The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-07-07

SaCreO OOnGS OF UutEaH virtue II
the heart Of the drunkard could
be analyzed there would be found
in it the very alchemy OF death
and all that leads to indisoluble
ruin and woe. It would present
a kaleidoscope vision Of the YES
tioule Of he'll On, living man,
thou who vast made in such re-
splendent honor, environed by
every material needed for the re-
frement of those noble gifts for
the bliss Of time and eternity,
heed not the provocation Of evil
environment to curse your life in
time and eternity by the banc Of
alcoholism. Keep thy heart
with all diligence, for out of it
are the issues Of life.
II. THE DRUNKARD'S HOME.
Home is the oldest institution
of Divine creation. 1t is there
fore the first in cardinal impor
tance. Before the church in or
der and importance is the home.
In it's ideals. itnearest approach
eS in model the celestial abode.
It's Gods greatest effort to paint
on moral vision the realities Of
the invisible, immortal family o.
1.-THE just made perfect. ,,nat-
ever lowers the tone Of home life
and sanctity. and causes to ig-
more those influences which make
Tor it's betterment and model Of
the Home Eternal in the Sky,
is a sin against one Of the high
est privileges Of human fellow
ship. It can find no amelioraeion
for its crimes, eitherin this world
or the Coe 10 come.
One has only TO visit the home
of the drunkard to fEd what
havoc his deeds have wrought to
all that is high and holy in the
outlook of the design Of his crea-
tor. The drunkard'S home
(a) Is at best an intolerable
makeshift, and not the place and
the thing, his once SOBER man
hood promised to those who con-
hded their every prospect III time
and eternity to his care. Who
has seen the air Of disappolnt-
ment that turks in every appoint
ment Of the drunkard's home, brt
Dewails with a bprdened heart
the murdered hopes and aspira-
tions, that must have once filled
its inmates hearts? Unkept. i'm
provident, unprotected in the de-
fense o. those finer qualities Of
life which it was the right OF
each member to expect and claim
as a birth, righ:. The sickening
vision will not die, bat live on
and on to haunt the waking hours
with the scenes of wreckage
which alcohol has wrought, with
not a single architect in al the
world to repair and restore the
loss. How can observant man
hood gaze upon the scene and
turn away and offer his own home
and honor on such a consuming
altar of shame and ruin?
co. The drunkard'S home is,
day by day, panoramic exper-
ience Of murdered ambitions, dis
appointment in natures promised
share in life's attainments, and
the mournful sobs of the dying
hopes of dependent ones.
1t is process Of dying more
horrible than that portrayed by
Dickens in solitary imprison
ment. The assassin wields his
deadly blow and the dying are
soon dead and beyond the horri
BILE agony Of its frightful ordeal.
The assassin himselfis broughtto
speedy Judgment for his crime
and the turbulent waters are
soon quieted over.
But the inmates Of the drunk
ards home arc often in the dying
struggle for months and years
with not even death as friend
to mitigate their pains. When
the deed is done, after the cruel
process, the murderer is follow
ed to the graves Of his victims oy
a mourning procession which
rather commiserate his apparent
earthly loss, than affiict him for
his thrice murderous crime.
Compared with the awful sin
Of his life in the blighting Of
hopes and hearts Of his loved
ones, the assassin's deed is not
for once to be considered.
j3) The drunkard's home Is
picture Of disappointmeut, (yea,
the very think Itself, )and the en-
bryonic assemblaSe of the he'll
that is to be. Every member of
the household is impelIed to take
part in the drama. Innocence and
guilt alike are the victims of the
suferings entailed, and heaven
only will reveal the story Of the
Affections that harrow the lives
of the inmates thereof.
All the revenue OF the ages
from the manufacture and sale Of
Of liquor will not atone for the
sutferinSs Of one lone wife Or
mother who has lived her days
in a drunkard's home. The Won
der of the ages will be that a ra-
tional being that is possessed Of
the knowledge of the way, will
voluntarily subject himself to
such self-destruction and utter
ruin to all that his life should
;o1ass Wbao tho mcSta,. artist