The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-15
BISHOP NEWMAN ON TEMPERANCE.

The New York State Temperance Society
recently celebrated its anniversary in the
First Presbyterian Church at Saratoga,
Bishop John P. Newman, of the Methodist
Church, delivered discourse on "The
Waste OF Intemperance." He said that
while the United States should be the pur.
est, happiest and richest nation on the fscl
Of the globe, yet the waste Of material
mental and moral power, through the un,
wise and inordinate use Of wine and liquor,
was tremendous. He cited a multitude oi
facts and figures In proof Of this view Of
the subject. These statistics show that
while twenty leading necessaries Of life,
including articles Of food, clothing and
transportation, cost the people Of this
country annually billion Of dollars, In the
the manufacture or preparation Of which
aggregate wages amount to S164 ,000, 900,
yet the liquor bill Of the Nation equalIed
the same grand total-a billion dollars
this traffic requiring the employment OF
5000 persons, who received over $50 ,000, 900.
The statisticians, he said, estimated that
while the churches of all denominations In
this country cost for all purposes only
$50 900 900, the drink habit, including the
expenses and results, such as crime and
pauperism, amounted to the colossal sum
Of 81 800, ,000, 900, ratio OF twelve to one
S12 for drink and 81 for religion. t
The Bishop, In considering the eradica-
ton OF the evil, counseled wisdom and
moderation instead of inconsiderate and
uncompromising denunciation. There wera
three concessions, he said, which temper.
ance advocates were bound to make
namely, that while wines and liquors were
not indispensable in the welfare Of man
kind, they, nevertheless, had their legiti-
mate uses; that the occasional drinking OF
wines and liquors was not drunkenness az
denounced in the Bible, and that while 1t
was true that all confirmed drunkards wera
once moderate drinkers, yet all moderate
drinkers did not become confirmed drunk
ards. In conclusion, the Bishop said that
while some people favored high licenses
some local option and others prohibition,
he believed that what was most needed In
all classes, from the highest to the lowest,
was magnanimity born of seif-denial,
which would create an apprehension oil
danger that would make the custom Of
drinking questionable and cause tha
liquor habit to be less profitable. This
would Increase the power on the part Of
the magnanimous to persuade others to
follow their example and would contribute
to economy, industry, education, prtriotfsm.
religion, home and heaven. ~
Remembered For What He Had Done,
A poor victim OF intemperance In his last
moments was visited by neighbor of his
who had furnished him the rum which
brought him to ruin and drunkard's
grave, who asked him whether he remem-
bered him. The dying man, forgetting his
struggle with the king Of terrors, said,
, "Yes, I remember you, and remember !
your store, where formed the habit which
has ruined me for this world and the next, /
And when am dead and gone, and you
come and take from my widow and father. :.
less children the shattered remains OF my
property to paNmy drink debts, they, too,
will remember 3ou." And he added, as
they both attended the same church, eyes,
brother, we shall all remember you, to all
eternity" And he might have added, "You,
too, will remember them, and will remem-
Der what you did for the sake Of money, to
bring their husband and father to the
drunkard's grave, and to take from the
widow and fatherless not merely property,
but that which no wealth can purchase and
which when taken no power on earth can
restore" And, we might odd, he will re-
member himself as the author, the
guilty, wretched author of mischief which
eternity cannot repair, and which may
teach him, In deeper and deeper wailings,,
that 1t profits the man nothing to gain the
world and lose his soul, or be access ory to
the LOGS of the souls of others.