Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-04-20

ALe.ter from R. A. Hudson.
CuIlovhee H;ob scbool po;,

L. ,
N. c., April 11.-Editors Courier :
Please grant me space in your yalu-
able columns, as this is my first letter
to the Courier. We have a fine
school here !; young people, who are
not in school, would do we'll to visit
our schPol and see the progress that
young men and young ladies are
making here. We have a building
that cost $1,000. 1t is a pebbledasb
and very attractive.
Our commencement will be on the
llth and 18th of May. Everybody
is invited to come and bring their
sister, aunt and cousin; and thew
will find that the mountain people
are not 80 near the back side of the
world as they have been represented.
We noticed an article in our last
Courier concerning our church at
Little river. We are glad to know
that some of the brethren are so
deeply interested in the Masters
work. The brother m msntioned some
thing concerning the bad order and
the drinking, and also said some-
thing concerning the trustees. Now,
brethren, not the trustees only, but
the church members and church Off
GERS would not befriend the block
aders. Now, brethren, the idea of a
man claiming religion and going to
the church house with that devilish
thing called alcohol What is alco-
hol? What does it dop I believe
that from the time it issues from the
coiled and poisonous worm in the
distillery until it empties into the
hell of death, dishonor and crime, it
demoralizes everybody that touches
It, from its source to where it ends.
| do not believe anybody can con-
template the subject without becom-
ing prejudiced against the liquor
crime. All we have to do, brethren,
is to think of the wrecks on either
bank of the stream of death; of the
suicides, of the insanity, of the pow
erty, of the ignorance, of the desti-
tuition, of the little children asking
for bread, of the talented men Of
genius it has wrecked, men strug-
Cling with imaginary serpents, pro-
duced by this devilish thing; and
when you think of the jails, the aims
houses, of the asylums, of the
prisons, of the scaffolds upon either
bank, | do not wonder that every
thoughtful man is prejudiced against
this stuff called alcohol.
Intemperance cuts down youth in
its vigor, manhood in its strength and
age in its weakness. 1t breaks the
fathers heart, bereaves the doting
mother, and brings down mourning
age in sorrow to the grave. 1t pro-
duces death, not life it makes wives
widows; children orphans fathers
fiends, and all of the paupers and
beggars. 1t covers the land with
idleness, misery and crime. 1t fos-
ters quarrels and cherishes riots. It
crowds your penitentiaries and fur
nishes victims to the scaffolds. II is
the lifeblood of the gamblers, the
element of the burglar, the prop of
the highwayman and the support of
the midnight incendiary. 1t ooun-
tenances the liar, respects the thief,
esteems the blasphemer. 1t hates
love, scorns virtue and ISLANDERS inno-
cence. 1t helps the husband to mas
sacre his wife. 1t curses God and
despises heaven. 1t does all this
and more-it murders the soul. 1t
is the father of all crimes, the
mother of denominations, the DEVILS
best friend and Gods worst enemy.
We hear so-called church members
say there is no harm in dram.
Brethren, the devil don't want
better agent; he would not have
better thing tolerated. Keep your
self unspotted from the world.
James l:27.
But when a member is engaged in
dram drinking or disturbing, or
when member is upholding Slistur-
bance he certainly is spotting himself
with the world. Brethren, how
many of you have admonished these
young members as you should, spoken
of by the brother?
Lost sheep Luke 15:4-1O. And
furthermore, how often have the
deacons read their charge given them
by Timothy2 Brethren, think the
thing for us to do is to put our talent
to use. Do what is required of US.
Let the world say what it may.
Now, brethren, am afraid if some
of us could see religion as it is we
would be excited. Now, brethren,
if any of US have hid our our Lords
money, let us unfold that glorious
treasury. Else the case will be with
us as it was with the man who hid
his Lords money.
Wishing you all much success,
remain, cordially yours,
r. A. Hudson.