Evening star., 1916-11-11
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

from the feast drunken and surfeited
| with wine and food yet the apostle could
not have found more apt term to use
than that OF a stumbling block or an
occasion to fall If he had been describ-
ing the temptations presented by the
modern liquor traffic. On every side can
be seen the wrecks of 'manhood--sad
dereltcts on the ocean OF Hfe-iost,
ruined, helpless. because the opportunity
has been given them by the laws of the
land and the greed Of men for gold to ac-
quire the habit Of drink. The effect of
alcohol upon the. mental. physic and
moral life Of humanity has caused not
only science. bus mess, but d lso the great
nations of the world, especially those eIi-
gagged in the titanic struggle beyond the
sea. to seek to curtdii its use, as in the
case OF Russia, to prohibit completely its
sale ard us. as an Intoxicating beverage
II patriotism, commerce and public
health demand it. surely the Christian and
every moral man ought to heed the ex-
hortation. destroy not hin by the drink
for whom Christ died.
The cry of personal liberty raised 50
often In times past for the defense Of the
use and sale of Intoxicating liquors is
disappearing as men come to understand
how closely interwoven humanity is, so
that what affects one life affects all
The neutral nation feels the cost Of war
and gladly pays the price of freedom
from its carnage and suffering, because
it is in accordance with the teachings OF
the New Testament that men should not
only value life, but also follow the things
that make for peace and develop spiritual
life. So out of love for the weaker
brother each person is called upon to
give the weaker brother the benefit Of
his example so that he may be encour
aged to stand firm in his life for the cs-
sential things of the Christian faith.
Each generation is responsible for its
influence not only upon the men Of its
day and generation, but also of al the
succeeding generations. The life that one
lives today will tell upon both the indi-
vidual and the society of tomorrow. II
is for This reason that the health depart
ment Of New York city says TO men IN
one OF its bulletins: You don't need
alcohol for health: you don't need it for
strength; you don't need it for food: you
don't need it for drink; it never does
any good: it always does you harm. Let
il .,lone-get on The waller wagon.
Considering ones infiueuc. upon the
boys and girls of the rising genera ton
every person should observe the motto of
Paul: 1T il good neither 10 eat flesh. nor
20 drink wine. nor anything whereby thy
brother stuIHl.les. or is made TO offend, or
is weak III doing this one is follow
ing the example Of the Lord Jesus, who
pleased uot himself" but took upon him
the reproJches of the people. and gave
himself for them.
The teachings of the lesson becomes in
tellible only in proportion as one comes
to understand The goal which Christianity
is seeking to attain. The aim Of the re-
liRiOn of Jesus is not simply to cause
the actions Of men TO conform TO Ger
tain standard, but rather to make all men
through their personal faith in the Mas
ter 10 partake Of the divine nature and
thus Of the blessed fellowship with God
All conduct has part in moiding a mans
character. SO that all need to he careful
lest they sin against their own soul, as
well as iujure another Tn. possession
d Il character that will stand the test
OF time aud meet the approval of God
is what all should seek. The aim sought
by All Christians is that they and all men
may attain unto a fun grown man. unto
The measure OF the stature of the fullness
of Christ. who is the effulgeuce of the
Fathers glory. the very image of His
substance
The attainment of this end can only be
secured when our individual acts and eX-
periences are the result Of "a compelling
motive. so that every experience and act
is the expression of the Will of Cod. To
carry out this end one must always be
guided by the hw Of love, for "God is
love. and ne that abdeth in love abideth
in God. aud God abdeth in him Love
therefore. il the fuliilirnent of the IL W.
and the power that will enable the forces
of righteousness 10 overcome all forms
Of iutemperanc". iniquity and injustice to
be overcome. II will give to all the mas
terry over self and enable them to exercise
that spirit of self-sacrificc by which the
traffic III liquor can be curtailed and
controlled as a step toward saloonlesS
nation that is the desire of All men who
are filed with the spirit of The Lord
jesus