The Detroit times., 1912-11-02
By WILLIAM n. ELLIS,

Once a year the nearly sV,VvvVVV
members OF the Sunday schools give
themseiyes 10 the study Of the temper
ance question. That simple statement
points the way 10 a profound ana Pvs-
ttntous truth concerning TINS WVrLu
wide reform. IL means tnst ,ns a
fashionable minds OF youth are get
ting fixed ideas upon the use OF IN
toxicants The leaders OF the churches,
teachers and preachers, are themsslVoss
at this time making a fresh stuoy Oh ~
brouaht into review AT least once
year as a real concern of religion.
Each person, from his own angie
making out case against tne u.s.
Intoxtcants. The aggregate nnuehee
OF all this Is stupendous. immeasuf-
This Is good time TO get right
down TO bed rock on the whole shpJecI
Instead Of presenting unrelated met
dents and Interesting stories. and sta
tistfcs that should STACKER, IL - bet-
ter to deal with the Fundamental cues
ton: Where does the world stand on
the temperance question: Nhal arr
Christian people going 10 DO ABOUT IL =
Mistake OF Intemperance.
words az soberness are In order here,
n ever In the face of this prodigious
human problem, sound thinking ~ oe-
manded No teacher OF temperance
should go faster or farther tnan s saII
low All exaggeration and over-state-
ment are 10 be avoided and dscried-
For admittedly. the most serious de-
feet OF temperance propaganda u It's
when an ardent advocate OF temper
ance teaches q boy as myrfads nave
done, that everybody who drinks comes
to poverty; and that all successiui men
are sober men: and that the great men ,e
are an absTatners,- that Boy eventually
iearnE-If he has any wit whatever, OF
any experience OF the world-tnat
these statements simply are not true.
the faIlacious extremes OF the temper.
ance teaching he has received put
likely as not all the teacnins. tns
sound with the unsound. II - pernous
10 tell children anything that the ripe.
ness OF maturer experience Will not
lyfndfcate No permanent good, ana
usually real harm, comes from any
tsaehInE Which does not square WIN
n fanaticism is ever sxcusable. let
II be said In attenuation. this Is the oc-
casion- The extreme statements anu
the passionate. one-sfdednessso or many
Temperance advocates. IL scarcely TO De
wondered at, as they have looked upon
this monster evil whose Unsuitable.
nav ~ hourly demandiHe~ . fresh gict
OF young life This - scarcely. the
time for cold calculation and nice de-
fiberatfon The intensity OF the spirit.
or love Tor nfankf n doubtless the
explanation OF most OF the unrealities
and IlI-balanced teachings and arti-
hcial Atmosphere which may be de \
tected IN a great deal OF temperance
propaganda Still. the cause ITSELF -
so Important. and the issues. involved
30 great, that they should command
OF an az secatss. ,AiIatemperance teach \
ing should be able to stand the tests
OF tho tempests OF time. 49,
- sBetter Not
Even " hen all possible sdmsssions
called. for by scholarly fairness and
lnaRnanimlty TO. this worst OF foes have
been granted. 1t can shawn. thai
there are q score OF varied rsasons
why boys and girls. men anA-womsn,1
would .s-ebetter~ not drink. The ae-.
srai1er e on sSsgtSr.,S , gro eiy
safe -kround. rhe witness Of every
saloofkespef- and every man OF the
world now living can be secured TO the
fact that where there's drink there -
Physiology. economic efn
cheney, social stability, altruistic eis
feetIveness, and essential Christianity
ali argue for abstinence.
The old fashioned and sensible
method of pledge-signing when PLEDGES
are deliberately and intelllgeutly taken,
II being revived by the sunday school
leaders. This IL TO be commended. Tne
war Is not TO be won Dy
grand campaigns; the issue viii never
be settled until II Is settled by each
individual for himself.
The Drafted Tree.
Another step Is inevitable, and IL ls
being taken. Negative teaching II not
the best teaching. The social oppor-
ed by other more wholesome forms OF
human fellowship. Life must have
some expression.
There Is a grated pear tree in my
Interest II has shown constant
tendency 10 throw out shoots OF its
old life from every portion OF the trees
trunk These fave 10 be eliminated,
and the sap confined for expression 10
the new branches which make for liner
fruit The tree Is like a human life.
self-expression ~ must have IL IL ~ TO
live. The concern OF the man respon.
sible for Il II % see that II expresses
itself along the line OF It's highest OPP
portunity and ability.
Mere arguments against the nsc or
intoxicants will never. win the tenn
made for the fulnllment OF the tend
encies and tastes which alcohol repre-
sents Prlmarilg. these are purely So
cial. and there IL no greater problem
confronting the church OF today than
that OF providing unhampered and yet
wholesome social relationships for the
young people Of our generation.
beginning at the BeEInnInE.
Now, TO come 20 the point OF this
whole temperance question: How may
the reform hope 10 VIM Let Us look
ct Il nationally and from the stand
point OF those who believe In the feas.
iblllty and desire billty of a world With.
out Intoxicating liquors. First OF all.
and manifestly,, there must be a new
mind In the youth OF the world, Public
opinion must be changed at it's springs
New minds must precede new laws.
Only a nation OF sbstaining individuals
can make total abstinence nation.
The homely phrase Is worth repeat
ing that "the FIRST saloon for man TO
close IL that which does business be-
tween his own nose and chin. without
abating one iOt or title Of It's restrict
I've or legislative work. the church
must create In youth a sentiment in IA
vOr OF temperance which the years
cannot change To make n nation %
non drinkers we must begin at the
bottom ..-.---.--
Temporary EApedIents.
Half loaf r. better thhn no bread .
Not everybody believes that Some
good temperance folk are Determined
10 starye TO death. or else have a full
course dinner II seems more reason
able that while waiting for IDEAL tenn
-pernncv conditions We should AeeaHa-4
pltsh whatever we can. Pending tho
winning Of the war let US accomplish
az many minor victories as posalble
The aInelioratipn or EVIL conditions will
nr0ha bly, hAvesNo precedo their amt.
a. a.