The Nevada County picayune., 1911-03-17
nEFEATTHROUCH
 DRUNKENNESS
aAjay School Lesson Tor Mar. l9, I9
 Specially Arranged for This Paper


 ory verse 13.
 GOLDEN TEXT-"It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink Prov, 3l:4
 TIME-This lesson belongs between Les ,ors VIII and K during the latter part o< Eliiah's mission.
 PLACE-The Syrian kingdom, with its canital at Damascus. adjoined Israel on the rorth At this period, not long before the revived Assyrian power and aggres- sion came in contact with Israel, syria urder Benhadad II was Che most powerful nation on the Mediterranean coast. anS was normally bitter enemy of northern Israel It was always group Of related but not united, petty kingdoms or tribes
 Benhadad, the Syrian king, gathered together the 32 kings of the smaller tribes allied to his kingdom and made an overpowering raid upon lsrGel, de- stroying villages and farms and or chards, paralyzing business, ravaging the homes and driving the people to the more strongly fortified towns. They were like "a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, a flood of mighty waters overfowing, an overwhelming scourge." These epithets describe in vivid speech the irresistible violence, the devastating force with which the Svrians were about to overwhelm them. It Is almost impossible for us to realize the devastating power of such half-savage hordes who lived upon the country, who ravaged viii lages. who murdered women and chil- dren. who had an unrestrained power They were worse than the ten plaques of Egypt.
 What the invaders sought was the wealth, the harvests and all kinds of valuables, without paying for them. and entirely without regard to the well fare of the people. Into our goodly country Intemperance, from drinking alcoholic liquors, has come and is do- ing our country more damage, to it's people, to its wealth and prosperity. than the Syrians did to Palestine, the Promised Land, by their invasion. King Alcohol comes with an army of tributaries and allies, such as the 24o.- 900 saloons, the distilleries, breweries, hotels. clubs, personal invitations to drink. advertisements in magazines and papers. cocaine and opium habits. All invading us for the sake of their own personal gain at the expense of the community.
 When the invaders had reached the capital with their army and horses and ehariots in an unresisted march, Benhadad sent messengers to Ahab demanding that he yield up his throne. which is implied in his imperious con ceit of power; Thy silver and thy gold is mine thy wives also and thy chil. dren. even the goodliest. are mine. And Ahab was so overwhelmed at the power backing the demand that he basely yielded and replied: My lord, o king. according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that l have. Such are the demands of King Alcohol!
 The cost of liquors each year in this country is nearly S1,400.000.000 The drink bill in England in 1908 was over sS0000 GOO Take the national liquor bill and divide 1t by the number of saloons and s5,945 becomes the aver age cost to the people of each saloon. On the average the saloon pays back for nation. state and city taxes $500. This $500 is eagerly taken from a grateful country in lieu of S5,945. Thus King Alcohol demands our homes. our wives. our husbands, our silver and gold. And we have yielded too easily to its demands
 Benhadad then sent word that his officers were coming and would search Ahabs house for every pleasant thing he had and would take 1t away. And not only Ahab's house but the houses Of hi. officers and leaders. This caused revolt The king summoned his leading people to a conference and they decided not to yield to the de- mands of Benhadad The weak Ahab declared that for himself he would yield all he had promised, but he must deny the increased demand
 King Alcohsl became so greedy in ms demands, the results of his evil Work became so great, that the people We're aroused in indignation against him Al first 1t was agreed to allow "lne and beer and moderate drinking. put to resist the ravages of the more hery drinks, But this was a failure temperance societies were formed Local and state prohibition were in- augurated. Investigations mada Pledges taken.
 III their great distress prophet came to King Ahab with a message rom Jehovah: Hast thou seen all this great multitude? I will deliver 1t into 'nlne hand this day. Why? And thou sIalt know am the Lord The vic tory was wrought to bring them back to the true God, to obedience and wor- snip' which was vastly more impor- ."ht to their true welfare than the JOSS or all their property could have been.
 Ana Ahab said, By whom? And he o"lu' Thus saith the Lord, by the !ouh6 mon of the princes of the prov