Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-07-10
Temperance and Christian Work.

who had long been addicted to the
habit of strong drink and who had suf
fered much from the habit and in his
old age was longing for a better life.
Oh! that Christin's might realize not
only the duty but the sweet privilege
of working for the Masterin this grand
work; what a golden opportunity is
lost when one christian heart is closed
to the calls of such work!
Some Christian people object to
making temperance part of their work,
on the ground that it would tend to Sc
cularize it, as if indeed temperance
were contrary to the doctrine and spir-
it of Christ's religion. If, however we
glance at the noble army of soldiers
who are fighting for the Lord, we shall
find those in the forefront of the con-
aict are not only arrayed in the whole
armor of God, but are also carrying
aloft the fair banner of temperance.
We might mention the names of many
such, but one shall suffice-a name
known and loved by Christians in ev-
cry quarter of the globe; one whose ex-
quisite poetry has comforted many a
lonely, sorrowful heart; whose words
of holy counsel and exhortation have
nerved not a few weary workers to
press on in the blessed work of win
ming souls, and whose sanity life was
pattern which we should do well to
initiate, the sweet songstress. Francis
Ridley Havergal, who, we may almost
say, laid down her devoted life in this
noble cause. This testimony was given
by her scarcely a fortnight before she
died. "Really wonderful little tenn
perance work here; all the rising gen
Grafton have signed the pledge, except
twelve, and now the men want me, and
l am to meet them at the idle corner
of the village with my pledge book, etc.
! have got 11S pledged here, and each
with prayer over it and personal talk
about better things"
She realized that the drink with
Jul lduu 10 ID UlldC WHICH,,
more than anything else, keeps the
hearts of men from the Saviour of
mankind, and longing as she did that
they might be brought to 'know him.
whom to know is life eternal" she la
bored diligently that this stumbling
block might be removed from their
course. With such an example as this
before us who will dare to say that
definite temperance teaching is likely
to diminish their own spirituality of
of mind or interfere in the slightest
degree with their work for their heav-
emily Master? Nay, we speak from our
own experience when we affirm that Ia
dies conducting mothers meetings dis
visitors, Sunday school teachers, city
missionaries, Scripture readers, Bible
women, and ministers of the Gospel,
would find their hands strengthened
and the work of the Lord advanced,
by adopting temperance as a leading
element in their labor More than this,
is it not true to say that abstinence al
so is conducive to physical and spirit
ual strength? A lady not long since,
spoke upon this subject in one of our
Northern towns. The evening was wet,
the attendance not large, and at the
conclusion she was tempted to ask,
was not my labor in vain? The next
morning she was greatly cheered by re-
ceiving letter from a gentleman of
much influence in the town, an earnest
Christian worker, in which he said,
that for some time he had been long
ing for closer walk with God. At the
temperance meeting the language of
his heart was this:
Lord Jesus, long to be perfectly sohole,
want thee forever to dwell in my SOUL"
There God showed him that the in
toxicating cup, which up to that time
had been very moderately used, must
be put forever aside. BY his grace he
was enabled to say:
Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain.
Apply thine own blood and extract every stain;
Lord Jesus, look down from thy throne in the
skies,
And help me to make complete sacrifice
give up myself and whatever know,
Now wash me, and shall be whittier than SNOW"
He went from that little gathering
to his own home, and there signed the
pledge, writing at the same time to the
lady, thanking her for her words of
warning, and relating for her encour-
agement his own experience. o, that
the church of the living God, would
PROSTATE herself at the feet of her
great Head with the prayer of this
young man! Definite experience of
the higher life has also been marked
feature among our temperance women;
and they have great reason to bless
God for the spiritual advancement
they have gained, while trying to in
duce others to lead lives of purity in
this respect. IN. w. c. r. U.