The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-12-30
SIGNING THE PLEDGE.

Washingtonians, away back IN 1874.
John B. Cough probably induced more
men to sign the pledge in this country
and in England, than any temperance
worker of modern times. Francis Muir
ply probably comes next in relation to
individual efforts, and the w. G. T. U.
stands to the front in Shjs line of work,
as temperance organic alton.
But says one, 81 would never sign {.
pledge; am opposed to taking pledge
of any kind" Slowly my dear friend,
you are married, you are also member
of church, you could not enter into either
of these without taking thu most solemn
| of pledges. Eyes, but so many break
the pledge. it would be wise not to seek
to bind them by promises which they
cannot keep We will admit that
many, very many, do break the pledge,
but how many break the marriage vow?
| How many backslide in the church,
after having been, to all appearances,
soundly converted? Bat some Will say
| W ne, We ScSh 40 CouFeEa bbe Hudu
through and through, you only seek co
convert him in one particular" True.
but how often is it the case that the mau
| only needs converting in one particular?
| Being possessed Of 0nly the one devil,
i. e., the devil OF intemperance. OIher
| wise he is morally sound, being honest,
truthful, conscientious, exc. when sober,
| and just the reverse when drink.
Kelley Leagues are multiplying ami
| medical science grows more loud and
emphatic in lis declarations thai drunk
eness is disease aud can Gully be cured
by course of physics, knpwn as yet 10
| chosen few, who are rnapipg i rich
| harvest financially from this wonderful
cure. In view OF all tuls, shall We cease
| to urge men to sign the pledge? No, for
We still believe in the saving power of
Divine grace, we are not weak and sup.
| erstitious enough to imagine that there
| is any power to overcome evil IN the
| pledge itself; no, there is no power in it,
| except in that one clause, Il promiss.,
God helping me-" Therein lies the
| strength which will enable the weakest
to triumph over the power of perverted
| pledge is taken in th At spirit of meek
and prayerful dependence upon Him
who has said, 81 Will never leave nor
forsake thee" it will be kept All this
applies only to those who have long
been in he bonds OF inieuitv and chains
| of bitterness, WHOSE feet are morally
manacled by this aCcursed habit. Look
| abroad upon the young and innocent
behold tho youtH OF our Land. Shall we
not proffor to them the total abstinence
| pledge? Shall we not urge upon them
| the importance % biudins now the appe
tite for alcoholics, that they may forever
| more be free? l was once ar inmate of
OF home Of wealth; in the private
chamber of that home, huny large
crayoa picture OF a wife and husband,
standing before tue mlrraigs altar
| How brave ami manly ne looked, what a
look of fond devollJp was in his eyes as
he gazsd upnu his hr:uti:ui bride. stand
ing beside him with bowed bead and
downcast eyes. Blu. now that once fair
bride layon Il bed %! sutfA:Ing an slowly
her lite forces ebbsd away. Her children
were uuremltting in kindness and atten
ton. but how often the eyes OF the
| invalid would seek the door with sad
| questioning in their sunkeu depths.
| Evidently she was looking for one who
came not, because his feet were bound
by that awful habit. lie had gone to
the city on business promising to return
the next day, but days heightened into
) aeEs and he came not, that once proud
| and noule u..iagroom came not to the
bedside of his dying wife. aud thus she
passed away, only her children and a
few neigh 5ors were there. When he was
found at last and broaght home by his
sons, ne sat down by that cold form, his
once beautiful bride, ana tool % poor
ciammy hand in hn-a of his own aud
: .,~ae~i-,. - 10 his heart he If ed up lis
| voice and wept aloud. On, what & depth
of bitterness vas III that cry. Was this
man free? Ne, he Lad made Of himself
the most abjsct and piti.ul slave that
ever the sun shoue on. At the bidding
of debasad appetite he had submerged
every trait of honor and manhood. Young
mea do not fear that your manly indie
pendence of character will suffer by the
taking OF total abstinence pledge aud
the conscientious keeping OF the same
| it will make you free Ind led in afte.
years, with the freed om OF those whom
the truth make free. For Only the free
| man can be tb: true mar. True to honor
love, virtue, sigiop. How can he be
| true to these, whose soul and body are
alike enslave( by the most fearful and
| degrading of appetites.