Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-09-20

Lesson for Sept rs.
GOLDEN TEXT -9Daniel purposed in his
heart that he would not defle himself -
Dan. I; 6
Daniels abstinence Is the subject of
this lesson. and If found in Dan. i: 20.
Temperance Is one of the progressive
virtues, Temperance to-day Is some
thing else and better than temperance
yesterday or day before yesterday.
There wa time when it was suppos-
edly temperate to drink moderately, or
to drink only on muster days, or Christ
mas or New Years. or to drink only q
glass 1T u time. That time has a ssed.
To-day moderation Is not temperance,
although the words may mean very
much the same. With the d. ink such
as is to-day, the natural appetite such
as 1t is, the pub ic conscience such as
1t Is, no man can be called a strict tenn
perance man who touches strong drink
as beverage. Temperance, at this
stage OF the battle, thorough-going
temperance, is total abstinence, MOTH
ing short.
Daniel purposed in his heart" A
good purpose goes before all good con-
duct. Determine to do light and stick
to 1t. @That he would not" The test
will come. Well ior the lad that prac-
tices in his clio. ct, God helping, that
little word "no." He will need to be,
brave; he will need to be fixed and
firm. Have G .urage, my boy. to say
no." "The kings meat" Doubtless
Daniel broke with the fashion of the
day when he said mo-" The king ate
and drank thus; everybody did it. Why
not he? Every ody but me, then"
said Daniel. God give us young men
who are willing to stand alone stand
alone with God!
No doubt there was ridicule. Who
that sets himself against bad fashion
does not encounter it! But stand true;
in the end men will honor you for it.
Yes, said he, 1T was an ordeal. In
side Was fraternity and fellowship;
outside, social ostracism, well-nigh."
There is only one thing will sustain a
man under such circumstances-the
consciousness that he has promised
God, and that Gcd's eye is upon him
and Gods sustaining hand. Therefore
he requested the prince of the eunuchs
that he might not defile himself" 1t
is we'll to have an understanding; it is
well to be out with it. Say, Boys, I'm
a Christian: don't ask me to do that.
They will come to respect your princi-
pie. In the crowd they may laugh.
Get them apart by them selves; in their
quieter, soberer moments they will tell
you that they recognize the nobility of
your position and that they wish they
were like you. That is, ii they are at
all worthy of your comp any or Of your
personal confidence. The other kind
let alone. Show your colors early. 1t
viii save time; it will save worry. II
don't drink" Il don't smoke" say it.
and by that same sign they will let you
alone. Dare to be Daniel.
Hints and Illustrations.
Temperance is O matter of principle,
and as such is very personal and
practical question. You look long
through the word for explicit injunc-
tons against the use of liluor. The
principle is there, but not the express
command. We are forbidden to defile
ourselves: we are forbidden to do
aught that would make our brother to
stumble. No man in this day and
generation, can apply these two prin-
ciples justly and fairly and continue
in the % of that wnich, in the end, is
responsible for half If not two-thii DIS of
the outlawry and distress of modern
times. The principle of love to God
and man, the mind of Christ settles
the whole controversy.
Put the question directly: What
can do to aid in the eau o OF temper
ance? Get answers. Some will say,
Join a temperance organization an
other, vote the temperance ticket
another, preach and teach temper
ance principles another, set good
example of temperance in all things;'
another, get distinctive temporal CO
instruction into the school books for
the children another, sign the old
fashione pledges; another, encourage
temperance meetings and occasional
temperance lectures another still,
take and spread temperance litera-
ture, papers, tracts, ETC." 1t Is cause
in which all can have a part, and no
one is exempt in this warfare. We are
fighting for God and home and ma
tive land. Be alert, be active. Per-
haps as many responses of q pertinent
and pointed sort may be gotten to the
converse OF the question, viz: How
may check or impede the eau of
intemperance?" Some answers may
be anticipated: BY being simply in
different to its claims, by criticising
any kind of effort to reform, by put
ting strong drink or even strong spices
into food, by unduly prescribing in
toxicants in illness or indisposition, by
refusing to side with efforts for the
extirpation of the atrocious saloons, by
renting property to liquor dealers, by
countenancing those that sell. by hav-
ing wine on the table on public coca
sions, by keeping it in the cellar or on
the sideboard, by drinking it when
abroad, by using the fiery, fermented
sort for sacramental purposes. There
are undoubtedly numerous ways OF
hindering temperance reform, and
each one mu t Judge himself.
Mrs. Mary Clement Leavit., who has
been round the world for temperance,
thus expounds that passage at. Prov.
81: g.: "Give strong drink unto him that
is ready to perish 1t |, to betaken
in the light o. the context, and, far
from commencing drink, it deprecates
its use save by a kind OF indulgence,
for those who are as good as dead. The
man who takes to strong drink is like
the man who in de pair and despera-
ton leaps into flood and fl Q. That Is
good word that DIR. A. @. Lawson
speaks about the iniquitouso habit OF
drinking when abroad. A certain kind
of indulgent counsel has D. evailed
with many travellers such as makes
them to ignore home habits and homo
principles and artake of wine and beer
across the water. 1T is not safe" they
say, to drink the water that is offered
you. You take your life in your hand