The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-23
The Sin or Gluttony.

Did you ever hear q man confess to
the sin of gluttony and ask forgiveness
therefor.
We hear great deal Of the moral
obliquity of those persons who drink
too much. What Of that more numer-
Gus class who eat too much?
The sin of overeating, or gluttony,
ia perhaps the most widely distribu-
ted of all the vices. It has larger
number of victims, and its physical
penalties are more generally inflicted,
than the alcohol habit or any other
form of intemperance.
Yet it is OF ell vices the most com
monty tolerated, and is INDUCED in by
persons whose moral character is
otherwise above reproach, and who
would be shocked and grievcd if told
that their habitual overeating is a pos
tive sin, directly in violation of di-
vine command.
In ancient and medieval times, when
food vas scarce and of high price, on
~ the wealthy mobiles and archbishops
could indulge in this form of vice.
In the present age, however, it is a
poor man indeed who fails to eat more
than is good for him because he can t
afford it. The habit of oyereating
has indeed become SO general that it
does not excite comment, and is no
longer classed among the moral faults.
The word "gluttony' has become al
most obsolete, the mildcr term "over-
eating having supplanted it.
The doctrine is frequently advanced
By the most excellent people, that you
must eat all you want, and more too.
Some have even contended that more
people eat too little than too much.
These persons would be Mortified If
the same doctrine were applied to the
other physical appetites, and if the
principle we're laid down that more
people we're injured by the underin-
diligence Of those appetites than by
their overindulgence.
Seldom, if ever, is the sin of too
much eating pointedly denounced
from the pulpit. The preachers them
selves, by the way, are as a rule no
toriously good feeders.
The appetites are benefcent pro-
visions Of nature for the fulfilling of
certain physical needs. At intervals
the human machine signals the intel
ligence through these apnetitea, which
are the alarm-bells, 80 to speak, that
are heard when the machine needs
attention. The normal man has nor
NAL appetites and is largely governed
by them But the habit of yielding
too completely is easily formed and in
every case bears its penalty. When
the appetites are artifcially stimula-
ted and pampered, they become alb
normal, and their promptiugs are no
longer in accord with the welfare of
the system. Distress and disease are
the invariable results.
1t will doubtlese be urged chat over
eating should not be classed as q sin
with drunkenness, since in the one
case the appetite is normal and in the
other it is depraved. While admit
ting that the bad effects of the second
are more multiform than those Of the
first, we would point in reply to the
physical penalties in the shape Of dys-
pepsia and otcsr maladies brought on,
by the first, and 90 far as the moral
side Of it is concerned, there are other
appetites which are perfectly normal
yet which, when overindulged, lead to
moral and physical disaster.
We DO not for an instant deny that
there are cases in which the appetite
should be coaxed and tempted; nor do
we overlook the fact that different per-
sons have different standards of diets
and that no fixed rule can be laid down
as to quantity. One man who takes
great deal of exercise needs more
food than smother who takes but lit
tie. What would be temperance for
the one would be gluttony for the
other. But we do contend that the
habit of overorowding the stomach
with rich and indigestible food, SIM
ply for the pleasure Of eating it, is o
positive vice and should be denounced
and guarded against like any other
sinful folly.-Atlanta Journal.