The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-09-12
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THE TEMPERANCE PLEDGE.
A ReviVing Interest in This Phase of
Reform Work.

IL IS very gratifying to see a revi J
Of interest in the temperance pledge.
An instrument that has brought so
great good should never be aban-
doned. While no thought should be
entertained of relaxing our efforts for
prohibitOry legislation, it is greatly
to be desired that all should realize
the importance of getting men, wo-
men and children to sign the pledge.
The larger the army of abstainers,
the less demand there will be for in
toxicating drinks. Cut off customers
from the saloons and the liquor bust
ness will decline. Stop the flow of
money to the dramshOps, and there
Will be a great and increasing de-
mand for groceries, provisions, cloth
ing, furniture, houses and lots. Ben
Jamin Franklin said: Temperance
puts wood on the fire, meal in the bar
rel, flour in the tub, money in the
purse, clothes on the children, vigor
in the body, intelligence in the brain
and contentment in the house"
The temperance pledge is a helper
TO the poor. bringing food and raiment
to their door, says Rev. Francis j.
Collier, D. d., in pamphlet issued by
the Presbyterian committee on tenn
perance; it is q shield to the innocent.
giving protection against the assaults
OF the tempter; it is a staff to the
drunkard, aiding him to walk in the
path of sobriety; it is also a personal
testimonial, commencing the signer to
those who desire the services of one
who is worthy of confidence and re-
spect.
The pledge was first used in this
country in 1883, at Litchfield, Conn.
In its first form, however, it proved to
be Of little value in the promotion of
temperance, since it allowed the use
OF malt and fermented liquors In
1888, the pledge of total abstinence
from every intoxicating beverage was
introduced from England. Thousands
OF persons, old and young. who heard
the earnest and eloquent pleadings of
Father Mathew and John B. Cough.
signed their names to the pledge of
total abstinence from the use of all in
toXicating liquors as a beverage. and
kept it faithfully.
objections to the use of the pleds -
are sometimes made, even by SC
good people, who favor the cause
temperance. One says: 1T is n
right to take pledge Of any sort.
This cannot be true In ancient DAYS
the Nazarites pledged themsel
among other things, not to-
wine. Samson, Samuel and John the
Baptist We're Nazarites. Jacob vowed
to give onetenth Of his income to the
Lord. Paul took a vow when he went
the last time to Jerusalem. We be-
HeYe it is right to take marriage VOWS
and church vows. Ministers. elders
and deacons assume vows when they
are ordained. So do civil magistrates
when they are inaugurated, and the
ohcers OF various societies when they
are installed. All business contracts
and all promissory notes are pledges.
The life of the Christian Endeavor So
ciety is in its pledge.
Children should be encouraged to
sign the temperance pledge. They
are in danger of entering the paths of
the destroyer. Boys are sometimes
found in state of intoxication.
saloonkeeper was caught in the act of
giving beer to children returning from
school
Let all bear in mind that the pledge
Is declaration of independence:
shield for protection; a refuge for
safety; lifebOat to rescue the perish.
ing. The signer has made I'D his
mind that he will not be a drunkard.
that he will not take the risk of being
a moderate drinkey, knowing the
rapid growth of appetite: that he win
not bring disease upon his body and
mind by the use of alcoholic LIQUORS:
and that he Will not set a bad exam
pie to others by drinking. Wher
asked to drink. he can say: ''Yo,
must excuse me; for | have signed
the pledge, and intend to keep it.
The pledge fortifies the weak in til,
hour Of temptation. 1t has kept thor
sands OF young persons from becon
ing drunkards, and it has belne,,
many Incorporate men and women to
reform. The method used by Father
Mathew, John b. Cough, DR.. Theodore
L. Cuyler and others with good re-
suits should not be neglected or des-
pissed.