The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-09-23


department. Mrs. E. w Pierce. Denison Nor
nal department Prof. E. W. Follows. Denison
House to house. Mrs. Helen Cassaday, Denso.t.
Primary Mrs c. l. Voss. Denison. Temperance
Sears McHenry, Denison. Missionary, Mrs. j b.
Lyon. of Denison.
Sept. 81. A Temperance Lesson.
Bible Text. las. 5. 1928.
1t is to be hoped that no one will
have the thought on finding that the
lesson of Sept. q is to dwell on the
Temperance question. that the topic
| is old and without interest. 1t is
doubtful if there is a family in the
land which has not suffered in some
| way from the too free indulgence in
Intoxicating liquors of some member,
in the past twenty years. This being
SO, the temperance question is vital
and requires prompt energetic action
at the hands particularly Sunday School
people. lntemperance is form of
sin. which will never be eradicated
but this is no reason why those be-
lieving in purity and Goodness should
relent their warfare upon it.
But yesterday we read of man on
trial for murder whose only but in
effectual defense. was, that he was
drunk. The judge said, what has
been held hundreds of times. that in
toXication is no defense for crime.
There is confined in Mason City today
man we we'll know, held fol-
murder who was notorious for hard
drinking and consequent arousing
of temper which led him to do and
say things of the most revolving
nature. There is in this county to-
day professional man of marked
ability. whom his friends are anxious
to help and have done so, but he
has thus far been unable to keep from
losing his grip from drink at in
tervals. 1t is our earnest hope that
his case has not gone too far. how
ever. 1t is of course needless TO GO
on reciting instances of this kind for
the life experiences of every adult
reaoer can supply plenty.
One of the lesson verses says that
He'll hath enlarged herself. and
opened her mouth without measure
because of the wickedness coming
from strong drink and its attendant
evils, and every person knows this
must be true. The lesson verses
tell of those who follow strong drink,
who give over to riotous Hastings.
and says these "regard not the work
of the Lord, neither consider the
operations of His hand
A mighty indictment. Indeed it
would be hard to find more fearful
arraignment of drink and drunken
ness ana what they lead to. than in the
words of Isaiah written hundreds of
years before the birth of Christ.
We can but arouse every parent to
the urgency of early warning the
little ones against the evils of drink
and the sins that follow in its path.
Jesus said it were better that mill
stone were hanged about ones neck
and he we're drowned. than that he
offend one of the little ones. and it is
certainly offending to fail to warn
them early and often that they should
abstain from liquor which will make
them drunk. Do not say for a
moment that temperance talk is stale.
Let the drink curse strike your boy
or girl and you will suddenly find you
have vital interest in the total alb
stinence question. Teachers in the
Sunday Schools should not fail to do
their duty on temperance Sunday.
The good work you may do in all
your career as teacher falls to the
ground if the scholar becomes cor
hrmed drinker of intoxicants.