The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-29
A TEMPERANCE SERMON


Church by Rev. C. NJ oliphant-How
Intemperance Should be Fought.
Last night, at the First Christian
church. Rev. C. NJ. olIphant preached
an interesting sermon on the subject OF
Temperance" The text for the occa-
sion was taken from the twenty-second
ard twer.y-afth verses, fifth chapter of
Galatians
Mr. ollphant stated in his opening
that the subject, although to some ex-
tent threadbare, is yet OF great interest
TO the public. Alcohol, said the minister,
is highly injurious 20 the system, finally
reaching the brain, which organ II
wrecks, and destroys to terrible eX-
tent.
There have been many methods pro-
posed for getting rid OF this curse, but
the great question is how can We keep
the boys from its effects?
The minister In his discussion OF the
subject enumerated four means, power
full agencies in their influence upon the
youth The first influence named was
that OF the home. The home must eX-
ert not only negative influence, but
positive influence as well. The deml-
John has been kept in many homes With
out a thought OF what evil consequences
might follow. The intentions of the
families where Il is found are often good.
They do not think that any harm could
possibly come from having little cider
or wine at hand. But evil often follows
which was not in the least anticipated
A farmer once sowed what he thought
was good seed, but when the harvest
time came, insteadof grain he had crop
of weeds. The intentions, as In the case
OF the demIjohn, were good, but the re-
suit was far different from what was
anticipated.
Young men should be trained in such
a manner that they can say NO" The
home should be made attractive and be
made such place that the youth Will
prefer I; to any other place. He will
then take delight in being there and
will not seek amusement at places
where he is likely to be assailed by
temptation.
A party OF men we're once exploring
cave and took with them string which
they carried to every nook and corner
When they wished 20 En out they fol-
lowed the course Indicated by the string
and reached the. sunllght again In
safety, So should the home influence
protect and guide the youth that he may
overcome temptations and trials.
Another very great influence on the
youth is that cxerted by his social sur
roundlngs The minister in criucising
some social customs In vogue said that
he was not cynical. yet he thought all
Christians ehould rise up against any
custom hearmful to young mon
Al large temperance me7tnT 4 res
olution was offered in favor OF total
abstinence when a minister arose ana
with powerful eloGuence opposed H.
His address was so full OF force that II
was for time thought the resolution
would be loqt Scarcely had he taken
his seat when an old gray haired man
arose and told a pi,iful story ot how his
son. young man upon whom he had
built high hopes. had graduated from
college a total ahstaincr, and how. at
gathering AZ the house Of the very min
lister who had jus. spoken, he had been
invited to take a drink Of wine He re-
fused at first. but was persuaded 20
drink by the statement that 10 drink
wine was but a harmless social custom.
He yielded and few years later was
placed in a drunk5rd's grave.
The minister spoke In high terms of
the course OF Mrs. Mckinley in eXclud-
Ing wine from the white house, and
thought that nil p"rS us who take this
stand were worthy OF high praise ani
commentator. Mr.. Ollphant was OF
the opinion that young ladies made a
mistake in accepting the attentions OF
young men who were In the habit OF
drinking. He thought that where young
men had to choose between the company
OF talented and refined young ladies
and the attractions OF the saloon, they
would Invariably choose the former.
The third great influence Is that OF
temperance organizations. These are
many and various. The public school,
where the great harm Of alcohol 10 the
system Is taught. Is one. Young peoples
societies are another, and besides these,
many Of the auxiliary church societies
exert n mighty influence.
A great harm IS done by not enforcing
the laws we have. The minister stated
that he thought the saloon business
would not be a profitable one II our laws
were put IN execution.
The last Influence mentioned was that
OF tho church. Tho church Is q mighty
power In this direction, although II may
hnve been to some extent dormant on
this question. The trouble Vs., church
people themselves are not 50 cnthusl-
aftIr In their work as they should be.
Tho time viii come when The evil OF In
temperance viii be crushed and the nag
OF Christian temperance VIII wave over
this land