The Newtown bee., 1898-04-01

nence. Neither life nor health require
the use of Intoxicating drinks as bever-
age. Some of our ablest scientists have
| testified that alcohol contains no nutri-
ment and therefore cannot take the place
of food. Even If it did, it might be right
under almost all circumstances to abstain
from it. Such abstinence does not con-
hict with any duty we owe ourselves. 1t
can have no Injurious influence. 1t does
not expose one to needless temptation.
1t Is perfectly safe course to pursue.
We know that If one
NEVER USES INTOXICATING DRINKS He
WILL NEVER BECOME A DRUNKARD.
He will never suffer any of the terrible
evils which are the result of such indul-
genCe. Whatever may be said of the
safety or the danger of any other course,
we know that so long as one carries out
this course he will be safe from these
dangers. Total abstinence is a safe course
in respect to its effects upon others.
Whatever may be said of the opposite
course in it's effects upon others we know
that there can be no injurious results from
total abstinence. The Bible In various
instances gives its approval of those who
for various reasons abstained entirely
from the use of wine, the only intoxicat
ing drink then in use, as in the case of
the Rechabites, of the Nazarites, of Dan
lei, OF John the Baptist and others.
And under certain circumstances
it demands the abstinence from ita
use. we say then that it is safe
and right for anyone to abstain from the
use of Intoxicating liquors as beverage.
(2) But, again, total abstinence is the
only safe course to pursue. IL it can be
shown that the occasional or moderate
use, or what is sometimes called the tenn
perate use of such drinks Is attended with
great dangers and peril, if it often leads
to the most fearful resulte, then the prin
ciple laid down in the text would require
US to abstain from its use. That this
danger does exist, and that these results
do follow, are the only facts which need
to be proved. 1t would be right and safe
to adopt this course of total abstinence
even if there were no such dangers con-
nected with the use of liquors. But then
it might also be right and safe to take
the other course, But If these dangers
exist then it ia the only safe course.
But here the objection is made that it
IL ffno hUrn .,,I
stitutes the wrong. 1t is said that we
should be temperate in all things, and
that it Is possible to abuse any blessing
1t ia said that we are forbidden to indulge
in gluttony and extravaganza, and that
we are to exercise a proper restraint
with respect to the use of every blessing
of life, or it might become curse instead
Of blessing. 1t is said that there is no
good, but may be perverted. And it is
asked, why then make the use of intoxi-
eating drinks an exception? Why not
apply the same principle of moderation
here as elsewhere? This may seem very
plausible reasoning. Some have accept
ed this principle as the correct one.
But we think this objection can be sat-
isfsctOrily answered, first because these
drinks are not essential, like food and
many other things which can be pervert-
ed. They are not needed. They would
be only Indifferent things even If there
was no danger connected with them.
And in the next place because they are
ATTENDED WITH GREAT DANGER AND
THE MOST FEARFUL RESULTS.
These dangers have reference in the
first place to ones self. There is danger
that moderate drinking may lead to all
the sad and terrible results of intemper-
anee. And we all know what these re-
ults are. We know what untold evils
attend life Of iHtemperance. We know
what INSERTS and suffering intemperance
produces upon ones self and in the fam
lily and in the community. But it may
be said that this danger extends only to
certain individuals or to certain classes
in society, and that others may safely |
indulge In moderate drinking. But on |
the other hand it can be shown that this |
danger IL very great and that it extends
to multltudes. or course no one claims
that every Individual who INDUCES in
moderate drinking win become slave to
his appetite or die drunkard. 1t is not |
necessary to prove this In order to
show that the danger 10 very great.
II an epidemic should prevail here and
should prove fatal to life to one-half or
one-south or one-tenth Of the inhabitants
we should regard It as q terrible evil. It