The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-12
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ions than this, But for us, as Christian men and women, the question is not, what are the opinions of others about it. or even what are our own opip- ions. Indeed, 1t is not a question Of opinion at all, but simply and solely a question of Gospel teaching. The word temperance" In the popular mind is generally employed as if ap- piled only to one thing (although 1t does not at alb, and that is the use of alcoholic liquors. a matter which is receiving profound study and with greater care and earnestness than ever before, perhaps, in all history. Nor is its consideration confined by any means to the so-called temper ance fanatic. The whole subject Is being examined in spirit of breadth and thoughtfulness (the outcome of a genuine longing for the welfare of mankind), by students of political economy social science and jurispru- dence But 1t is its religious side which e ncerns us primarily. If not en- tirely. What we should ask ourselves in honesty of mind, in humbleness of heart, is, what does the Christian re- ligion, what does Holy Scripture teach about temperance?
 What terrible sin of drunkenness, while by no means so general as U was twenty or thirty years ago, is nevertheless all too common. Indeed, we may affirm that it overshadows in great degree our Christian cNiliza- ton. The causes for 1t are many and varied as any thoughtful person can readily discern for himself. For in . stance, there are those who drink to excess in order to lull to sleep un- happy memories. There are those who seem to be born with an insatia- ble, ever present, all-devourtng thirst for intoxicants. There are those who drink to excess in order to forget for a moment the benumbing and often soul destroying sense of poverty In- deed, hoverty is the cause or drunk enness almost, If not quite, as fre- auentIy as drunkenness is the cause of poverty Again, there are those who drink to excess because they seek to quiet irritated nerves (the result or i'll health or overwork.) Whatever the causes, the effects are the same. In all parts of eur country men drink to excess in large numbers. There fore, every sincere lover of his coun- try should seek an answer to the question, how can this frightful evil be abolished? TOT, if it cannot be abol- lshed (which, indeed, seems quite i'm possible), how can it be lessened? AS Christians, we turn, not to legislation either State or national, but to Holy Scripture for our guidance.
 
 ly heard. It Is commonly used and applied in a sehse absolutely contrary to what it means in the New Testa- ment There the inspired Apostles of our Lord use it but three times. It is not found at all in the Old Testa- ment The first time 1t appears is in the Acts of the Apostles. St. Paul Is making a plea before Felix, the Ro- man Governor, And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance and Judgment to come, Felix trembled." The second is in the Epistle to the Galatians. St. Paul is giving us list of "the fruits of the Spirit He mentions temperance" as one of them. The third Is in an Epistle of St. Peter. He is setting forth list of Christian virtues. He enumerates temperance among them. Now, the word temper ance" is used very loosely indeed, even by well educated persons. There are those who use it as equivalent to SO berness." Again. There are those who use 1t as equivalent to abstinence. It is the equivalent neither of one nor of the other. We need a thorough un- derstanding of the word. It occurs, as I have said. but three times in the New Testament. In each case it Is the same word in the original and has exactly the same meaning, which Is self restraint self control. 1 need hardly remind you. that self control in this Christian life of ours does not apply to anyone specific object wheth- CT of food or drink or anything else. A. Self control meaps simply the gov ernment of the appetites and passions by the will. It Is our duty as Chris tians, for instance, to practice tenn perance in food, or in our pleasures, or in what is called business, just as truly as 1t is our duty to practice 1t ha of hrfu n n to practice self control.
 Now, the 'temperance' that St. Paul makes the crowning grace of character in his ninefold enumeration of the fruits of the Spirit is seft-control. The 'temperance' which St. Peter. in his cumulative list of virtues, fastens on the one hand to knowledge and on the other hand to patience, Is sslf-cea- troll The 'temperance' at the preach ing of which Felix treFnbled is self- control. Temperance is the firm hold ing of the rein by dint of which the charloteer keeps his horses well Tn hand Thus you see what Is the real meaning of temperance as taught by the Masters inspirated Apistoies. Let us now examine briefly the meaning of the other words so often used as equivalent to temperapce' which are' 'Soberness' and abstinence. Take first 'soberness.' In the catechism you remember how we learned it is our dutv to keep our bodies in temperance, soberness and chastity Obsrye the difference between temperance and so- berness Temperance mans slf-eon- troI without reference to any particular object. It is a principle in the life or the Christian which applies to any and every passion or appetite. Tn word' temperance is a universal principle III tha Christian life 'SobeM ess' Is very different It has reference to par ticular thing, a specific object. It IS a form a variety, of temperance or self-control being the exercise thereon where the appetite Go keep under IS inc appetite for strong drink. Para doxioal as it seems, a man may prac- tire ssoberness,' (that Is. self-control, v,tth regard to the use of strong drinkj and at the same time by very intem- perate man, that is, practice no self control in the case of half dozen other appetites. Again, We find "ao- stlnence' is also popularly used as be- ing eoHiyalent to temperance. need hardly say 1t Is an utterly incor- rect and unauthorized use of the word tAhstinence' has no reference, so far as +he meaning of the word itself IS concerned, to refraining from drink any more than refraining from any thing else It means simply the total non-use and avoidance of the thing, 1vbatever 1t may be, from which we are irving to keep ourselves. UT course. we all know the word. in the months Aof many has been narrowed down to meaning the total disuse of one narticular thing, viz, intoxicating