The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-07-28


rage vows? The pledge marks the
crossing of the line into the ranks of
the total abstainerS.
Value of Pledge
The man who says, Il never expect
to drink but adds, Il will not sign a
pledge" raises the same suspicion that
is raised when man says 10 you, 81
admit that | owe you, but l will not
put it in writing y You cannot help
feeling that his purpose would be more
clearly manifested if expressed in writ
! ing. So long as one refuses to sign the
pledge he cannot urge others to sign
and he is in danger of having his rea-
sons doubted
believe in the pledge. l began sign
ing the pledge before can remember.
could persuade anyone also 10 sign
with me, and as long as live l shall
stand ready 10 sign with anyone and
everyone.
You will be interested to know the
origin of the pledge which will be pre-
|
TO leave Nebraska. after the last cleo
ton, l persuaded friend to sign a
pledge with me. II read; I'VE, the
undersigned, promise, God helping,
never 10 use intoxicating liquor as a
beverage The pledge was signed in
duplicate and | brought one copy with
me. In Chicago l net representative
of boys organization in Michigan,
who presented an invitation from 40OC
boys TO speak TO them at Ann Arbor the
latter part of November.
1t so happened that the invita-
ton had been circulated on separ-
ate blanks and then bound in book
form. Each invitation began, 1--WE the
undersigned, etc. The similarity of
the language called to my mind the
pledge in my pocket and presented
this pledge when l spoke to the boys
in Ann Arbor The meeting was made
up of delegates from the high schools of
more than 300 cities in the State and
the delegates took the pledge home
with them and circulated it. Already
more than 10000 have signed. 1t has
never been any trial for me to abstain
from the use of liquor, but even if total
abstinence had been difficult, it would
be ample compensation to know that
may be useful in saving from the drink
habit many of the young men of Mich
igan who, without the pledge, might
yield 10 the temptation.
Worth While to Save Man
l am GLAD to participate in this meet
ing and to urge this pledge upon every
person present In this great audience
there may be some who will be saved by
it from the evil OF intemperance and
others may, by their action and in
fluence, be the means OF saving some
who are not here tonight. And il is
} not worth while to save a man who has
not seen the ruin that rum has wrought
II a fireman following the line of duty,
dies amid the flames, the city which
he served is sad, but that sadness has
mingled with it pride in his self-sacri
fee His mother can smile even amid
her sorrow as she remembers that hel
son was NQOiuP d man paibs dAO lux
father, bereft of the care that nigh
have been his support in his declining
days, is cheered by the thought that hi
son bravely met his fate.
How different is the end of the drunkard
Watch him as he goes on his downward
way, friend after friend departing; SCI
him when his face no longer suggests
that he was made in the image of hi:
God!
Calculate the sorrow which he brings
. to his family and friends. and then a
last the sigh of relief from those whit
are nearest to him. '1t is finished.
3 Is il not worth while to save men from
/ such fate? Aye. more. is 1t not wortl
while to help them as best we can 4
rise TO the highest plane of human en-
deavor? Is it not worth while to ai'
them by counsel and example TO max
life here fuitful in all that is pure ant
good and great?
Its dollars to doughnuts that you vii
I forget to hand us "Our Dollar" whe
you come TO town.
. People Ask Us\