The Penn's Grove record., 1897-03-12


Drunkenness is still 50 common that oc
casionally temperance workers feel inclined
to despair. II may be worth while to glanca
at the history OF our drinking custo ms, fol-
without some knowledge of causes we can.
not hope to remove effects.
1t would be- n poor explanation Of a tree
that said nothing OF its roots. Druukonn,s 80
is a deadly tree with many roots, deep snl
old.
Starting with the early British inhabl-
tants OF this country {Englant y, Wa find they
knew how tuSmaie three forms of strong
drink-Q) metheglin, Or mead, which is
maie from honey; (2) ale. which is ma lie
from grain; go cider, which is male OF
appi's. An Old historian. Do iOrus, says Of
these Bottoms: ''Fleir ordinary drink was
water. Upon extraordinary occls oas they
drank a KIM OF fermentel liquor ma lie OF
barley, honey or apples, and whUn intoxi-
Gated never failed to quarrel"
The British had houses, in which travellers
might find shelter for themselves aui their
horses. These were really inns.
The Romans entered Britain In q AMI re-
manned about $50 years. They intro lucel
wine to the natives, anl tho use OF the sign
boari, which was n bush.
After the Romans withdrew, the SlXons
conquered u great part of the islanl. They
were great drinkers, and often got drunk
upon mea |, which au Old poet describes us
"a friend to the lips md a foe to the life"
We can scarcely understand new the savage.
COARSE brutality Of those Saxons.
On one occasion they proposed to make a
treaty OF peace with Vortigern by u feast.
The Saxons made their British guests drunk,
and each drew his knife and killed bis man.
Three hundred British nchles are said to
huvs been slain in a state of intoXicatiOn on
that occasion.
The Danes made Inroals next upon the
Saxons. Tit Danes were, il possible, more
terrible drunsards than the Sax0ns them
selves.
We know from various sources to what a
dreadful state the country was reduced by
drunkenness. In 500 a synod was held by
the bishop, st. David, to enact new canons,
so as to repress drunkenness.
These cnnons more than thirteen hundred
years ago spoke in no uncertain way. They
decreed; "He who forces another to get
drunk out Of hospitality must do p%enance, as
ifhe had got drunk himself: but he who, out
Of hatred or wickeiness, in order to disgrace
or mock others, forces them TO get drunk,
must do penance as a murderer of souls"
About four hundred years later the great
Dunstan found time TO devise the peg-tan-
kard, In order to stop drunkenness and quar-
rleing. But it failed.
This brings us practically to the time OF
William the Conquerer, AMI here We may
pause.
Clearly drunkenness is no now thing. 1t
is not only as old rs England, but II is a part
of English custom and character. 1t got
possession of our forefathers, when their
choice of beverages was very small, and
when scientific knowledge of food and drink
had not come to them.
This scourge of drunkenness arose from
mans need OF something 10 drink, and It
spread by his carelessness and Ignorance, I'LL
1t became the giant custom which carried
destruction everywhere.
Our great lesson from this very brief out
line is that drunkenness must be fought by
these homely means which proyldesi for mans
wants and change our social customs, no
less thar by moral enthusiasm and religious
faith.-Rev. Dennis Bird.