
those s,ibicciSnlonc. Why. my brcth
rem, we would be glad Ia let them
alone il they would lc, us alone; but
when have in my pocket now four
requests saying. Pray for my hus
band, pmy for my son. pray for my
brother. pray for my friend. who is
the captive Of strong drink. reply.
Wa ARE ready 10 let that question alone
when il is willing to let us lone: but
when il stands blocking up the way
Ia heaven, and keeping multitudcS
away from Christ and heaven, dare
not b. silent. lest the Lord require
their blood ut my hands
think the subject has been kept
back very much by the mcrrinncn,
people make over those slain by strong
drink. | used Ia be- very merry over
these things. having a keen sense Of
tho ludicrous. There was something
very grotcsquc in the gait of II drunk
ard. IL is not 80 NOW; for saw IN
one Of the streets of Philadelphia IA
sight that changed the whole subject
Ia me. There was n young man b'ing
led home. lie WAS very much intoxi-
cated-he was raving with intoxica-
ton. Two young men were leading
him along The boys hootcd in the
street, men laughed. women snccr'd;
but happened Ia he very near the
door where he went init was the
door Of his fathers house. saw him
go up stairs. heard him shouting.
hooting and disappearing. He had
lost his hat, and the merriinent in
creased with the mob until he came
up to the door, and as the door was
opened his mother came ont. When
heard her cry that took all the COIN
edy away from the scene. Since that
time when ! SEQ man walking
through the street. rccling. the com
edy is all gone, and il is u tragedy of
tears and groans and hcartbreaks.
Never make any fun around me about
the grotcsquencss Of drunkard.
Alas for his home.
HIS GOOD NAME MELTS AWAY.
The first suffering of the drunkard
is in the loss Of his good name. God
has so arranged il that no man ever
loses his good name except through
his own act. All the hatred Of men
and ali the assaults of devils cannot
destroy mans good name. he real
ly maintains his integrity. II man
is industrious and pure and Christian,
God looks after him Although he
may be- bombardcd for twenty or
thirty years. his integrity ~ never lost
and his good name is never sacrificed.
No force OH earth or in hell can cap
turc such Gibraltar But when il is
said Of u man. He drinks. and II can
he proved. then what employer wants
him for workmanl what store wants
him for IA clcrki what church wants
him for a mcmberl who will trust
point him his cxccutori lilo may
have been forty years in build
ing up his cputaiion-it goes
down. Letters Of recommendation,
the backing up Of business firms. "A
brilliant ancestry cannot save him.
The world SHES oil. Whyi II is
whispered all through the community.
lie drinks; lac drinks" That blasts
him. When man loses his repuia-
ton for sobricty he might as well be
ut the bottom 81 the sea There are
mon here who have their good name
as their only capital You are now
achieving your ow" livelihood. under
God. by your owl right arm, Now