River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-02-04
Gospel and Intemperance.


Of blessings, but the greatest one lowering over
us is the gospel, a system of religious truth.
Its teachings opens the way of right and practi-
cally closes The pathway of wrong. Little do we
know how to set a price or a true value or to
| estimate justly the vast illumination of the Cos
pei. 1t cherishes the believer, it is strength to
| the mind. food for the intellect, and brightens
| our pathway through time and directs the way
that leads TO final future of happiness. Its
laws fully observed and being governed by them
| insures us a final destiny of eternal bliss. We
| know not how to appreciate it being brought up
| and schoOled under its mighty influence. We
may not endorse its doctrine but il is none the
less true and We. living in the midst of its light
| are benefited, and are indebted TO its grand in
fluence for our not being degraded as are those
who have never known of its pleasant and pow
| erful teachings. Could we picture before our
eyes the difference just as it is between the class
| reared in christian land and the unfortunate
ones who have never known or heard Of its
! teachings, then we would see the benefit us APP
piled to us, being under its sunshine, and our
hearts would be filed with gratitude for our
being in reach of its truths. The gospel has
joys independent of all earthly considerations.
There are scenes of sorrow where religion alone
has power to buoy up and sustain the soul; and
yet in our boosted christian land there hangs
over a dark cloud which at times almost
eclipses the sunshine That cloud is the curse
of intempe-ance-the indulgence of partaking
of intoxicating drinks as a beverage. The pro-
found depth of suffering which is caused by it
tho hnman mind fails to find language to ex-
press. If the suffering ended with those that
indulge in those drinks it would be an immense
crime; but OH it stops not there, the innocent
| alike must suffer. The money that is needed
for the home comforts, for merely the common
| necessaries of life is paid to the rum-seller and
| the children have scantily enough 70 survive
physically aud have TO die mentally, beneath
the tears and kind wishes and load of anxiety
| of loving mother. OH the horrid truth that
| Woodworking mothers have to see the proceeds
of their labor go for that which destroys the
father both soul ard body, and have to see their
children SO much needing books, proper food
and comfortable clothing. Is that mother to
blame for saying, put an end to the traffc?"
| If man commits one murder there is penalty
and he has to suffer that penalty. But we have
men who sell chemical compound the ingredi-
ents of which are poisonous to the body and
maddening TO the brain by which they murder
hundreds every year, and yet society lets them
live and protects them in their satanic business.
the present existence of things? We say in the
name OF heaven protect the ehildren Get
these horrid temptations out of the way, that
little boys may grow up without knowledge
of an experience which degrades and destroys.
May God hasten the day when the curse will be
erased from our land and that honorable bust
ness affairs may take the place of the saloons;
that the money spent for that which degrades
and brings to a horrible destiny may be applied
20 educate and refine; that the mind of the
bright boy may be filed with heavenly princi-
pies and be qualified to fill honorable positions
which might be opened on his way, aud instead
of living a dissipa.ed life have an in 1uence that
would lead TO usefulness and endless happiness
May our intellect be aroused to thoughts that
would tend to forward our progress as workers
in cause which is a noble one, and has only
proven itself as such through great energy with
a trust in the great Deity and the agency of the
Divine Spirit. The work for the good of man
kind being wrought by the w. C. T. U. has an
interest which calls on every mother or sister
for help to nouIisb and cultivate, that the wheel
Of temperance may roll-continue TO roll with
speedy revolutions, and hasten the time in
bringing to finale the great object which we
are so faithfully trying to work out. We have
sounded forth a trumpet that we hope will never
call retreat. The onward march win depend
on our strength and energy to hold up our
cause so as to attract others to join us to Guilt
vate an invisible power which produces an
effect upon the minds of those around us. This
power to affect others is influence II is gift
of heaven to every human being 1t is immuta-
BILE and eternal. We should be careful not to
peril our own best interests for as is our infu-
ence so is our destiny and likewise the destiny
of our children. If Washingtons mother had
not inspired him with the principles of self
denying patriotism bis country might have
found him a tyrant instead of father. Our
cause is based upon the christian religion. a
bond of connection between the believer and
Christ. In Christ there is ample opportunity of
doing great good, and such have 10 live in
dc pths of degradation brought on by the sin of
intemperanee should have our warmest sympa-
thy and prayers. There's one class of women
that iIresIstibly demands our sympathy of all
others she has the largest claim upon our re-
ga d aud esteem, and The very sorrow which she
suffers at home should lead US to think of her
more sincerely when abroad. She may be as
sinless in the matter as an angel In heaven but
she cannot help being crushed by the degreda-
ton of her lot and Der life is one of suffering
and sorrow. The children from the same cause
they can grow out of it and in the future make
happy homes but the wife has but one hope and
that is in death. Our prayers should have a
thought directed TO heaven for such as are thus
situated. God does help US; he answers prayer,
and in all our meetings should pay strict
attention to devotional exercises. system of
any educational organization is deficient which
does not embrace a knowledge of Christ, for He
stands out the sum of all knowledge and the
sum OF all wisdom. Solomon genius was only
borrowed spark OF that eternal wisdom; he
was wise but Jesus was wisdom. Were to
depend ON our own efforts without soliciting
aid from divine source il would not be in ac-
cordance with the law of the gOspel,-thereby
we would be showing disposition to refuse to
be governed by the principle which the order is
founded on. 1t would be showing lack of
respect to the foundation of our work to refuse
in any way to sanction a solemn address to God.
9th. CHTDEsTER.
ELLSWORTH.
II 4 n. l. L.