The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-25
breaches ON APPETITE.
Rev. VI. Ross FishBurn Joins in
Anti-saIOOn Crusade.


Appetite" was the topic Of the ser
mon delivered by Rev. NJ Ross Fishburn
at the Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church yesterday morning. Using as his
text a verse from the Book of Genesis,
where it is recorded Of Noah that 'he
drank of the wine and was drunken" Mr..
Fishburn said: There are three appe-
tites that inhere in the constitution Of
MANTLE appetite Of hunger. the dppe-
tite of thirst. and the appetite Of sex.
Nor OF .he first nor Of the third would
I speak to-day. but Of the second. the
appetite of thirst While man had been
acquiring control OF himself as regards
his other appetites. he has obviously been
losing il as regards the appetite of thirst.
THE drink habit as it has been de
veloped in our country IS to-day an
alarming danger. It's decentralization is
widespread Its baleful' influence is felt
alike in the great city and in the country
village. It spares neither childhood nor
old age.
"Out OF the door of the saloon, where
mems basest appetites are aroused and
catered to. come most of the inmates of
our penitentiaries, of our poorhouses, and
of our asyIums for the insane.
And what in this regard is true of our
land is true of all countries. No nation
has escaped. The introduction and sale
of the worst of liquors in lands whose
doors were first opened by the missionary
is one Of the most shameful features Of
the history of the past half-century- A
Boston brewery contracted to supply 800
gallons of beer a day TO the trade on
the Congo. Heather and Moslem chiefs,
and even traders protest against the
enormities Of the liquor traffic
Continuing. Rev. Mr. Fishburn said:
Having thus briefly outlined a few Of
the countless qualifications of this world
wide evil, l hasten to inquire what your
attitude is regarding this vast problem.
Do you reply that you feel little interest
in the matter. inasmuch as you have no
appetite for intoxicating drink? Or do
you denounce rs fanatical the representa-
tons of temperance advocates and de-
mand for yourself the privilege Of graft
flying your appetite if you are so inclined?
Let me give YOU earnest warning. Dan
ger lies that way. For the appetite for
drink is a pitiess thing. and an insidiOus
thing While Il is not fasudiOus about
its victims, it has won the most unex-
Dected victories with those Of high social
and moral standing. II goes into the
college and picks off the hOnOr-man OF
the class. It goes into Congress and Sc
lects the statesman. It goes into the
church and ruins the most circumspect.
what then, do you ask, shall I do
with this appetite of mine" I answer,
Watch it and keep it in check. Your ques-
ton should not be as TO how far YOU
can indulge your appetite for intoxicants,
with safety, but how YOU can control that
appetite until it ceases to assert itself.
But I may not conclude without a
word regarding your attitude as a good
citizen toward those who encourage men
to give rein to the appetite for drink.
/ While seeking 10 win to righteousness
/ sobriety, and decency those whose bust
| ness is blight to the community. our
attitude toward their dram-shops should
/ be one Of unhinching hostility. There are
/ some things. as Sir Walter Scott says
/ Ger good for banning and DER bad fol
/ blessing but the drinking saloon is not
one of them. 1t is bad always. and alto
/ gether BAD