The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-11-01
Sermon on IntOXicatIOn.

DR.. S. NJ. Osmond of the Presby-
t5rlan Church of the town preached an
able sermon on Sunday evening last on
intoxication, taking as his text an item
from the journal of his recent western
trip, describing an intoxicated man he
had seen on a street IN Chicago crow
ded with teams.
The principal object of the sermon
was to counteract prevalent indifference
to such condition of temporary insanity
its dreadful character and CONSEQUENCE
caused by our familiarity with it. The
moral character and criminallty of in
toxicatlon were especially emphasized,
from the fact that it renders those I'M
der its influence capable OF committing
all possible wrongs and outrages. More
than anything else, is it menace to
peace, happiness, prosperity, health
and hfe-to all precious interests OF
body and soul, time and eternity.
The question of responsibility for
such stupendous evil was considered,
and while it was claimed that the intoxl-
Gated one is himself mainly guilty, the
question was pressed as to the moral
responsibility of those who Tor gain
help to make him what he is or of the
authorities that legalise the traffic that
| inevitably promotes drunkenness or OF
apathetic communities and churches
that suffer the influences out of which
, grow all the direful evils of intemper-
ance to flourish practically unchecked.
"Will it be for any of US to do the
work of executioners upon those who
! have directly wrought the havoc and
woe caused by drunkenness. in accor-
dance, with the searching principle
the Savior enunciates ole that is
without SIN among you, let HIM cast
the first slone2."
"Can we DO SO, if there are existing
laws that prohibit or restrain the liquor
traffic, and we fail, either as officers or
cirzens, to do what we may and should
to uphold and enforce such lawsP
"Can we do so, if when the question
comes whether or not this drunkard-
making business, now under the ban
of law, is to be re-established and
clothed with the responsibility of legal
sanction, we fail to put forth all proper
and possible effort to prevent such a
calamity?
"Will it save US from the response
bilty that may meet US In terrible shape
even in this world, and will certainly
confront US at the bar of God, for help
ing with our votes to reopen these
flood gates Of crime and ruin, TO offer
the plea that the prohibition of the
liquor traffic is difficult and costly2
$50 is it as to all laws that restrain
evils OF any kind. 1t costs vigilance
and money to repress robbery, arson,
rape, and murder; shall we therefore
follow out the logic of those who COM
plain of the expensiveness of liquor
prosecutions and sweep all crime re-
pressive enactments from the statute
books1
f Prohibition in Iowa has emptied a
large proportion of her jaiIs. Prohibi-
ton in Kansas has steadily lessened
tie number of inmates in her state
penitentiary, and ruined the business
of the police courts of many of her
towns and cities. Prohibition in Cecil
/ county, as | have been repeatedly as
sured by one whose official position
gives him the right to speak authorize
lively on such subject, has decreased
disorder and crime and greatly d1miu-
iShed tile 60Stof criminal prosecutions.
A better enforcement of the law,
such as we will undoubtedly have if it
is sustained, will continually show more
favorable results.
Shall we, having won the vantage
ground already possessed, allow the
old order of things to returnP The
open, legalIzsd saloon, to entice and
ruin our dear boys and our noble
young men2 And for the general
sobriety, good order and safety to our
TONES that now happily exists, en-
+ throne in our midst the debauchery
and the disgrace of the rum power
Having almost crushed the hydt
headed monster, shall we lift him fir
the dust, warm him into new life,
, suffer him so to wind his Shiny 4
around our community, that cr4
and dying ones IN future years
, struggle to free themselves in va