The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-08-06

Abihu, Ley. fO.1-11 - Golden
Text. Prov. 9o.t NFor,,,,,,-
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Nadab and Abihu furnish the
groundwork for the Temperance les
son of the day. Evidently they were
drunk when they went to perform
their usual duties before the altar.
At least it would SO appear since
Immediately following the recital of
their foolish actions and grievous dis
obedience to the commands of God
we have the record that the Lord
specifically commanded Aaron and
his other sons that they should re-
frafn from following after strong
drink.
What God expected of Aaron as a
priest He expects Of every one of us
as His children, especially Of those
of US who are sealed to Him in the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ For, as the
Proverb says, wine is a mocker.
1t is sign not of mans sense but
of his lack of it when he fools with
liquor. It not only makes fools of
men but it makes beasts of them
1t not only makes monkeys of them,
but it also makes raging. vicious.
brutes of them. 1t is delusion and
snare.
II it was a good thing for Aaron
and his sons to let the sort Of wine
they used in their day alone. it is
certainly wise that we should let the
stuff that is sold to-day alone. II
the wine of Israel could make idiots.
of the priests of the tabernacle no
man can accurately predict what the
alcohoi1c drinks OF to-day Will do
with men. For the likelihood is that
the wine OF that primitive time as
used by the priesthood was as good
as can be procured But the vile
stun that is sold to-day Is generally
as bad as can be procured. The aver
age man to-day when he does buy
wine, or beer, or liquors or any sort
cannot even be certain that he Is
purchasing what he wants. Much OF
the alcoholic drinks that are served
to the public to-day is poison haunt
ing itself under the black flag OF SUBJ
terfuge.
But whether they be pure or pois--
onous alcoholic beverages had best
be left alone. NO man can AFFORD 10
fool with them. we see daily IN
stances OF the folly OF even strong
intelligent, moral men stamperlng
with liquor. 1t is as sensible TO tam
per with liquor as 1t 10 to tease rat
tlesnake. Statistics Will never record
the number OF the bright, INDUS
trious, brainy, useful men who tam
pered with liquor and met defeat.
God alone knows the awful list OF
. those who have gone down into the
drunkard's grave because they felt
competent to curb and control apout
as fierce a. monster as ever mastered
man. Alcohol as beverage is a.
fraud. 1t is even questionable
whether 1t IS useIul as meuiclne.
For its chief medicinal value is as a.
Spreservative and solvent. It's nutrl-
stive value is so negliglble as TO pc
easily dispensed with, ana as easily
replaced. AS a stimuiant 1t is
sham For its retroactive properties
are too thoroughly pronounced.
There is nothing whatever to be
gained by the use OF alcohol as a
beverage. First of all it is an un-
natural requirement. Water is the
natural beverage. Water slakes and
satisfies the thirst. Alcohol IN
tensiies and excites the thirst. ~
creates an abnormal desire. 1t is un-
satisfying. Secondly, aIcohoI is ex-
pensive. None OF us though ne nave
the riches OF Rockefeller rs rlch
enough to spend dollar on alconol-
ic drinks. And the poorer we are the
more we need the money for valid
necessities. The man who has money
to spend on drinks had better spend
the money on his family, charity, or
himself. For practically all the
money spent on lquoris an econom-
ic loss. Alcohol as a beverage takes
the money of the drinker without at