The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-23
THE Err OF

Inc zNtcI1idlIObdl ouAftAiy SAio No
son for November % is, 'World's
Temperance Lesson; Paul on Self
Denial" Rom. 14:1O-21.
.(By William T. Ellis.)
Men are learning to thin. in WOrio
terms. The simple fact that the mum
Der of organizations bearing the words
"lnternational' 'World's' and Uni
versal' is rapidly increasing is s1gnlh-
cant Of a momentous trend OF the
times. That people are entertaining
the thought Of the whole earth is a
sign Of progress. Such an event as
the round-the-worId observance Of
Worlds Temperance Sunday is IN
itself a token of the increasing solid
arity of the race, and the brotherhood
of mankind.
A century or two g men hOuSn
of the big world only in terms Of con-
quest. The outlying regions were re-
garded merely as fields for exploita-
ton. There is enough of this spirit
new world principally as a place where
gain could be got. Selfish
cialism was the uppermost consldera-
ton. THERE'S enough Of this spirit
left; yet there is also a growing sense
of the spiritual unity of the human
race. The West is interested in the
East-as witness the Laymen's Mis-
sionary Movement campaign now UNI
der way-from motives of fraternal
s~olicitude. The tremendous social
and economic problems that are ariS-
ing amid he older peopl are being
solicitously observed and by
thoughtful men and women every
where. Above the ancient note OF con-
Quest sounds the new note OF neigh
borliess. The goo Of the whole is
the good of the world.
abor Unions and the Dry Wave.
This era of universal altruism. or
otherism, is marked by certain signs
especially pertinent to the days Sun
DAY School lesson. 1t is an old story
that the twenty-five million members
of the Sunday Schools have devoted
themselves to the study and promo
ton of temperance; that the Church;
Protestant and Catholic, takes, as a
whole, the same ground. The young
peoples societies, the brOtherhOods,
the Young Mems Christian ASsocia-
tions and the women's societies. are
aggressively enlisted for temperance
That unique alliance Of the churches
known as the Anti-Saloon League has
been perhaps the most potent single
agency for the promotion Of the great
cause of otlerism. which is synony-
nous with temperance.
The most recent notable addition to
the altruiStic agencies Of the day Is
the formal organization OF the lead
ers Of labor unionisn in a Temper
ance Fellowship. This has been per-
1ected during the presnt month at the
international convention Of the Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor in Toronto. In the
face of bitter opposition from the
vested interests OF the saloon, the
foremost leaders Of the workingmen
have joined hands with a representa-
tive of the Christian churches, to drive
q wedge that shall completely Sepa-
rate the saloon from uniOnisIn. At
I-Il I-:-
meetings in connection with retail
liquor establishments. That bad GUS
tom is on its way to limbo. The
American and Canadian workingmen
are joining with their British breth-
rem in q great Temperance Fellow
ship.
Paul taught the Christ1iness of
otherism. He made plain the Chris
tian's duty to deny himself for the
sake of a rothe Sometimes this
teaching is carried farther than the
example or words of the apostle war
rant. And the weaker brother" is
permitted to t%yrannise over the Chris
tian's liberty and JOY. For Paul says,
in this lesson to both weak and strong,
that one may not judge his brother:
1T is to Christ that he must render
a%ccoun Is a Christian woman to do
Without a beautiful dress because
some other Christian woman, of more
sombre mind, thinks she should not
wear it. Far from 1t. There is lib
erty in the Christian life.
Above all considerations of doubt
full amusements' or questionable prac-
tees stands the Pauline principles:
'sThe Kingdom Of God is not eating
and drinking, but Righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost"
If a Christian have not these definite,
positive possessions, all his rigorous
s~elf-denials will avail him little. The
Gospel Is recommended not by what
it's adherents do without, but by
they possess. Souls that are glad and
growing are the best argument for
the Way Of Life. 1t is because the
rule Of otherism, the law Of self
denial, develops strong characters and
happy that the Bible prescribes it.