The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-01
CHURCHES TAKEN TO TASK.
REV. ". {. BOWEN CHARGES APA-
THY IN TEMPER WORK.

ing ne MAllAAEN OEEhMtAAAA
Held Responsible for Much Evil.
Fashionable Drinking Running the
Boys.
Rev. II. c. Bowen preached strong ser
mon on total abstinence at the Christian
church on Bolton street last night.
The sermon was delivered at the request
Of the members Of the three tents Of
Rechabites in the city. 1t was announced
at the morning service that the Rechabites
would attend In a body IN regalia, and
seats were reserved for them. This was a
mistake as the members only attended
with their families. owing to the rain the
attendance was small. This did not affect
the character Of the sermon which was
plain and pointed.
Mr.. Bowen read from the S5th chapter Of
jeremiah the account Of the invitation Of
the Rechabites. the descendants Of Jona-
dab. the son Of Rechab. who had sworn
never TO drink wine. into the temple at
Jerusalem where they had taken refuge
on account OF the invasion of the country
by Nebuchsdrezzar. and the setting Of
Wine bNAVAN AAANAA- 4 lANg AFAAAcfA 70 III Asih
and declared their principles. which were
not TO drink wine and 10 live in tents.
Mr.. Bowen said that there was no expla-
nation given as to why the Rechabites
should have been invited into the holy
place of the temple for the purpose of
having wine offered to them. but his ex-
PLANTATION was that It was done for an ex-
ample TO the rest of the nation in order
that the upright manner Of life and firm
adherence to principles of the RechabiteS
might be brought strongly to the atten-
ton OF the nation at that critical period.
The Rcchabltes were commended for their
firm adherence to their principles.
1t was upon this incident. Mr.. Bowen
said, that the Rechabite societies of to-
day were founded. He gave an account
Of the Rechabtes of to-day anb the prln-
ciples which they profess. The leading
principle is total abstinence from intOX-
icating drinks in any form except as med
icine. They believe that all total abstain
ers should formally commit themselves to
this principle. Their obligation is binding
upon the obliger, not only while he re-
mains a member of the society, but all
through life. whether he has severed his
membership with the organization or not.
They believe that the question should be
agitated.
Mr.. Bowen said that it might be asked
why IL was necessary to found such So
cieties as the Rechabites the Sons Of
Temperance and other similar organiza-
tons. 1t is, he said because there are
no grounds in Gods word for binding the
church to such principles, and because
these societies could not be founded on
Scripture, 1t was necessary to found
them outside of the church.
The speaker argued that alcohol in any
form as a beverage is dangerous and
should be classed along with opium, NOR
phine and similar drugs, all of which are
Of use medicine, but which are danger
Gus and destructive in their effects when
used as matter of habit.
He urged the taking of the pledge for
life as the surest and best means of guard
ing against this evil, either for the old
abstainer or for the young man just going
out into the world. He urged strongly
that II is the duty of Christians of ali
denominations to enter into the fight
against alcohol and charged that the prev
alence of drunkenness to-day is due to
the weakened attitude of the churches
toward the evil. His remarks on this
line were very plain.
Recent statistics show that the Roman
Catholic church had the dark record of
having the large majority of the saloon
keepers of New York and probably of the
whole country in full fellowship with the
church. This is a terrible blot upon the
church, and one which its bishops
and higher officers, even the pope him
SELF should bestir themselves to remove.
Some of the bishops are already making
efforts In this direction. All of them
should do so, and it is to be hoped that they
will be successful. But what is true of the
Roman Catholic church Is true of every
denomination throughout the country. The
attitude of the churches toward this ques-
ton Is the great hinderng cause in the
work of religion. You would blush IL 1
were to give you the figures which have
gathered during my short stay here of
the shame and disgrace wrought by drink
among the members of this congregation.
All other causes combined are not doing
so much harm nor causing so much mis-
cry among the members of this congrega-
ton as strong drink. The churches should
commit themselves to the most aggres-
sive position against this, evil because ev-
cry church has its garments stained with
it,"
Mr.. Bowen then discussed the cues
ton of drinking as associated with the
secret societies and the military organi-
zations. and strongly condemned them
Tor their encouragement of social drink
ing. He had nothing to say against the
societies as such, he said They We're or
He'AAANNN AOA AiobAt purposes Dul ne SuOnk-
ly condemned the encouragement given
the drinking habit by their social meet
ings. He quoted Rev. Mr. Williams of Wes-
ley Monumental church, to the effect that
a various banquets of the secret societies
attended by him wine had always been
furnished, that he found wine glasses at
his plate, and that the glasses were not
filed only because he refused to ALLOW
II. This, Mr.. Bowen characterized as an
insult to every Cirrus tian who attended
these affairs.
The military companies are responsible
for great deal of the drinking done in
savannah" said Mr.. Bowen. II believe
that military companies are needed here
but not to such an extent perhaps as they
exist The Slattery incident proved con-
clusively the necessity of military in this
city. 1t is not necessary, however that
there should be so much drinking in con-
nection with the military organizations.
The young man who goes into a military
company should not be continually con-
fronted with the temptation to drink. A
member of my church confessed to me in
my study not long ago that one of the
military companies and yacht club here
had been his ruin. He was surrounded
by convivial companions always and
when he awoke to his true condition both
money and honor were gone. The only
safety for young man who goes into a
military company should go in there
la .r-s.. Il