The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-30
WHAT STRONG DRINK DOES.
Rev. T. Il. Blenus' Practical Sermon
to the Reohabites.

W crowded cnurch on the subject OF
temperance. The order of Rechabites
attended in regalia.
MIR. Blenus read jeremiah xxxv. chap
ter. "The Bible informs us, ~ he said,
that Jonadab, son of Rechab, in the
time Of Jehu, king Of Israel, laid an in
Junction on his posterity, not to drink
wine, not to build houses, not 10 plant
vineyards, to haveno lands, and to dwell
in tents all their lives This they coutin-
ued to do for about 300 years, but in the
last year of Jehoikim, king of Judah,
Nebuchednezzar, coming to besiege Jeru-
salem, the Rechabites were forced to take
refuge in the city, though still lodging in
tents. During this siege jeremiah
received orders from the Lord
TO invite them into the temple, and to
offer them wine to drink They refused
to partake of il, and their fidelity to their
fathers injunction was a severe reproof
to the Jews for breaking their covenant
with God. Their obedience was com
mended, and received the Just commenda-
ton and sanction of God. They were used
as an illustration of obedience and of
faithfulness.
The order of Rechabites to-day found
their organization on the well-founded ad-
herence of the Rechabites of old to
principle.
sOLoMoN's wIsEsr SAYING.
Among the wisest sayings of Solomon
was, wine is a mocker; strong drink is
raging; and whatsoever is deceived thereby
is not wise" If this statement were
true in Solomon's time. 5000 years ago, it
is, if possible. said Mr. Blenus, hundred
fold more true in this day and generation.
We smile at the credulity of ancient idol
worshippers. We are thankful that we
live in more intelligent and advanced
age. And, yet, America, as a nation, is
practically making mighty god of Bac-
chus. This is grave and serious charge,
but facts substantiate the correctness of
the statement. 1t has been said that all
the nations of antiquity died drunk.
Whether this is absolutely true or not it
1t certain that strong drink has played a
prominent part in the decline and fall of
nations, going hand in hand as it does,
with all forms of blighting excess.
In America Bacchanalianism has taken
deep root in every city, town and village.
Within full view of our churches
thousands of shrines are devoted to the
worship Of this god, and every year of our
natural life over 10000 valuable lives are
sacrificed on his bloody altar
"A few facts and figures" said Mr..
Blenus, will intensity our statements
In Chicago there are 5000 saloons l TO 200
people, one for every 30 votes, 10 for every
school, Is to every church. In the United
States 100000 liquor dealers, 100000 min
listers. Think of it. Twice as many
bloated, redfaced, white-aproned priests
of Bacchus as we have preachers of the
gospel. And yet we are Christian
nation. If some mighty pestilence,
like huge, deYouring monster,
were to threaten the lives of
thousands of our best citizens, what
severe laws. what quarantine regulations,
what desperate efforts would we make to
keep it from our doors or to curtail its in
roads! But alas, the monster, rum, steal
ing into our homes, poisoning habits, per-
verting Judgment, tainting virtue, cor
rupting religion, and soaring conscience,
has nothing done to it, more than now
and then spasmodic effort to chain the
hideous beast"
PICTURE BY COUGH.
John B. Cough, the apostle of temper
ance, relates that woman went to a
door of a public house, ragged and
wretched; her thin dress draggled with
dirt, two half-starved little ones by
her side holding her dress. She
stood at the door. A man
came out, She said, Jim, is
John in there? Tell him l want to see
him" He came out and called: What
do you want?" She said, with fearful
eyes. Il want you to come home the
fire is out; we have nothing to eat, and
the children are crying for food. What
did that husband and that father do? He
struck the poor, patient, wan and hun
CRY creature a blow in the mouth and
sent her Keeling into the gutter, and
shaking his silver in his pocket, went
back into the public house to enjoy him
self. Is that manhoodl Rum makes a
L Il
coward and monster.
Cough gives another instance: A man
went home drunk, and mis- little girl
shrank in fear, crying, from brutal ia
Their He commanded, Stop your crying
and when she cried on, he caught his
baby his own little girl, and threw her
on the fire
"A fool, " said Mr.. Blenus, would not
do that. A lunatic would hardly do it;
but rum will do any damnable thing 1t
is the elixir of hell. Our daily papers are
full of such cases. 1t is estimated that
5000 women in this country annually are
sent to untimelY graves through the
cruelty of drunken husbands. Every day,
yes, every hour, chronicles some damn
able deed of infamy done under the infu-
ence of liquor. The Duke of Albany says:
England most terrible enemy is drink
Poverty and vice will prevail as long as
"Intemperance has injured the Anglo
Saxon race more than war, peshlence or
famine. -
CONDEMNED BY HEAVEN AND EARTH.
Drunkenness has been condemned as
crime and sin from time immemorial, by
both the highest authorities of heaven
and earth. Paul in Corinthians l, vi,
$40, writes: ''Know We not that the I'M
righteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
Code Be mot deceived, neither fornicators.
nor adulterers, nor effemiuate, nor aDusers
of themselves with mankind, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers
nor extortioners shall inherit the king
dom of God" Hear Solomon: BE not
among wine-bibbers, among riotous eaters
of flesh; for the glutton and the drunkard
shall come to poverty"
In the writings of Moses the stubborn
son of an IsraeiUe was to be stoned to
death for disobedience, gluttony and
drunkenness. Nahum, the prophet,
condemned these evils. In his address
to Nineveh he says: For while
tbaU no foI6pn togptbnr as tlOFns