Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-08-31
TEMPERANCE SERMON.
BY REV. r. j. CHRYsTIE.

Exodus $3.50 me LORD plaBueu thS PSoPiS
because they made the calf that Aaron made
There are two pictures before my
mental eve. The history of two ma
tions rises before me, painted on times
canvas with greater vividness than
Raphael could produce, around which
cluster the interests of the race and
the destiny as well. Viewed in the
hoary past stands the first, in the throb-
bling present, the second; yet, however
separated by intervening centuries,
presenting in unison many of the same
characteristics. Both their histories
are fraught with dramatic interest.
Their status among the nations, the
principles upon which they were
founded. the mission they were called
into existence to perform, place them
beneath the especial providence of the
Almighty. One may be called a nation
that was then prosperous in oriental
lands, now homeless wanderers. The
other is the greatest power in the world
to-day.
We photograph these nations at
thrilling moments in their career.
While the children of Israel were
encamped at Mt. Sinai the Lord de
scended in fire and, out of thick dark
ness proclaimed the moral law-the
very first command being: '"Thou shalt
have no other gods before me-" But
ah!t the depravity of the human heart.
During Moses protracted stay upon
patient, said unto Aaron: Cup make
us gods which shall go before u.s."
Aaron yielded, and when, few hours
later. Moses descended from the mount,
the multitude was found in icentious
worship of a golden calf, made in i'm
itation of the Egyptian Apis. But
few DAYS had elapsed since God had
spoken in all the terrible array of Mt.
Sinai eThou shalt have no other gods
but me" and now the first law of the
decalogue had been broken, and the
chosen people of the Lord had COM
mitted a great sin.
Change the scene,O Muse of History.
OF the United States of America is Da-
vid's language prominently appropri-
ate: "He hath not dealt with any ma
ton" We might expect this people
to lead the world inrighteousness. But
what sad sight do we behold! This ia
vored nation is now,engaged in ascor-
rupting business as were the IsraehteS
of old Let us make a comparison.
The Israelites made and worshipped
49, c.oIJo,, GOLF II, diroct dicObadiaOca
to the mandate of God. So, likewise,
the government that allows the man
ufacture, Importation, and sale of in
toxicating liquors is doing the same,
for the highest of all laws has declared
woe upon him who putteth the bot
tie to his neighbours lips and decreed
that no drunkard shall inherit the
kingdom of heaven. From this there
can be no appeal. And yet the Amer
lean people have opened 1900 liquor
shops and saloons supplied by over
5000 distilleries and over 5000 brew
cries, thus SHINING against God with
an outstretched arm.
Glance a moment at the result of
this deadly work. In the side of NOR
ais, the Incorporate cannot mingle in
refined circles or live a Christian life.
Neither Christianity nor civilization
can ever join hands with the liquor
traffic. How would ''Holiness unto
the Lord" look inscribed on a rum
cask? Again if we enter drunkard's
home we witness not comedy but
fiend takes our fathers and makes them
fiends like itself. 1t takes our moth
ers, and after racking their fra1 lives
on worse than inquisitorial wheels,
brushes them into their graves a score
of years before their time. Then good
were it for that home had it never ex-
listed. Again the liquor traffic seeks
the overthrow of all the institutions
held dear by the American heart. 1t
degrades our villages, creating misery,
pauperism, and crime. 1t undermines
our government, degrades our offici-
airy, disgraces our citizens, profanes
our institutions of learning, deals des-
truction to the body polite, death to
the physical organism, and damnation
to the soul. This is the fluid Moloch
at whose shrine we are bowling all over
this land. This is the viper that is
strangiing the very breath we draw
1t is the fiend that is drinking our Ife's
blood, and one thing is sure, either il
or we must die.
And the government proposes tC
license this iniquity.
Licensed where peace and quiet dwell
To bring disease and want and woe;
Licensed to make this world hell,
And fit men for a hell below
Though the license be placed in the
hand of the dead rum seller beneath
his coffin lid, it would be valueless il
that supreme court where judgmen
is made upon him who putteth the
bottle to his neighbours mhuth. VIVA
was it that killed our martyr Lincolni
The traitor Booth. Was it, indeed
Booth entered the Presidents boz
and tried to aim pistol at him, Blu
he possessed not rancOr to fire unit
he went to a saloon near by and quaff
ed the fatal glass, and while under it
inuence he did the foul deed tina
plunged a nation into mourning. Nov
consider well. Was not that glass o
brandy legally drank, aud legal!
drank because legally sold, and legal!
sold because the seller was legal,
licensed, and legally licensed because
the laws of the nation gave him the Ii
cense? Then wasn't Abraham Lincoh
legally assassinated? His blood will or,
to heaven for vengeance till the last sa
loon is gone.
We pass to another point of compar
ison between these two nations Whel
the people came to Aaron, desirin.
him to make them gods, he said t,
them: ''Break off the golden earring
that are in the ears of your wives, O
your sons and of your daughters, an,
bring them in to me-" Now conside
the great expense of this new idol
The hard earned gold of the people
the ieWelry so highly priced was cr1el