The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-04-27
Sermon Preached by Rev. Geo. IL. Stsso,
In the M. Z. Church, So. London
derry, March 1s, 1894.

derry, March IS, 1894.
On the above date Mr.. Sisson preach
ed, in honor Of the birthday of Gen.
Neal Dow, strong temperance SER
mon, taking for his text the 18th verse
OF the seventh chapter of jeremiah and
the 18th verse Of the first chapter Of
Lamentations:
''Seest thou not what they do in the
cities of Judah and in the streets Of
Jerusalem? Is it nothing to you all
we that pass byg'
After briefly referring to the life and
services of the distinguished apostle of
temperance, and recounting how he was
led into taking up the temperance cause
for life-work, the speaker launched
into the body of his sermon and spoke
as follows:
There is hardly village in the United
States where the effect of rum NAV not
be seen; where the serpent intemperance
has not found victim and got within it's
coils some mothers boy. All over our
land homes have been entered by this
monster and made desolate Go where
you will, North, South, East or West, the
effects of its poison sting are seen and as
it crawls over our land it leaves misery
and desolation behind. Broken hearts
and ruined lives are found strewn all
along its trail. 1t breathes out poison
and everyone it touches is marked We
shudder when we hear of the presence of
some plague in our country. We think
of loved ones and draw them to us when
we learn that small pox or cholera has
appeared on our shores, but here all over
our land is plague that carries off tens
of thousands every year and yet it pro-
duces scarcely a ripple except among a
very few. We look at the drunkard with
something akin to disgust, possibly do
not even pity him and perhaps say within
ourselves how can man so degrade him
self, but do we ever think that there was
once time when he was free from that
habit? DO we think that way back in
the years gone by he was as innocent as
our own boy? Do we bring up to our
mind a picture of those days past and
gone when the little chubby hands were
clasped around mothers neck or the baby
lips met hers in loving kiss? Do we
see the love. light in a mothers eye as she
gazes into the innocent face of her boy
or clasps him to her breast as her heart
overfows with mother-love? Do we see
the father frolic with his boy or the tiny
feet run out to meet him ? No. We only
see man drunk and disgraced down in
the ditch and we perhaps pass by with
out any feeling of pity, but our own toll
erance of the liquor traffic has placed him
there and brought about this great change
for once he was as free from the yoke of
bondage as our own boy, whose arms
were around our neck this morning.
Once he was the joy of some mothers
heart and some father pictured a great
future for his boy Father and mother
have perhaps gone down to the grave in
sorrow while the boy who was once their
joy and pride struggles along in bonds.
SIS it nothing to you all We that pass by p
How would it be if it was our own boy !
Would we then give the scene more than
a passing thought?
Intemperance is the greatest evil that
the Christian church has to contend with
today, for the reason that it is so wide
spread and is the most skillfully set trap
of any set by the enemy. 1t catches more
than any other and it is young feet that
touch its spring and fall into the pit pre-
pared for them. The tempting bait is
displayed with view of enticing the
young and inexperienced and when once
they touch it their danger is not apparent
but real. Many man has found out to
his sorrow that yielding to the first temp
tation was only forging the first link to a
strong chain which ultimately held him
fast. Many man has struggled to get
free and has found out the strength of
this chain which he made link by link.
Strong it is and hard to break and to be
safe Is not to take that first glass through
which so many have f,llen. The excess
i've use of liquor not only disgraces the
Individual himself but also those connect
ed with him. A man as he goes down
takes his family along down with him
and while they may be worthy of respect
yet they are made to feel his shame and
are looked at suspiciously, not for any
fault of their own but because they stand
in the shadow of the mantle of shame
which covers the husband and father
How many boys have felt the hot blood
rush to their cheeks when tainted by
their playmates of their fathers weak
ness. The innocent child is often mad,
to suffer by the cruel words of their com
rades. They are made to feel out o.
place and not welcome. Other children
look down upon them and shun them oil
account of the fathers sin.
And is the influence of this treatmen
only momentary or is it lasting
Let us see !
They soon know that they are not wei
come to the society of others and sensi
tive as children are they feel their degr
dation and if it be a boy it opens the wa.
for him to follow in his fathers footsteps
He is driven then by the SCOTS and jeer
of others. Why for the sin of one do w