The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-16
RECTOR BROWNS DEVICE.
How He Rescued n Cashier From the
Drinking Habit.


from the Cleveland Plain Dealer)
A Cleveland man tells this pathetic and
characteristic story of the late Rev. DR..
! John Wesley Brown. the incident occur
ring while he was rectcs of Trinity Church
In this city. The story was told the mar
rator by the doctor himself.
One evening a stranger called at the rec
tory on Superior Street. adjoining the
church. He was a well dressed well ap-
pearing man. but evidently in deep trouble.
'.Dr. Brown" he said. 81 have come to
you for advice and assistance. l am a
victim OF the drink habit. 1 have an ex-
cellsnt position-I am cashier for a wealthy
corroration-and I know | cannot retain
it unless l reform. l want you to draw
up a pledge for me-make it as strong as
you can, please-and l will sign it, and
you will witness it."
Dr. Brown leaned back and looked at
the man.
How long have you been drinking to
excess?" he asked.
The man told him 1t was five or six
years. Ever since he obtained his pres
ent position He only drank to excess
when he was with his friends. He never
drank at other times. When he was with
his friends he would forget himself and
overstep the limit. Sometimes he didn't
go On spree for whole month, but the
attacks were growing more frequent. He
seemed to be losing his will power.
MY friend.' said the doctor. you don't
need pledge. / see in you a victim OF
good comradeship. You are far from being
an ordinary drunkard II you signed a
temperance pledge and broke it-as you
undoubtedly would dot would still fur
Their degrade you in your eyes. / do not
advise the pledge"
The man looked dumbfounded
"BIl what am l to do?' he gasped.
The doctor drew card from his desk
and rapidly wrote few lines.
There" he said read that"
This Is what the man read:
ITO my friends: I find / am becoming
a victim OF the liquor habit. If do not
quit l am sure to lose my position ard
ruin myself. For Gods sake don't ask
me to drink with you"
There" said Dr. Brown. "sign that and
l will sign IL as witness All ask OF
you is to show the card when temptation
is at your elbow and ii you fall come here
and tell nne about it. There. Good night"
1t was Il full month before the man
returned. worried and detected
Il expected you long before this" said
the doctor. as he greeted the stranger.
TELL me about it. Did you show the
card?"
Yes" replied the man. 1.-THE first time
was the very next night after i called On
you. a good friend. a railroad man,
came into the office and after had check
ed up his accounts. he said: Come. Char
lie. let's go over to the Oyster House and
have a drink Well. sir. I was reaching
for my hat when / remembered the card.
took it out and handel 1t to him.
thought he would never finish reading it.
He looked at me and he looked at the
card. And then he slowly put his arm
down on the counter and said: Charlie,
I'd sooner cut that hand off than ask you
to drink again. Well. sir. I showed that
card several times after that. and every
blessed man l showed it to took 1t seri-
usly. Sometimes they said. All right. cid
boy Sometimes they laid 1t down with
Out word. And then-it was last night
i forgot about 1t, and here I am"
you are doing WE'LL" said the doctor
"TIave courage and try and make the In
terval a little longer next time"
1t was three months before the man |
came back. The next time 1t vas six
months.
And now" said the doctor to the mar
rator. at is nearly two years since his |
last call, and / have every reason to be- |
lieve that he will not find II necessary to |
come to me again. So. you see. / was quite |
right. 1t wasn't a pledge that he. needed" |