The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-28
WHAT IS TEMPERANCF>

Ihat is an exceedingly interesting
subject to the Bible student, as it il
closely associated with the use of in
'oHlcating liquors. The people are not
AT all greed as to the meaning of tenn
perance. for ! find that Bible temper
ahce Is one thing and that popular tenn
perance Is widely different thing.
Let us therefore consider Bible tenn
perance versus popular temperance.
! would DO very near the truth II l
should say that Bible temperance
means total abstinence or prohibition
! IL Is singularly strange how very
nervous some people become when pro-
hioitIon Is referred to or implied In any
way. and how prone such people are
to characterize temperance advocates
and workers as "fanatics' or .'cranks. +"
Nor DO they mean it as A compliment:
out such people are either ignorant of,
OF nave forgotten that the crank is a
very important part of all useful ma =
emery. And / am constrained to be-
iieTe that such persons have not given
ase spas5eGt ssalaeh thought, or CONS; CARA
non. for temperance is classed in the
HOLY Scripture az a Christian virtue
OF nigh order. aud there can be no
homeless Christian life without the ex-
ercise of total abstinence in everything
">>-N - S'At' WI uptlES ana OeInOr8itE-
ing. Tor Bible temperance rs not per-
sonal liberty to do as we please regard
less or the effects our conduct and Ian
guage may have on those about us and
within our influence; but the Bible
teachers moderation in the use of good
ana heipful things. but total abstinence
from the use Of hurtfui or evil things.
Ihat -is-Kihle- temperance. wshsrer's
unabridged dictionary gives the follow
ing definition OF temperance:
u. Habitual moderation In regard to
the indulgencies of the natural appe-
tites and passions. Restraint or mode
rate Indulgence; moderation; as tenn
perance in eating and drinking; tenn
petate In the enjoyment of JOY and
mirth, especially moderation and some
times abstinence In respect to using
Intoxicating liquors"
Drunkenness is crime in the sight
Of God. and it bars the entrance to
the kingdom of God: therefore what
'soever tends to produce drunkenness
should not be used habitually as bev-
erage, not even moderately. And the
Same rule applies to everything else
when our example and teaching would
cause others to stumble or fall What
saith the Scriptures? Read Roman
l$:2i: 1T Is good neither to eat flesh,
nor to drink wine. nor anything where
by thy brother stumbleth. or is of
Tended fmade to sim or made weak"
AndI Cor. S:12-13. But take heed
lest by any means this liberty of yours
become stumbling block to them that
are weak. But when ye sin so against
the brethren. and bound their weak
conscience. We sin against Christ: there
fore. Ii eating meat make my brother
to offend (to SIM, will eat no more
meat while the world staHds.-lest-
make my brother to offend" The meat
referred to was the meat offered to
IDOLS. In the above Scriptures, we have
the principle of Bible temperance
clearly defined. SO there is no excuse
Cor ignorance as to what constitutes
true Bible temperance. Nor is there
any Scripture to be found to justify
the personal liberty" ana sumptuary
laws outcry which we often hear from
advocates for drinking intoxicating
wines. 1t must be admitted that such
'clamoring better becomes the lbertine
than the Christian man. 1t VIII be well
for us to consider carefully Matthew.
z: I3-l4: Enter In at Che straight gate,
Tor wide is tho gate and broad Is the
way that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be that go In thereat: be-
cause straight Is the gate and narrow 81
the way that leadeth unto life, and
few there be that hndeth it" 1t Is
very evident that the man who strivee
for that personal liberty which allows
him to do as he pleases and who COM
plains OF sumptuary laws which the
Holy Scripture imposes is evidently in
the. broad ways that leads to destruc-
ton.
Kind reader, in which OF the two
ways do your example and teaching
place you9 ! am often told that pro-
hibition is not taught in the Bible.
Then what do the foregoing and the
following Scriptures mean? Proverbs
1880. BE not among wine. bibbers and
riotous eaters of nean.'' rebukee to
the modern banquet ana wine supper.
md look not tnou uDea thA wine whsa