The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-07-09
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
THE DRINKING FASHION.
Past Generations Responsible for tn
Present Bad Practices.

Past Generations Responsible for the
Present Bad Practices.
Alcoholic drink is the hay, turf,
wood and coal of hell on earth. Those
that drink and cause such suffering,
drink because they saw others drink
ing: Everybody drank, and they keep
on in great measure because many
more drink also, and want to have, or
anyhow are willing to let, the drink
within reach. Ever since Noah
stumbled on what made such fool of
him, the genesis of drinking is first
fashion and then appetite; fashion
starts the practice, and along with
fashion appetite keeps it up. The pre-
ccdlng and passing generations are re-
sponsib1e for the drinking fashion as
we have it among us now, and in the
same way the passing generation is go
ing to be, if it does not look out, re-
sponsible for the same habit in the gen
GRAFTON that is coming on and in all the
coming generations that shall feel its in
tiucnce. And to be actual and practical,
L want to say that the passing genera
ton means me, and you, neighbor, and
the next man. Apart altogether from
Christ and the church, merely by our
common human nature, by the solid
arity of the race, 1--WE are all members
one of another;" we learn from one an
other language, accent, notions, man.
notion and most mischievous practice
of the drink. This incontestable
natural law has made and makes
every man that has drunk or
drinks 4 professor, a teacher, pro-
moter Of drinking, with all that fol-
lows. And, further, with the prev
alence the drink fashion has had and
has, every one that does not take pains
to be counted out is counted in and acts
as silent but consenting partner
This is what vast numbers have been
and are, 'ignorantly," unconsciously.
If the evils resulting from the use of
drink were, as they doubtless were in
some places and times, and may per-
haps be even now, comparatively few
and trif1ing, there would be no need of
special efforts to reform them. But
actually these evils, even to overlook
the sins land drink is very second
original SIM and crimes land drink is
the cause of most of our crimcs) only
the sufferings it occasions are immense,
Incompatible, ubiquitous, continuous.
The sufferings relieved by all the ano
dynes and all the alms-giving are as
nothing beside all those caused by the
drink alone. Where is our pity? Where
is our show to claim good nature and
benevolence if we will not do what we
fairly can to stop all this pain? What
generous compassion there is aroused
for u few sufferers such as those of
Johns town! Here are sufferers by the
hundred thousand. If to relieve them
men had to do some very hard thing,
had to reduce themselves or their
families to poverty, had to risk
reputation or health or life; if they had
even to practice some considerable,
standing self-denial, there would be
some excuse for doing nothing. But
actually all they need to do is these
two things: First, they should quit pat
ronizing the fashion, should cease and
let it be known they cease 20 use drink.
And then Of course, further, man be-
ing, as Thomas Carlyle says, emphat-
ically proselytisive ANIMAL" they
would naturally and rightly wish to
get others to do the same. In this line
the easiest thing TO- do, and withal
very good thing, is to help to swell the
attendance at every temperance meet
ing, to pass around tracts and papers,
plead friendlily with hard drinkers or
get some competent person to do so.
Drink is no inherent want of our nature.
but as plain and repugnant violence
done it as is the tightening of females
feet mcng the Chinese; then its fash
ion-pow er IS enormously offset by the
strong and growing public sentiment
against it. So to renounce it entirely
and forever, whether as an habitual
nip, or constitutional pick-me-up,
or social treat, is really no
great punishment or self-denial, or
hardship, and soon ceases to be
any at all, especially when set beside
the accompanying glorious luxury of
doing good" The man who finds it too
hard to quit drink for others sake,
ought on that very account to quit for
his own, and hisposterity's sake, before
the grip of the tyrant appetite has for
ever strangled his free will Secondly,
not only as a safeguard of their own
resolution to abstain, not only as a
safeguard to other mems like reso-
ton. not only as an aid to the
weak oi the passing generation. and
to the thoughtlcss of the coming
one, to be free from means and re-
lninders and occasions of continuing or
learning the drink habit, but particu-
larly as means of preventing drinkers,
actual Or prospective, from recklessly
inaicting unmerited suffering on 9th
ers, they should do what they can to
keep away the temptation, to bar out
the bar. Here again few topers
would be denied their luxury and tenn
porarily afflicted, but mill ons of men,
and still more of women and children,
would be saved atrocious suffering.
This would be justice among citizens,
humanity among men: 'twould be also
most effective cooperation with the
grace of God and fair play given to His
desire II save all mcn.-Rev. Martin Ma
hony, in Tracy (Minu.) Trumpet.
SUDDENLY SOBERED.