Ellsworth American., 1911-08-09
CHRISTIAN ENOEAyOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Aug. "a, 1911.

Beginning Aug. 10, 1911.
Topic-Small beginnings Of irrsemper-
ance.-Prov xxiii. 29-35. Temperance
meeting.) Edited by Rev. Sherman II.
Doyle. D. D.
In the familiar passage selected for
our study solomon sets forth in
most striking picture the manifold
evils Of the great curse Of intemper-
ance In few strokes be brings be-
fore rs most Of its pitiabie and palm
ful consequences--woe. sorrow, strife.
poverty, personal Disagreement and
deterioration. impurity and mental
confusion and debasement. These are
the ripened fruits Of intemperance.
ths deadly nnas results Of drunken-
nsss. And how many countless thou-
sands have experienced the awful e.
fscts of intempeNancs that are here
% vividly set forth, and yet bow slow
the world u to learn BY experience!
The mere reading Of the category Of
consequences, It would seem, should
be enough to keep men from the
temptations Of this great evil. and
yet 1t does not do 50 In spite OF all
warnings the ranks Of the intemper-
ate never seem to grow less Put the
final consequences Of drunkenness are
no less awful to each victim because
Of the great numbers Of those who fol-
low In this way. Let the young be
warned and let the life Of each one be
Of such a character that the ripened
fruits OF this gigantic evil will never
be possible to them
The supreme reason why men are
30 easily led into the dangers Of drunk
enness undoubtedly lies In the fact
that Its worst consequences are often
% long delayed The beginnings are
small and hence the consciences OF
men are lulled to sleep and they have
Q sense Of safety, although It IL false
who hath woe" and all the other
horrors Of this svilf They that 'tarry
long at the wine, they that 60 to seek
mixed wine." they that 60 to places
Of revslry. who hunt out where c.
rousals are taking placer But the
beginners" IN the use Of intoKicating
drinks never expect 10 larry hong" at
the wilma. They never intend to b.
come drunkards and 70 spend The
nights IN drunksa rsvslry and d.
bauch Thsy expect aawau 10 b
nodsrats drinkess. b b abis b take
. eiass Of to lst Il aionA But alaA
bow often thsy Az dscsfvs6 They
may think that thsy may mock at
tie pseils Of wilma but IN ths end thay
and that Il b winA - Solomon sayA
that b the mocker.
II drunkards were made tn . day
msn would probably take warning
from the consequences Of intemper.
ance. but because they are not how
many are deluded and deceived. Bot
we should not be- Delayed dangers
are little less desirable than immedi-
ate ones The results. II slow. are sure.
.At the last it biteth like q serpent
and stingeth Ike an adder" The wise
man considers the nnal consequences
Of his acts. The danger OF beginning
Les In the fact that the probability Of
continuing until ''the last u so great
and therefore the smallest Of begin
nings should never be made.
The only sure safety from drunken
ness b total abstinence. No man
knows when hs takes the erst glass
what the nnal result win be. but every
man knows that II hs never tAkes the
dryt glass hs can ne~se become .
dxunkard Why. then. begin at all?
Why run the risk perhaps Of awaken
ing . latent appetite that may al too
soon produce direful evtis o. Of form
ing q habit that In ths end can only
mean suffering and sorrow? Solo
mons rule for safety stiil holds good.
and It II the only one that does-.Look
not thou upon the wine when It L.
red. when II g1vsth bis color In the
cup, when 1t moveth itself Alright"
He who never secs an adder can never
b stung BY one. He who absolutely
avoids strong drink can never taste its
woes. Let Us, therefore, avoid its use
altogether. II tempted By friends let
% have the courage to refuse. Let Us
avoid the places where It II sold: dis
courage Its use In the home and in
social circles. where 70 much danger
Hes and 20 much harm = done.