The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-09-19

International Lesson Comments For
September u.
Subject; Woes OF Intemperancc, Pro-. ysiii..
z9.55-'GoIden Text, Prov. xx., l.-Mem
ory Verses, z9.sz..C Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

20. Who" A divine commission to
every man to investigate the prevailing
cause OF woe and morrow and strife, and
thus be deferred from taking the wrong
course in life. Robinson calls this lesson
the drunkard's looking glass, set before
those whose face is toward the drunkard's
habits, so that they may see what they
will be II they go on. Hath woe" What
space would be needed to record the
names of all who could trutbfuly say "I''
to this question: Woe" Direful dis
tess; both the condemnation for sin
committed and certain awful condition
Of suffering. Sin of all kinds brings its
own punishment, but there is no sin which
so speedily and relentlessly pursues its vic
tim as the sin OF drunkenness. The drunk
ard has woes of body and woes of mind;
woes in himself, woes in his family; pains,
diseases. poverty, and all without allevia-
tions. who hath sorrow" The Hebrew
word means, first, poverty and then mis-
cry. The drunkard has sorrow of his own
making. The cup contains more than one
woe; single sorrow is not all These are
so numerous as to call forth constant and
long'continued cry of anguish. Who
hath contentious" Those who responded
to the first two questions will also respond
to this. Nine-tenths of all the brawls and
fights, quarrels and MISUNDERSTANDING are
traceable to drink. Who hath babbling."
This refers to the tendency of strong
drink to foolish and incessant talking, re-
vealing secrets, vile conversation and
noisy demonstrations, which are common
in different stages of drunkenness. Wounds
without cause" Wounds received in
wholly Improbable disputes, such as come
of the brawls of drunken men. Drinkers
are especially exposed to accidents and dis
eases which temperance would have pre-
vented: "Redness of eyes" Bloodshot,
blurred or bleared eyes. Gen. 40: II. Al
cohol induces paralysis OF the nerves
controlling the minute blood vessels, the
capillaries, which results in a dilation that
speedily shows itself in the eye. In his
step and in his eve the drunkard shows
the secret OF his sin. The traveller in the
drunkard's broad road to death bears a
great bundle OF woes. Among them are
losses of time, Of talent, of purity, of a
clean conscience, OF selt-respect, OF honor,
of religion, OF the soul
30. 'They that tarry long at the wine"
This answers the above questions. He who
begins to drink continues to drink, tarry-
ing often whole night, and from that to
day and night. They that GO" 70 places
or among people where intoxicating drinks
are made or stored or used. Mixed
wine" Spiced, drugged, medicated wine,
the intoxicating power of which is in
creased by the infusion of drugs and spices.
Such men drink the cup of costly death.
The chemical analysis of the liquors used
by the people in this country shows that
they drink alcohol, arsenic, alum, aoes,
bitter almonds, blood, chalk, cherry-laurel,
cocculus indicus. copperas, gypsum, hen
bane, isnglass, lime, lead, logwood, nux
vomica, opium. oil of vitriol, oil of juniper,
oil of turpentine, tobacco, sugar of lead.
resin, etc.
81. Look not thou upon the wine"
This prohibits moderate drinking Do not
C
who goes freely into temptation is already
more than half fallen. when it is red,
The bright color of the wine gives it an
attractive look and adds to its fascination
and its danger. when it giveth its color
in the cup" Literally, its eye, the clear
brightness, or the beaded bubbles, on
which the wne-drinker looks with pleas
ure. "When it goeth down smoothly"
This verse pictures the attractive side of
wine, when it seems perfectly harmless to
sip little, when it is bright and inspiring
thrilling the nerves with delight, promis-
ing all JOY and freedom. Ii is the shining
side of evil that is so dangerous-this flow.
cry entrance to the path that leads to
death
80. ''At last it biteth" The pleasure
will be attended at last with intolerabe
pains, when it works like so much poison
in thy veins and casts thee into diseases
as hard to cure as the biting OF a serpent.
lts effects are opposite to its pleasures
Its only beauty is when it sparkles in the
cup. 1t can only harm the one who ven
lures to enjoy its pleasure. Then it bites;
sends its poison beyond your reach Its
only end is ruin.
49, ''Thine eyes shall behold strange
women" The loving wife will be forgot
ten and her goodness despised, and evil de-
sres spring up to fill her place with others,
or to go from her with others who have
lpt N 10 me nit pf ft,n l.
yourself. Homes are broken up as the
|. result OF strong drink. The tears and
| pleadings of the devoted wife are spurned,
| and the dance hall is sought, where women
are dressed to suit the eyes of wicked men,
and where natural affection is overthrownn
utter froward things When men or
women indulge in the use of strong drink
| they let down the bars to every sin that
follows in the train. The heart is the cen
ire of life, end from it spring all evil de-
sires. In state Of drunkenness men utter
thines out of reason and contrary to de-
cency.
a. ''As he that lieth down in the midst
of the sea-" To make ones bed on the
waves of the sea would be to be swallowed
up in death. So is the drunken man. Or
as pilot who has gone to sleep when his
ship was in the trough of the sea, allowing
| the tiller 10 slip out Of his hand. and his
sup 10 ne SWdiupcu Nitu tuc waves WHlch
he might have outridden. Stupeiicd. be
sotted men know not where they are or
what they are doing, and when they lie
down thev are as if tossed by the rolling
waves of the sea, or upon the top of a
mast Their heads swim. Their sleep is
disquiet and troublesome dreams make
: sleep unrefreshing. Upon the top OF n
mast" The drunkard is utterly regardless
of life. He is as one falling asleep clasping
the masthead, whence in few minutes he
must either fall down upon the deck and
be dashed in pieces, OF fall into the sea
| and be drowned.
49, "They have stricken me-and | was
not hurt" With conscienees scared and
selfresuect gone the drunkard boasts of
the things which should make him blush
| with shame. They have beaten mel
felt it not" Angry companions have done
their worst to end my life, says he, but
their blows did not affect me. When
shall / awake? / will seek ii again
Rather when shall awake ! will seek i
again Self-control is gone. The drunkard
| is a slave to appetite. He is as insensible
TO the pleadings and warnings OF those
| who seek his salvation as he is to the