The Newtown bee., 1904-12-09
SOCIAL TOPICS.
PROHIBITION.-B o. o. WRIGHT,

To prohibit anything and banish it out of the reach of men because they abuse it is not according to the divine method of government and education. The abuse is, and must of course be, prohibited, to protect and insure the right and proper use, always. But Ii we must give up everything which the world abuses then what have we left to live for: and what moral significance IS there in our conduct and character: What virtue is there in our doing right if it is made impossible for us to do wrong? If everything is put away out of our reach, so that we cannot abuse it, what moral or spiritual force can there be in our righteousness? If there is no temptation to sin what is the use in our being good? A being who is morally incapable of abusing himself and everything in the world is simply a nobody. That which makes man like God is the power of choice to do right when he is tempted to do wrong; to control himself in the hour of Seduc- tion; and to trust in the Lord in the darkest night of his trial.
 What then must always be the noblest aim of all our endeavors to strengthen each other in a true and living faith in God, and in ourselves. that we may overcome evil with good? It is not in annihilating the means of temptation, but in making men strong in truth and love to overcome evil. For when all evil doing, and all evil rule is put down it will be because men no longer abuse anything, but use all things temperately and gratefully, with a true appreciation of the divine good ness. The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of good uses. A man is not strong and wise and good simply be- ing the power and inclination to sin he prefers, intelligently and morally, to do right.
 The difference between use and abuse is often very slight matter-a mere 1 trifie perhaps-but it may be the be- ginning of swift and certain destruc- ! tion. One may not be in the least aware of the difference until he has begun to suffer the evil consequences. AS it has been well said: Spiritual evil always chooses trifle, something
 from which it seems that no harm can | possibly come, to Win.itS victim to the that soul who is not deceived and SC.
 duced by his first experience of evil. Now it is just the same with the use
 and abuse of alcoholic drinks that it is
 with everything else in the world. It
 may be that alcohol is more dangerous
 to use and that it's abuse is more swift
 and certain to work evil consequences
 than almost any other dangerous
 thing; but still we must admit the
 fact that it's right and proper use is z
 blessing, as the world now is, while its
 abuse is terrible curse tending tt degradation and ruin. The Word O
 God clearly recognizes the proper uSt
 of wine and strong drink; and warns
 us in the most fearful terms of the eDt
 of the drunkard. The Holy Scripture!
 have no plea, nor any excuse for any
 excess; nor any absolute prohibition of anything that has right and prOpe use in the economy of human life. Ant while doctors do not agree as to tho ; question of exact science, our common experience is practically in accord witt the teachings of divine Revelation
 "Give strong drink unto him that i
 ready to perish, and wine unto thOs t that be of heavy heart." Temperance 3 not prohibition, is the spiritual, mora law.