Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-28
4 TEMPERANCE SERMON
Preached by the Rev. G. B. Graham
at North Street Church


LAST NIGHT-SoME EXCELLENT
AND SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES
BEARING ON THE MATTER-so-
briefly AND DRUNK ENNESS
CoNTRAsTED-AT Or THE
CHURCH TOWARD THE LIQUOR
TRAFFIC.
.solomons Prohibition Law was
the subject of a very interesting and
forcible discourse at the North Street
NJ. E. Church last evening by the pas
tor. the Rev. c. B. Graham. 1t was a
temperance sermon, preached at the
request of the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. The text was taken
from Prov. xiii. 31-2:
Look not, thou, upon the wine
when it is red, when it giveth his color
in the cup, when it moveth itself
Alright; at last it biteth ike a serpent,
and stingeth like an adder"
One of the first interrogations wher
rule for life or action is proposed
is, Who said that? Who is he? VIVA.
does he know on the subject? How
and where did he learn it? These
and similar inquiries are natural and
right The author of this language,
King Solomon, had at his command
every possible source of information
to qualify him to be one of the best
authorities on the subject that the
world has ever produced. He had all
that money, society and influence could
give He had all that education by the
best instructors of the world in his
day could give Then he was especially
favored by the Divine Teacher, until
his name became the synonym of wis
dom. Is he not good authority on the
subject of temperance? Hear him,
then, in the text which, when para
phrased as follows, presents the
thoughts of the text more clearly:
Look not on the wine because it is
red; because it shows its bead in the
cup; because it goes right we'll; as its
after effect. it bites like a serpent, and
stings like an adder"
Solomon's doctrine on this subject
can be expressed by one sentence: Let
it alone; and yet time and language
are inadequate to fully express what
is implied therein, for it touches the
entire human race. And it is probable
that in some form and in a limited
way it will continue as one Of Satan's
agencies as long as he goes to and fro
upon the earth to tempt men.
Notice the term, Wine" 1t is GER
tainly a mild term which expresses
the thought of intemperance and one
that causes as little discord in the
harmony of the Christian soul as any
that could fall upon the ear. Yet when
expanded, to comprehend the entire
subject must include terms much
harsher and represent articles far more
dangerous. It means every article
that robs man of his manhood and
lovely women Of their charms.
It means to us beer, ale, wine, old
rye, champagne and their kindreds,
whether handled BY the key, bottle,
box, candy jar, or punch bowl And
the place from which it is rendered
does not change it's nature, whether
that be from what may be classed as
the lowest type Of an alley xaloon, or
the gilded parlor saloon, or he eX-
quisite private parlor, or the magnif-
cent fraternal banquet. However and
wherever presented it Irtains his iden-
tity. This same author. who had q
sad experience on the subject in addi
ton to the other sources of information
said: wine is a mocker, and strong
drink is raging, and whosoever is de-
ceived thereby is not wise"
Solomon's wise caution is to "Look
not thou upon the wine" He does not
recommend to taste it, or take a small
glass of it, or merely a sip of it,, to
classify it, or merely a sip of it, to
look upon it. Possibly there are per-
sons in this audience who by a sad
experience from intoxicants understand
the danger involved in a look. Doubt
less Solomon was speaking these words
of warning from his own experience.
What blessing it would be to human
ity if all such sad experiences would
be taken at their nominal value by the
youths of to-day.
This caution teaches that it is not
safe to have anything to do with wine.
Touch not, taste not, handle not, is the
creed recommended. 1t is well to re-
member also that when this warming
was given the adulteration of wines
was comparatively unknown. How is
it now? Men win boast that they can
furnish you good whisky that was
never in a still house. ] recall an in
stance OF a man, which is fair sam
pie, of whom it was asserted time
and again in the court room that he
was "a man Of good moral character.
when he secured license to keep a