The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-13
TEACHERS HELP.

Temperance, as inculcated in our
lesson.passage. is one of the family of
virtues essential to generous life. In
temperance is to be Stunned and OPP
posed, not simply because it brings to
one personal harm, but because it is
wrong to the brotherhood Paul in
structs us to be not simply selfishly tenn
perate but heroically temperate.
We do not understand Paul to depre-
ciate the motives for temperance which
primarily appeal to self-interest. We
cannot deny that there is danger in
drink, however drinkers try to persuade
themselves to the contrary; wine has
ever been and will ever he deceiver and
a mocker. Neither can we deny that
there is waste of physical efficiency in
Cured by even the slightest indulgence
in alcoholic beverages; this is made ap-
parent by the fact that all well-managed
railroads now refuse to employ drink
ing man in any responsible position.
Neither can we fail to note the enor
nous expense which intemperance in
cure, both on the individual and the
public. Incorporate men are today
drinking up farms and houses, even their
children's bread and clothes. Intemper-
ance ia to the nation a waste of life and
property. scarcely less than the late
Civil War at its worst. Carroll ID.
Wright has demonstrated by carefully
sifted statistics that for every dollar the
government receives from the rum traf-
fic the nation loses twenty-one dollars.
And the waste of life by intemperance
is far more fearful than the waste OF
property.
These are good reasons why we should
shun intoxicants. As we value our lives,
as we would choose the way of safety, as
we covet general well-being, we should
not daily with the intoxicating cup.
But this is only the lower side of the
argument.
From Paul's words and example we
learn that even il we could gain money
for ourselves by favoring the drink hab-
it, even il we could promote our physical
we'll being and add to our popularity, it
would still be our solemn duty, and
ought to be our deep Joy. in behalf OF the
weaker members of our human brother
hood. to scorn all brides and be aggres-
sive fighters for temperance.
This Gospel argument, which appeals
to the best there is in US. is contained in
our lesson passage.
/. The Gospel Law of Living
for Others,-vs. 10 %.
Paul's argument begins at the COM
mencement of the previous chapter,
where he takes up the question of eating
meat which had been offered to idols.
Part of every sacrifice offered to the
idols belonged to the priests; part was
returned to the worshippers. to be eaten
in feasting in honor of the idol, or to be
sold in the shambles. 1t was a question
whether Christian should eat such
meat. Paul declares that, in itself, it is
exactly like any other meat; its conse-
Grafton to an idol,-a thing having no
existence save in mistaken imaginations,
has not changed it in the least. A
Christian therefore has. in himself, the
right to eat of such meat ia utter disre-
gard of its assumed religious character.
But what il the newly converted Chris.
tian, who has but partially broken his
bonds to idolatry. on seeing Christian
feasting on this consecrated meat, infers
that there is no difference between
Christianity and idolatry. and is there
by led back into his old licentious and
degrading practices? IL Christian sees
that indulgence in his own liberty is