Middletown transcript., 1899-03-18
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week Beginning March
10, "Sef Mastery"-Text,
1 Cor. tx, 24-27.

EVERY man that striveth for master
is temperate in all things"
Even prizefghters when in training
are kept under rigid rules as to food
drink, exercise and sleep. All athlete
know that temperateness and regularit,
are essential to strength.
No less is true in the Christian life
The body has the greatest influence OF
the spirit life. No man can be glutton
GUS, slovenly, lascivious, drunken ant
still be pure in heart and mind. On,
may be diseased in body, weak ant
physically wrecked, and yet triumphant
in soul. The man is spirit in a ma
terial body. The important question is
Which is master? If the bodily appetitel
and passions rule, then the man is slave
to worse than beastly powers. He grows
earthly, sensual, devilish. If the spirit
rules, then the body in obeying the
higher reason comes to its highest free.
dom and ease and efficiency. Every ap.
petite of body is recognized as right in
its place and as indicating need to be
satisfied at the proper time and in the
proper way. But all are to be kept in
bounds and all powers of body are to be
used to serve the highest interests of
the soul. Pleasure will come in the
qualification Of each appetite, but no
power of body is to be used just for the
purpose of feeling the pleasure in its ex-
ercise and with no higher end in view.
Sleep is for rest and must have it's time
and limits. It is not to be INDUCED at
all times nc- rs qualification of the
feeling of Incidence.
The spirit is to be master and to make
all powers work for its perfect develop.
ment. Patience, endurance, self repres.
sion, self urging, watchfulness, pru-
dence, courage, will all be needed.
Right Rev. Frederick Temple, arch
bishop of Canterbury, says: ''L am a.
total abstainer because I believe that
this is the most effective mode of bring.
ing about sobriety in the community in
general. I believe I can do more as
total abstainer in that direction than I
could if l were to be ever so carefully
moderate in consuming alcoholic
drinks"
In the United States there are 232, 900
saloons, which cost their supporters ST.
600, 900 annually. Is the benefit derived
from them worth what it costs?
Every one must and does settle the
question Of what shall be his practice
in regard to alcoholic drinks. Shall he
use them or abstain? To let them alone
is safe. Health does not require their
use. Their continued use may injure
health, and in case of many diseases
the chances are much lessened for re-
covery when the patient has used alco- /
holio drinks.
The saloon is popular institution
Tor various reasons. Some people want |
the liquors sold there. Others want the
companionship and the pleasant sur
roundings. Multitudes of young men in |
The cities have cheerless lodgings, and |
ind the warmth, luxurious furnishings,
music and company which they crave
after the work of the day better sup
piled by the saloons than any other
place. They are too poor in many cases
20 join club. Libraries and reading
looms are few, and have no facilities
or social life. The saloon meets felt
iced of many who have no desire for
7ioe, but seek congenial society. With
10 special prejudice against alcoholic
liquors and with no special taste for
hem, they are drawn to the saloon by
is social attractions and drink because
t is the custom and is the way in which
he accommodations are paid for.
The man who runs the saloon does
lot wish to make men worse. He wants
o get living and do it in the easiest
Vay. Often he has no trade, and does
ot find it easy to get situation in any
usiness. He is in the saloon for the
money he can get. If prudent, he is of.
en- total abstainer. Many liquor deal
rs never drink beer or spirits. They
now better than to do it. It is the
honey they are after.
All that the saloon supplies can be
etter furnished in other ways. Arbi-
rary use of force will not in free
ountry settle the problem presented.
is not the question of the reform of
len who drink and abuse their families
nd become an expense to the public
is not altogether the question of the
aloon as school of vice. All these
oints are involved, but the strength of
1e hold of the saloon on society lies in
1e fact that it meets social want
rounded i'll real need which is not
lpplied in any other manner. The sa-
ION is the poor man s club. 1t is the
sst form yet found, but not the best i,
lat can be found. All it gives should
} found without its evil features.
The reform movements of past years
ave relied upon total abstinence Q
edges, reform clubs with formal y
eetings, debates, and occasionally
oorly furnished reading rooms, to coun-
ract the saloon influence. Prohibitory
ws are the favorite device of others. Il
cod as far as they go, none of these I
cans or all of them combined have b
ecked the evil. Something more than s.
caring piece of ribbon is needed, 81
mething more than talk. What can n
done:
Pleasant meeting places for those
wing no home surroundings are the b.
lme necessity. Music and beauty in Sc
rnishings and freedom for social con- al
rsation and recreation must be had. b
9treshments at low prices and of proper al
nds must be furnished. No attempt 81
charity or compulsion must be in the
an. The ordinary man who frequents
saloon has no need of charity. He
sats others. He is independent and 81
Us his way. If you wish to abolish "
saloon, you must enlist him in the y
neme of replacing it with something 81
tter. Charity schemes will not do. %
Spafn's Greatest Need.
fr R. P. Olivia, of Barcelona, Spain.
nds his winters at Aiken, s. C. Weak ID
yes had caused severe pains in the back GO
his head. On using Electric Bitters, IN