The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-09-18
THE TEMPERANCE PROPAGANDA
CONCERTED ATTACK ON DRINK
WINNING ALL ALONG LINE.

What Should Be the True Position of
Christians in Regard tothe Cues
ton of Intoxicants is Here Eio-
quentIy Discussed byMrs. Baxter.
The question of abstinence from in
%.oXicants, and we might add mar
cotics, is no longer q personal ques-
ton. In. England and America, more
than any other lands, souls and
bodies by the thousands are falling
victims to drink. The evils of drink
nent of Europe, and the brutalizing
influence of this and other forms of
baneful self-indulgence tell terribly
upon the moral and religion of pro-
fessedly Christian countries. Lunatic
asylums, prisons and graves fill rap
idly in consequence of those things.
What. then, is the true position of
Christians with regard to this thing?
Are we to go with the multitude to do
evil? God forbid. Setting aside the
question whether or not these things
are good for us individually, from
either the mora, physical or spiritual
point of view, let us consider whether
the use Of them IN our part helps
to drag our brethren out of the mire
or encourages them to wallow in it.
AL things are lawful for me, but all
things are not eXpedient; all things
are lawful for me, but all things edify
not. Let no man seek his own, but
every man another's wealth" Tor
good-R. W. I. Cor. 1923, "a.
In L. Cor. 8, Paul contrasts love
with knowledge-"knowledge puffeth
up, but love buildeth up" buildeth
up, not only ourselves, but other peo-
pie. 3And II any nan thinketh chat
he knoweth anything, he knoweth
nothing yet as he ought to know"
How often we have heard moderate
drinkers declare how much they knew
of the evil of drunkenness, but that
for themselves they were ordered
stimulants by doctors, and they
should think it very wrong to abstain
they knew how to take it in mod
GRAFTON. Pulled up by their own
knowledge of how much drink they
might take with impunity, they con-
denim the weakness of the poor hap
less drunkard. And some poor
! tempted servant, with no such knowl-
edge, has reflected thus: IF my mas
ter, who is known as such a Chris
tian man, thinks it right to use slim
ulants, how much more should J.,
who make no such profession?" And
the servant, having no such power of
~self-control, becomes a drunkard, robs
his masters cellar, leaves without a
| oh q RIO ptnr ond onHc nith0r- in q
prison, a lunatic asylum or a work.
house. The knowledge which puffed
up went no way toward saving the
poor tempted one.
How many families we have known
In which one-half. in some cases the
whole family, have fallen through
drink! If we visit the prisons, the
lunatic asylums, the courts and alleys
Of our large towns. and search out
the causes of thousands becoming
mad, thousands becoming paupers,
| thousands being out of work. thou
sands being outcaStS upon OUR
streets; the reason will be found, in
nine cases out Of ten. in the habitual
use of intoxicants and narcotics. And
none of these victims began by ex-
.coS. ulCu up W IiC huOW iCoSCs a.
they thought, of their wi strength,
they fell, and there was none to help
them. "But love buildeth up" That
which no other power in all the uni
verse has accomplished, love has
done. Jesus has made a way by
which the poor, lost drunkard. the
harlot. the opium slave. may be re-
deemed from their sins and misery;
ever from the very taste and desire
of that which has enslaved them, as
well as its physical consequences.
His love "buiIdeth up" a temple of
the Holy Ghost out of the veriest
ruin which drink, uncleanliness or
opium have made. For US, His fol-
lowers. His representatives, the mem
bers of His body, what is becoming?
Mrs. M. Baxter, in the Christian
Herald.