The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-08-14
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Gospel Temperance A Law.
To the Editor of The Republican:

meaning. ms is because 1t is so often
used in reference to subjects that have
no moral bearing.
EXpediency is fitness. propriety,
adaptation In moral matters it IS the
fitness and prOprietY of our acts. As
applied to temperance it is a moral
obligation. We say it is not eXpedient
to use liquors, because of the disastrous
consequences attending its use.
1t IS 'expediert to abstain from the
use of Intoxicating drinks because of
its fitness and adaptation to promote
good morals, and happiness. If there
is fitness and propriety in abstinence
for moral purposes, then it belongs to
the class of moral duties, and we can.
not separate it from moral laws. If
abstinence from liquors is fit and proper,
it Is eXpedient and hence we are bound
to practice 1t. Here the coercive power
of moral law comes in with our convic-
tons The knowledge of the evils Of
intemperance, and the fact that appe-
tite for alcoholic liquors comes from
their moderate use, convlnces and de-
cides us that it Is eXpedient, fit and prop
er to refuse their use entirely.
The law of Gospel temperance binds
US to impose on ourselves a restraint
sufficient to keep us safe, eXpediencv
shows US the extent and necessity of this
restraint. If my understanding and
conscience decide that it is ineXpedent
to use such liquors, because of their
injurious effects. then | sin against God
if do not abstain. eXpedencv becomes
the lever by which to lift the cause of
temperance to its high position in church
and state. 1t is not a matter of the
individual to do as he pleases, Just so
he does not get drunk. Such eXpediency
has no coercive forces because it does
not recognize divine obligation. Tenn
perance is a christian virtue, it is re-
quired by law which expresses the divine
will and authority. You cant justify the
use Of liquor as beverage on the
ground of expectancy for Webster says
it is 'the fitness or suitableness to ef.
feet some good end orpurposeintended
Does intemperance effect good end.
Look at that man reeling home to abuse
his family; or lying in the gutter: look
at that criminal, who under the inhu-
ence of liquor killed his companion and
is now being strapped IN the electric
chair. Is it suitable and fit to produce
every form of vice; every kind of evil;
to ruin soul and BODY. There is no ex-
pediency in it. Experience shows that
entire restraint is the only complete
safety and is therefore the highest ex-
pediency 1t accomplishes Just what
the law Of Gospel temperance requires.
Why did the divine law in the Old Tes-
lament require the priests who officiatel
in God service to abst3in entirely from
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expectancy. Nn 10 be prevent
ed frcm defling the Service of God by
drunkenness. The idea that expediency
means to drink or let it alone. to do or
not to DO without any obligation at
tached to our action is due largely to
the mistake that temperance as requr-
ed by the Gospel is SIMPLY moderation
in drinking intoXcants, and not an
etfectual selfrestrant. History shows
that moderate drinking is not a sufii-
cient restraint. But moderate drinking
of intoXicants cannot be claimed to be
out of the range of moral obligation.
An eXpedency that does not carry
with it moral of the subject of Gospel
temperance which is a moral obligation
All must admit that no practice can be
recognized as Gospel temperance, which
is not in the bounds of a perfectly safe
restraint. The tendency Of moderate
drinking of intoXicants is to create an
appetite for them, and SO promote
drunkenness and so cause an immense
amount of misery or moral disorder,
therefore the practice should be re-
pudiated and abolished. We cannot
oVerestimate these propositions Just as
serted. Gospel self-restraInt comes up
to the necessity of abstinence in all
things wrong themselves as well as those
things which incite and lead to evil.
What a wonderful word temperance is
as used in the Gospel. If any thing is
wrong or leads to wrong temperance
puts an end to it at once. The word
God and an enlightened conscience arms
man with this executive force so that
he may keep himself pure and unspotted
from the world. 1t confers no special
privileges on anyone for it means to
restrain or prevent evil. Mr. Moderate
drinker YOU are morally responsible for
your actions, and though you NAV not
be plunged into the abyss of drunken
ness, you may lead weaker brother
INTO the awful slums of inebrietv and
ultimately to eternal death. If you
claim that eXpediency does not impose
a moral obligation, you are confronted
by the whole system of divine law,
which is founded in divine wisdom and
goodness, and is always determined by
the highest eXpendiency in what is re-
CURED, by what is most suitable and
fitted to produce the best ends of our
existence. This principal of Gospel
temperance applies to all our acts for it
is restraining power to keep US from
evil thoughts, words, acts, habits, and
so protect all our virtues, our life and
health from harm. Abstinence is not
o,,I,, ,l;,,4 l,4 :. =. II 10