The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-12
TOBACCO WARMLY DEFENDED.
English Clergymen No Longer Fear to
Smoke, Even i'm Public.
London Telegraph.

London Telegraph. ~.
Those of the Queens lieges who are at
once assiduous churchInen and inveterate
smokers will be gratined to hear that
learned doctor Of divinity, who is also dis
tinguished dignitary Of the establishment
has has made public profession of his implicit
1alth in the virtues of tobacco.
The other evening the Very Rev. j. c.
Lees, ID. D., took the chair at a smoking
concert, held in st. CHESS Hall. Edinburgh
by the members Of the Young Mems Cathe-
dral Guild, and opened the proceedings by
describing tobacco as lone Of the greatest
boons ever bestowed upon man." and by
expressing his sincereI hope that all present
ing" go rn1uoro 1872
The late Mr.. spurgeon, it may be remem-
bered, took very similar course. Being
expostulated with for his habit of smoking,
he boldly declared Ii to be harmless, and
had the courage to say: Il thank God for
a good cigar II is a healthy sign of the
times that ministers OF religion should thus
openly pay unstinted tribute of homage to
the virtues of the fragrant weed, consider
ing how steadfastly. end severely its cult
had been discouraged. in laymen as well as
in molly clerks" until comparatively re-
cent period. by the 'tone-giving" ecclesias-
teal authorities In this country.
For well-nigh a couple OF centuries after
the first of our Stuart sovereigns "Douce
King Jamie. OF pious memory, had issued
his whitening combination OF the ''noisome
herb introduced into England by Sir Wal
ter Raleigh, the episeopacy OF the Reformed
Church persistently followed the cue given
to British Protestants by that erudite but
narrow-minded defender of the faith, and
showed herioc example of abstinence from
the Pleasure and comfort of smoking TO
their minor clergy and the secular congre-
cations of their respective dioceses.
In the days when George was King, a
sporting vicar, or convivial curate, having
charge Of souls in rural districts, might in
dulge in pipe after breakfast or dinner
without fear of his bishop sacrifice of
ghostly prestige in the opinion of his
churchwardens and parishioners. Prelates,
by their intimate friends, and In any ca
thedral town seven-headed fiery dragon
would have been less surprising street
sight than dean with a lighted cigar in
his mouth, or even an archdeacon blow
ing a cloud" from a well-seasoned Guilty
Nowadays. when old world prejudices
against the use of tobacco have to great
smoke as freely and fearlessly, If not per-
haps as obtrusively, as the laity. They
have the courage of their tastes as well
as of their opinions. and their emancipation
from the petty and fantastic restraints
formerly imposed upon them by 1.-The CLOTH
is finely instanced by the unconventional
utterances of so dignified an ecclesiastic as
DIR. Lees. who, while presiding over mu-
steal and convivial gathering of young
Scotsmen. encouraged them TO smoke to
the top of their bent. adding, Il trust that
you will spend evening enjoyably. and
that tobacco will help to keep you up to
the mark"
DIR. Lees spoke words of truth and wis
dom when he signalized the herb that
to mankind. Tobacco is. indeed. universal
benefactor, exercising its kindly influence
with genial impartiality upon civilized and
barbaric races alike.