The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-09
RY WILLIAM T. ELLIs)

RY WILLIAM T ELLIS-)
Once a wear the nearly thirty mil
lion members of the Sunday Schools
give themselves to the study OF the
temperance question Tnat sl1upLe
ouestion points the way to profound
en6 nortentous truth concerning this
worldwide reform. 1t means that the
unreasonable minds of youth are get
ting fixed ideas upon the use or lntoA-
fcants The leaders OF the churcnes'
teachers and preachers are themselV q.
at this time making fresh study OF
the question. The whole subject is
brought into review at least once
wear as a real concern of religion Eacn
person, from his own angle, is making
out a case against the use of intox-
fcants The aggregate influence of all
this is stupendous, unreasonable, IN
thinkabIe.
This is a good time to get right down
to bed rock on the whole subject. In
stead of presenting unrelated incidents
and interesting stories and statistics
that should stagger, it is better to deal
with the fundamental question Where
does the world stand on the temperance
question? What are Christian people
going to do about it?
Temperance NIistake-Intempera
Words of soberness are in order here
If ever. In the face of this prodlglous
human problem sound thinking IS de-
rnanded No teacher of temperance
should go faster or farther than any
Intellectually honest person can follow
All exaggeratior and oVer-staterneLlI
are to be avoided and decried. For, au-
nittedly, the most serious defect OF the
temperance propaganda is its intern
perance.
When an ardent advocate of temper
ance teaches a boy, as myriads nave
done that everybody who drinks comes
to poverty and that all successful men
nd hot he
are all abstainers, that boy eventually
Iearns-if he has any wit whatever, or
any experience of the world-that these
statements simply are not true. There
fore he throws over not merely the fal-
IaciouS extremes of the temperance
teaching he has received, but likely as
not all the teaching, the sound with the
unsound- 1t is perilous to tell children
anything that the ripeness of maturer
experience will not vindicate- NO
permanent good, and usually real harm,
comes from any teaching which does
not square with the truth.
If fanaticism is ever excusable, let
IT be said in extenuation, this is the oc-
casion. The extreme statements and
the passionate one-sfdedness of many
temperance advocates is scarcely to be
wondered at as they have looked upon
this monster evil, whose Unsuitable NAV
is hourly demanding a fresh glut of
young life. This is scarcely the time for
cold CdICu1aL1On ana nice QeIlDerdI1OQ.
The intensity of tie spirit of love for
mankind IS doubtless the explanation of
most Of the unrealities and Unbalanced
teachings and artificial atmosphere
which may be detected in a great deal
Of temperance propaganda Still. the
cause itself is so important, and the is
sues involved so great that they should
command extraordinary self-restraint
on the part of all advocates. All temper
ance teaching should be able to stand
the tests of the tempests of time.
Better Not
Even when all possible admissions
called for by scholarly fairness and
maguanirnity to this worst of foes
have been granted, it can be shown
that there are a score of varied rea-
sons why boys and girls. men and
women, would better not drink.
The abstainer is on absolutely safe
grounds In the case Of youth, this
is the only safe ground. The wit
ness Of every saloonkeeper and every
man of the world now living can be
secured to the fact that where
there's drink there's danger" Ply
sioIogy. economic efficiency, social
stability, altruistic effectiveness. and
essential Christianity all argue for
abstinence.
The old-fashioned and sensible meth
cd of pledge-signing, when pledges I
are deliberately and intelligently ia
ken, is being revived by the Sunday
school leaders. This is to be COM
mended- The temperance war is not
to be won by grand campaigns: the
issue will never be settled until it is
settled by each individual for himself
The Grated Tree.
Another step is inevitable. and it is
being taken Negative teaching is
not the best teaching. The social op-
portunities of drinking must be sup
planted by other more wholesome
forms Of human fellowship. Life must
have some expression.
There Is a grated pear tree in my
yard which have watched with grea
interest. 1t has shown 4 constant ten
dency to throw out shoots of its old
life from every portion of the trees
trunk. These have to be eliminated
and the sap confined for expression tc
the new branches which make for finer
fruit. The tree is like a human life.
self-expression it must have If it is
to live The concern of the man re-
spons1ble for it is to see that it ex-
presses itself along the line of its
highest opportunity and ability.
Mere arguments against the use of
fntoxicants will never win the tenn
perance war; there must be provision
made for the fulhllment of the tend
encies and tastes which alcohol rep
resents- Primarily. these are purely
social; and there is no greater prob
lem confronting the church of TODAY
than that of providing unhampered
and yet wholesome social relation
ships for the young people of our gen
Grafton.
Beginning at the Beginning.
Now, TO come to the point OF this
whole temperance question. How NAV
the reform hope to win? Let US look
at it nationally and from the stand
point OF those who believe in the feast
blllty and desirability of a world with
out Intoxicating liquors. First of all
and manifestly. there must be new
mind in the 1-co1,th Of the 1,-orla I2,,I,