The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-27
TOTAL ABSTINENCE PLEA
REV. WORTH Nj. TIPPY BEGINS Sc
RIES OF TEMPERANCE SERMONS.
Young Men Advised to Leave Liquor
Entirely AIone-Many Argu-
ments Advanced.

Yesterday evening the Rev. Worth NJ.
Tippy began a series of temperance ser
mons at Broadway NJ. Z. Church. He
spoke on "A Plea for Total Abstinence"
Next Sunday he will discuss ''The Progress
of the War Against the Saloon in Indiana
and the Possibilities of Prohibition" Last
evening Mr. Tippy said in part:
THE temperance agitation in America
began over a half century ago as power
full movement for total abstinence. That
movement accomplished remarkable re-
suits. 1t gave to the country an influential
body OF men who were total abstainers
themselves and who were active in extend
ing the reform. For years, however, the
campaign for total abstinence has been
thrown into the background and half for
gotten because methods for the legal con-
troll of the evil have absorbed public at
tention.
II have noticed with qualification of late
a decided revival of interest in total absti-
nence. 1t is very important that 1t should
side by side with efforts for the control or
the liquor traffic. Really there is no more
effective temperance work than to persuade
men to quit drinking and to train the boys
to be total abstainers. desire to bring to
your consideration tonight, particularly to
the attention of the men and the boys, rea-
sons why they should be total abstiners.
ALCOHOL AS A FOOD.
cept possibly in emergencies. is never
necessity, and is practically of no use to the
human body. Alcohol has very little food
value, and that which it has can be secured
to much better advantage in other forms
There is growing body of eminent medical
experts who discredit altogether the use of
alcohol.
"On the other hand, it is an expensive
habit. L would not cavil here, for every
man has ways of spending money foolishly.
But / cannot but think that the case is dit
ferent with regard to liquors than with
other ways OF wasting money. / am sure
that workingmen, on slender incomes at
best. and with families dependent upon ec'
gence of the daily use of liquor. Young
men who are starting out in life cannot at
all afford to drink. A young man can never
do much in business way until he has
made his first accumuIations of capital. and
these come very slowly Every young man.
from the time he leaves school, ought also
to be planning for home and to have an
income adequate to support that home as
early as possible after his coming OF age.
Therefore a young man, making his own
way, can never afford to drink.
ABSTINENCE AND BUSINESS SUCCESS
Beyond this, however, 1t is against any
mans business chances IL he is known to
drink at all. A man who owns his own
business may use liquors, under restraint,
with considerable safety, but a man who
works for others cannot do so. Even the
saloon keeper prefers a sober bartender. A
heavy drinker has almost no chance what
ever. He must lead precarious existence
from hand to mouth.
"A young man who is known to be q light
drinker is always under suspicion, and for
good reasons. The employer knows how
uncertain are the habits and the future of
such men.
THAT brings me to the next reason,
which is the extremely dangerous effect
of alcohol upon the human body. All pleas
urable habits grow upon us, and the habit
of drinking particularly because of its ef-
feet upon the system. A man is handling
fire when he drinks at all. and the general
who " are A beginning to drink is % everywhere
abundantly justified Our cities are filled
with the wrecks of men who have been
ruined by liquor They are filled with
hopelessly gone. They are filled with men
| who are fighting with despair and death.
| Nothing distresses me so much in my min
| istry as the numerous cases in the homes
visit where the habit has got beyond con-
| troll. 1t is an awful thing to see a man
| struggling helplessly and with increasing
| despair against a dreadful appetite. The
shame of social degradation, the remorse
| Of suffering brought upon loved ones, the
| agony of failure and the horror of the
| future are unspeakable.
SUFFERING OF THE INNOCENT
/ 0OIueUIueS tilluk lndC the WORST SlOe
| of it all is the suffering of innocent per-
| sons. A should remember that
he is never the only one concerned. He
| cannot act independently. If young man
| begins to drink his father and mother are
thrown into narrowing fear and sorrow
| 1t could not be otherwise. Others are
caught in the alarm-brothers, sisters,
| friends and the girl he loves. If a man has
| family then the wife and children never
| escape the shadow of dread. When the
| appetite gets control of a man the condi-
| tons are awful The savings melt away.
| The home is thrown into straitened living.
| The children go half clad. The mother tolls
for them, while her heart sinks like lead
| The children are Inundated at school and
| the mother Is overwhelmed with shame
| She stays at home and mourns and tolls.
| The man gets brutal after a while When
| he Is sober he Is morose and despairing
| When he drinks he is cruel and dangerous
| At last the home where heaven came down
| to earth has sunk into the depths of hell
| "A young man who drinks is never safe
| from these worst extremes, and the only
safety is that of letting liquor alone en-
| tirely 1 therefore ask every one of you
| who listen to me tonight to become total
| abstainers for life. If you will not for SO
| long pledge yourselves for year Do n
| for your own sake. Do it unselfishly for
| those who love you and whom you love-
Do ii in the strength of your own manhood
| and in the strength of divine help through h
| silent prayer"