The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-05
ECCLESIASTICAL COLUMN.
Rev. j. w. Butler, Pastor st. Marks Lutheran
Church. Editor
Narcotics and StimuIants.
Isaiah 5. ll-23,

cohollc stlmulants is one of so
serious and great magnitude that it
cannot be discussed in a few mo-
ments.
All who have attended the lect-
ures of DR.. Tracy, or even one
given in December by our evangel-
ist Howard. must have a fair idea
of the injurious effects of these
drugs upon the human system.
However, their evils are practi-
cally and best seen in the physical
and demented victims in our midst
to-day, to say nothing of the pow
erty stricken homes and the doomed
souls.
A chemical analysis of these pro-
ducers of evil is not necessary here,
nor scientific exposition of their
evil effect upon the human consti-
tuition.
In them our liberties, our virtues
and our homes are exposed to an
enemy more dangerous and daring
than the wild beasts and savage red
men that prowled in the darkness
about the homes of our fathers.
Much has been claimed for their
medical uses and stimulating effects
against pain and suffering,
But while they render insensible
to pam we are as insenslble to the
habit that is begun and the disease
that is invited, far more perilous i'll
their nature to both body and soul,
than any affection of body or mind.
"No drunkard can enter into the
kingdom of God"
The Bible teaches us that this
drink plague is no new thing. 1t
has a long and fearful history.
Wine and strong drink may be
traced back to the Hebrew nation.
We read of Noah who planted a
vineyard and got drunk on the
wine he made.
Here is one of their royal PROV
cribs: Wine is a mocker, strong
drink is raging; and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not WISE"
Although men go to the use of
these beverages among this ancient
nation as a means of self -justifica-
ton in similar indulgences, it
appears that they had learned that
strong drink was very Satan,
making a mock of all It's promises;
giving weakness instead of strength ;
sickness instead of health; poverty
instead of wealth; foolishness
instead Of wisdom; unrest and pain
instead of peace and joy. These
Hebrews had found that, which
would be exhillaratlng, to become
"raging" instead; having the SEM
blance Of furious beast or a mad
man.
Let us look still further at these
proverbs; they serve as an index to
the conceptions these lovers and
makers of strong drink had of its
iniquitous effects:
"He that loveth pleasure shall be
poor; he that loveth wine shall not
be rich. "
"Be not among winebibbers; for
the drunkard shall come to poverty
and drowsiness shall clothe man
with rags"
Habakkuk wrote, "Woe unto him
that giveth his neighbor drink, that
putteth the bottle to him and MAX
eth him drunk also"
"Who hath sorrow? Who hath
woes? Who hath babbling? Who
hath wounds without cause? Who
hath redness of eyes? They that
tarry long at the wine; they that go
to seek mixed wine"
"Brawls, blows, bruises, quarrels,
red eyes and noses, blear faces and
wretched aches and feelings, were
the common penalties of the wicked
drink habit IN Palestine, among the
chosen people, as in modern times
and among modern men"
No wonder the conclusion Of the
Hebrew moralist was, "Look not
thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it giveth its color IN the cup,
when it moycth itself Alright; at the
last it biteth like serpent and
stingeth like an adder
The tetotalers found among the
Rechabites and Nazarites Of the
Hebrews show the prevalence Of the
drink plague was sufficient to be
opposed, and to demand a refor-
nation. These total abstainers,
samples of whom we find in Samson
and John the Baptist, "stand like
pillars of light on the bleak plain
of Hebrew history" testifying OF
the viciousness of the great evil i'll
their day.
Among the ancient Pagan nation
we find winebibbling people. II
was true concerning Egypt accord
ing to pictures found upon her an
cient monuments. In these at
Thebes, wine presses, wine dressers
and wine drinkers were represented