St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-23
REV. r. L. HESS DELIVERS A
LECTURE ON TEMPERANCE
QUESTIONS.
TO DRINK MODERATELY
Is ALL RIGHT, BUT HE DOESN'T
BELIEVE IN TOTAL ABsTI-
NENCE.
HEBREWS NOT DRUNKARDs
Drunken Jew Phenomenon
Who, Continuing, Becomes
an Outcast.

ST do not believe in total absti-
nance from the so-called strong
drink, but 1 do advocate the temper
ate use of them," said Rabbi Hess in
the course of a lecture on ''The Tenn
perance Question" at Mt. Zion syna-
gogue, last night The lecturer dur
ing the evenings discourse took oc-
casion to express his views regard
ing the theatrical question, and those
who are continually waging conflict
upon the Legitimate stage" He be-
lieves that we are not to go through
this world with the feeling that it
is at best a "vale of tears and path
way strewn with thorns," but that,
as God is good, it is His design that
we shall make this life joyful one,
and carry out the Scriptural dicta-
ton. Eat, drink and be merry"
Next Sunday will be celebrated
as national temperance day." said
the speaker land have regarded it
as timely that I express tonight my
views on the temperance question. 1t
is one which is continually being
discussed in the pulpit, press and
the halls of legislature; but it is one
which the Jewish leaders do, and
have not in the past needed to any
great degree. The question is often
asked: Why do we thus avoid a
question of such Importance? My
answer is that we do not approve of
the means being adopted There are
many men in the city of St. Paul who
do not possess the moral courage
to confess openly that which they
do in private. They do not think it a
sin to indulge in the temperate use
of healthful and stimulating wine.
What is the result? They are not
inebriates, not drunkards, but are
what is more loathsome = hypo-
critics, made so by the manner in
which this question is discussed by
those who have undertaken to eX-
terminate the liquor traffic. And the
same influence will have the same
effect upon legislation. 1t is true
that we Jews are taking part to
some extent in the movement, but
II OHiy lIlIOuSH Gill
proud to be able to honestly say to-
night that a drunken Jew is a phe-
nomenon, and when one is found, If
after we strive to reform him, he
continues in his intemperance, he
becomes an outcast. All Jews in
dulge, but it is with temperance. If
some of these other people would
follow our example they would be
able to reach the solution of a ques-
ton which seems to be puzzling them
exceedingly. There is life in tenn
perance, but death in intemperance.
Temperance should be observed in
all things. The Bible places the
drunkard and the glutton in the
same class.
81 wish all parents would teach their
children to cease this custom of looking
with horrer upon social gatherings
where beverages stronger than lemon
ade and tea are served and from which
we come away from without injury
to body or mind. And when different
holidays come why make them oc-
| casions for melancholy? Let them be
joyful. and let us strive to make our
homes places to which our children
shall desire to remain and where those
pleasures may be indulged in which
are natural and harmless. And those
who have no homes, who walk the
streets with sadness of heart let us
not deprive them of what pleasure they
may get from life by the temperate
indulgence in so-called strong drinks.
| Is it not noble to allow them to tenn
perately indulge in such beverages as
shall cause them to forget their sor-
rows than to send a whole police force
| after them and only add to their mis-
| cry? And the tired, exhausted laborer,
why not allow him to drink such bev-
erages as shall stimulate him? [ can
not see the wrong in these temperate
indulgences. And as to the theater,
it is likewise abused. I fail to see the
wrong of legitimate play in which the
hopes, fears and joys of a human heart
are so depicted and impersonated as
| to produce no other feeling in the hear
er than to lead better and nobler
life"