The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-10

Iou- among the friends of Jesus there
is no divorce evil, NJ scandal of dou-
men, no cruel wealth and no bitter
poverty. When the religion of the
spirit re1gns, and people live with
the supreme ambition to be we'll
pleasing unto Christ, the inside of the /
cup Is clean, wen if the outside is
not polished.
THE BED ROCK OF TEMPER ANCE.
Terse on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic of the Young
copies SOciety-Christian Endeav-
Or. Etc.-For February is, why
Every One Should Sign "a Temper
ance Pledge.O Prov. 1920, Fl.
29-35.D
(By WILLIAM T. ELIS.D
All the signs of the times pretend
a steady and irresistible growth of
temperance sentiment. The use and
sale OF ln~toxiCants depends upon an
arrant individualism, such as it's
growing out of date. The social pas
SION OF our time wars directly against
the liquor traffic. The conviction gains
steadily in extent and in depth that
the net result of the use of strong
drink is evil, and only vii. And as
we are legislating against impure
foods and harmful drugs, we are ad-
Vanclng toward h right step, which
Is SOFcI IIIleIlld1 suppression or a. OuSl-
ness that does SO much harm.
Their is a danger in the present
popular mass movement of the tenn
perance cause. That danger is that
legislation will outrun popular senti-
ment. There must be a clear and con-
WINGED majority in favor of prohibi-
ton before any temperance laws can
become effective. Il this, as in all
nj hOY in n A.,
majority should rule. 1t is intoIer-
able that a law-treating minority, in
league with corrupt officials, should
dominate a community. The point
here to be mad is that there should
be no cessation OF the educational side
of temperance work, if legislative VIC
tories are to be buttressed INTO per-
manence. So while busy in campaigns
among the voters, let us not cease to
secure individual temperance pledges.
The dry Wave," as the paradoxieal
phrase has it, about which there a
be no misunderstanding or misrepre-
s%entation it is the growth Of personal
total abstinence. =
Not everybody will sign every form
Of temperance pledge: but there is
surely extant some form of word that
will satisfy every sincere believer in
temperance.
A pledge is psycho1ogically sound. II
t commits the signer to the position to
which his arouSed sentiments have led
, him. The act of signing fixes his reso.
luton. He has taken sides. Thus is
l avoided the peril Of emotion without
corresponding action
. With catuion, earefulness and san
I ity, and yet with wise urgency, tn:
wisdom OF signing a total abstinence
pledge should be kept ever before
young people. No man can know
how many persons have been with.
held from the liquor habit by the on,
s sure course Of refusing to take thu
S first drink. The fact that one ha!
signed a pledge is in itself forever {
: sufficient excuse for declining all in
vitations to drink. The Temperance
pledge is as ehCacious against drunk
s enness as the new form of ~inoculatiol
: is against typhoid fever.
s Every unk who is babbling il
maudlin fashion in bar-rooms am
sspeak-easies' at the present mo
ment. will declare that he car TAX
O it or leave it alone" If the issues a
r stake were not SO serious this quee
n delusion of the drinkers would b
It funny. How cana man say Il ca
2. drink or I can let it alone" when Ii
- has not tried both ends of his boast
h We are sure he can drink. But ha
IS he ever tried to let it alone? Th
it calling. strength of the strong drin
# chain is not felt until one tries t
Ii break free from it. The total al
stainer is the only one who can say {
a surety. Il can let it alone" 81
al might reasonably add. RI can drink,
t, since drinking requires nc skill c
" force of character; but he has neve
1T tried, so ne must be content to dc
clare. Il can let it alone"
ot -
Of Every friend Of righteousness owe
e. it to the cause of Righteousness
~ stand up and be counted.
TO -
r 4 pledge against the use Of Stror
drink is also. incidentally, q pleds
W against mourning certain other gray
n dangers WHICH commonly coHae ON
I'd to those who drink. Many q ri
er would have preserved her chastity