Evening journal., 1908-11-11
NOTES ON The TOPIC.

Temperance is one Of the cardinal yir-
tues OF the Christian religion. For this
reason every movement in behalf of true
temperance should have the earnest and
united support OF the Christian church
Centuries before modern temperance
movements were set on foot, temperance
was enioined and intemperance forbidden
/ by the leaders in the church Of Christ.
Long before scientists had analyzed al
cohol or traced its physiological effects
upon the human body. Bible writers had
J condemned Intoxicating liquors and pro-
/ hibited their use. Christianity is always
and everywhere wholly on the side Of
1 temperance.
But in our Scripture lesson we have The
strange scene of one Of the Bible writer's
--one of the prophets-acting as a tempter
and inviting men to drink wine. Jern-
salem was the temporary abiding place OF
a small temperance party, a body of peo-
pie who had taken the total abstinence
pledge. and who were strictly true to their
promise and their professions whether lv-
ing out i'm the open country, as they pre-
ferred. or whether Obliged, as at the time
OF our lesson, to dwell for time amid The
crowded streets and corrupting influences
of great city. Now here comes the great
prophet jeremiah. invites some of them
into a private room Of the temple in the
presence of some Of the chief religious
leaders Of the day. and offers them wine
to drink They refuse Indignantly, as
Jeremiah knew they would
Then jeremiah discloses the meaning Of
the strange scene. Co he says 10 the
startled company. "and say TO all the ma
ton how faithfully these Rechabltes have
kept their ancestral vows and how little
heed you have given to the commands Of
tho Lord OF Heaven and earth. Shame
upon YOU. ye faithless 'ews."
We can learn many lessons from these
bookkeeping Rechabltes. To them change
of residence did not mean freedom from
their strict way Of living. There arc many
who, brought up carefully and leading
exemplary lives at home, allow them
selves to &c. into careless habits abroad.
who. changing their residence, are negi-
gent about transferring their church
membership and all that goes with II To
their new home And in the matter of re-
sisting temptation, these Rechabites show
ms that the only way is 10 resist II. They
did not debate or parey over the matter,
or stop TO consider whether all these in
nuential men before them would think
less Of them or look down on them be-
cause of their strict temperance ideas
At once they came out with such quick
and mighty NO" that temptation was
sent scurrying
So much for one Of the Bible temper
ance organizations. Now let us consider
U
christian Endeavor World gives eN-
cellent accounts Of the various temper
/ ance orders at work in this country and
as this can be seen at our public library
/ by any Of the Wilmington endeavorcrs
/ IL is hardly necessary TO go into detail re-
garding them in this column. There are
three. however. which because of their
work in Delaware should have special
mention in this article and IN the pres
ent wave OF prohibition all over tie
country we are now reaping the harvest
which could not but come from the indie
fatigable lahors 'of the noble leaders Of
these and other organizations.
/. Too much credit cannot be given 20
Howard Russell founder of the Anti
Saloon League, which was established
June 4, 1893 The principal idea or this
league is to draw together in each state
those that oppose the saloon and lead
them 10 waive their political or other dif-
ferences and combine in effective action
against the saloon. and especially those
which are violating the law. A large shaie
OF the present Temperance wave" is due
to its effective work
. The woman's Christian Temperance
! Union. organized as a national body in
1874. has done an enormous amount Of
good. It now has branches for the young
women and children, and has encircled
the globe with its blessed influence. That
noble woman, Frances L. Willard. was
the leader of the movement during her
life There are now about ten thousand
local unions, and more than fifty nations
are represented in the worlds union.
Liquor was driven from the army can
teens largely through the work of the
W. c. T. L., and the unions have been a
powerful force in many political cam
paigns.
3. The Prohibition party was organized
in 1869. and have taken part i'm every
presidential campaign since that time It
was brought about by the declaration
Of the brewers congress in 1867 that they
would sustain no candidate. Of whatever
party. in any election, who was in any
way disposed towards total abstinence. The
belief OF the Prohibition party is that
the saloon is so intrenched in law and the
old-time parties are so subservient to Il
that only by partisan political action can
the friends Of temperance drive the saloon
from the land.
Christian Endeavor News.
The regular monthly meeting OF the
Wilmington Christian Endeavor Union
was held last evening in Hanover Presby-
terian Church. There was a good at
tendance OF members representing nearly
all the societies Of the union. and the re-
ports made showed that most OF the So
cietles are making enthusiastic progress.
Especially interesting were the reports of
the convention committees. showing the
work done IN connection with our State
convention held here last month. Every
body was enthusiastic in regard to the
convention and an fr,offo, a rofq1fnfffo, 40, e