The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-01-19
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TOTAL ABSTINENCE IS BEST
Greatest Danger Of Excess 10 ct Ban
qusts Where Champagne Flows
With Freedom.

The following article II taken from
the Living Church" Although IN.
tended for the twentieth Sunday after
Trinity. II 10 appropriate for all sea
sons:
II IL perhaps. more difiicult for some
people to obey the command In to
days Epistle. BE not drunk with
wine. wherein 10 excess.- than to OBJ.
serve an absolute rule OF total absti
nence.
Those who favor . free use Of wine
and other stimulants when not re-
Quired physically. are won't to quote
st. Pauls advice to 81 Timothy 10
drink wine for his of infirmities; but
they forget TO quote many other pas
sasss from the Scriptures. Il was for
bis 'innrmities" that he was advised
TO take II. not for self indulgence. or
convivial and social reasons.
In Galatians 81. Paul mentions
among the sins Of the flesh. drunken
ness, adding, They who do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom
Of God"
II is 3 fact that many. and among
them church people. think too highly
Of exceeding the bounds Of temper
ance: and. alas that II should be so.
intemperance 10 not unknown even
among women who are social leaders
In our large cities. Solomon was
very wise man. and he says. BE not
among wine bibbers. for tho drunkard
and glutton shall come to poverty"
After describing the appearance Of an
Incorporate man he says that such
are those that tarry long at the wine;
they that 60 TO seek MIXED wine"
Look not upon the wine when II 10
red. when II giveth his color In the
cup. At the last It biteth Ike
. serpent and stingeth like an adder,
The fact that our blessed Lords
irst miracle was the turning OF water
into wine. shows US that wine IL one
Of his gifts to mankind: yet like 90
many other blessings. n abused II be
comes our ruin. What . wonderful
help TO gaining selfcontrol Il would bs
II men always stopped short OF what
they can safely take; but for some,
total abstinence 10 the only wise
course.
In the collect for today We pray
that being ready both In body and soul
We cheerfully accomplish the things
which God commands. n our bodies
belong to his service. Why should We
render them unfit To do his biddinsf
Al the altar we present ourselves. our
souls and bodies. to be q reasonable.
holy and living sacrincs. IL not that
often forgottenI
Frequently there are banquets which
church people attend at which wines
and champagne flow freely. These are
occasions upon which the greatest
danger Of excess 10 likely TO arise
Does drinking to excess. even though
one stops short Of actual drunkenness
ne the body TO appear before the altar
on Sunday morning. IN the stili. early
hour. TO see and hear the priest conse-
crate the fruit Of the vine. making n
the blood OF Christ. that II may be-
come our precious drink Who would
dare present himself to drink Of that
cup. who had himself been a partaker
OF wine the night before until he had
become excited and laxative beyond
bounds? Soon the desire TO come ana
drink the heavenly wine will leave
him, and drinking the cup OF fools. he
will go down TO the gates OF eternal
death. unless he turn and repent
There are outwardly respectable
church men who do not exercise self
control In the matter OF wine drinking,
and who by their example injure 9th
ers. and are themselves daily deterior-
ating. Wllful intemperance and de-
vout aspirations do rot go together.
Who should be the leaders In bring
ing about a reform7 Surely they OF
the priesthood. who are appointed by
God to set so holy and pure an OF.
ample that the laity will be won 20
high and holy living. and learning 20
curb the desires OF the flesh. will at.
tain TO free communion with the sa-
cred heart of the blessed Jesua