Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-28
Gptuortt league
Topie
REV. SAMUEL w. GRAEFLiN.

ABSTINENCE AND PROSPERITY ,rem. er
anec) Scripture basis: Jeremiah. -.
~ He greatest and ragcst single VIZ
OI< tue. apart from an ui}fait eTir;.s
faith in God. is seit-contro -
rare is this power that IL Iii. sage advice
and wise counsel which has GENE TO Us
from the past we seldom hear this viz
tue praised or prescribed, both sage ard
moralst prefcrring to advocat- abst,-
hence s the safer course. History has
proved the wisdom of this teaching. for
while the shores of life are strenn " tn
the wreckage of Ives uncDunLa.,le that
have attempted the dangerous eNped.eGl
of trusting TO their own powers oi resist
ance and self-contro, the quiet waters uf
abstinence show not a s.ng.e week. rne
top for this week has 10 do WITH "Ahsii-
hence and Prosperity" and the Scripture
chosen Is that story OF the Rechdb ties ia
Jeremiah 81, that has influenced more ami
a nobler class of men than amy o;hee
single temperance lesson in the worlo.
princes and presidents having taken and
kept the ironSiad oaths OF abst hence ot
Jonadab or Rcchabite. and never losing
by such act either dignity or influence.
From the topic and Ser ture we CLEAN
the thoughts
i. The Moral Ea.ue ~ Abstinence. When
we speak OF the moral value of absti
nence We must remember that IN ever
phase of life the reason and the Will
are the faculties through which we ac-
cept truth and determine action: hence
anything, be it food or DR. nix, vice or such
amusements as weaken our moral fiber.
that clouds our rea son or iInpatrs our " H.
must unfit us for the CHEST type OF liN-
ing, and abstinence from such things
must give our facu ties their largest op-
portunity for enjoyment and usefulness
Indulg nee I'm bra n-disturb ng and will
Weakening strong drink has wrought
such havoc among men and nations. ia
all the history OF the race, that we might
write the ep.taph OF many q noble
land or family, Drowned in its cups =
Ii Shakespeare could deplore the fact
that men Would put into their mouths
that which would Seal away their
bra ns." If President Cleveland. in dis
missing man. could say, "A man cant
drink and think II the testimony or
every school of med'cire or phi losonhy
OF religion or psychology. 5 TO the effect
that indulgence in this destructive prao-
ce invariably weakens the will. then
abstinence IS the only course open to
those seeking the highest level of life and
service.
II. The Mathematics of Abstinence. II
as is 90 often charged. we are "a nation
OF dollar seekers" little arithmetic
bearing on our use OF strong dr'nk will
not be out of place In every state n IN,
Union good farm land may he horchi fo-
between $40 and $40 per acre Their. ar,
$3.50 SQUARE feet in an acre az ground.
hence each 100 square fe>t costs ~ cents
uc taxes three al -
day One drink. 10 cents EQUALS 100
sduare' feet. or pretty flower bed: three
drinks equal 200 square feet, o. a fine
strawberry patch: twenty-one drinks per
week equal . 100 square feat, or fine
potato patch. larger than the ord nary
city lot: ninety drinks per month equal
1900 square feet: LOIS drinks per year
equal 100 80 square feet. or over two and
res per year. Take thu same
three drinks and watch bricks and NOR
FAR pianos and carpets. new shoe anl
college educations all go the same way,
and we " II not think that the abstineuce
that eliminates and restores this waste
Is such failure after all.
III. The Divine Promise OF Prosperity.
When God. in seeking for some strone-
of fidelity and persistence, light
Cd upon the sons OF Jonadab. He not only
used them to point a moral for unstable
Israel. but He gave them promise or
cont nued prosperity. This promise has
seemed TO attach to the abstinence ever
since. and Abstinence and Prosperity
arc constant companions