The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-03-18
Proverbs %: 1899; Isaiah rs

hiteth like a serpent, and sting
eth like an adder. Proverbs 20:
32.
The effects of alcoholic drinks
upon an individual are portray
ed by Solomon in his Proverbs; ;
upon a nation as denounced by
Isaiah in his prophecy against
the Northern Kingdom of Israel
and upon international affairs as
recorded by Daniel in his account
of the fall of Babylon before the
besieging armies of Persia.
EFFECTS OF
DRINKS
First, The woes Of wine are
pictured. In six burning
queries the terrible portrait is
drawn. who hath woe"-with
its sum total of earthly wretched.
ness: "sorrow"-with anguish of
body and remorse of conscience:
"contentions" - in meddlesome
cuarrels and consequent brawls /;
"complaining"-in foolish babble
and cynical comment; wounds
without cause"-whether by &C
cident or on imaginary provoca-
ton; and "redness Of eyes
causing impairment of vision and
of Judgment? The answer COM
pletes the picture: Drunkards
concrcgate where vine is, like
vultures about a carcass; and
long they linger till sunk into
stupidity or sent out by neces-
sity. AS time advances, they get
more eager for maudlin associa-
tons and more fastidious about
their drink, seeking out the rare,
spiced and sweetened wines.
Second. The way OF welfare is
definitely designated as total alb
stinence. 1t is dangerous to
come even within sight of strong
drink. Look not upon the wine
of rich color, especially attract.
ing the eastern drinker, whetting
and arousing thirst; or the
sparkle of the wine when poured
out in the cup, delighting the
eyes; or the undisturbed swallow
ing of it, gratifying the appetite.
The fractions of dine-drinking
cannot be discovered from the
effects of confirmed drunkenness
which are like the bite of lurk-
ing reptile and the deadly venom
of the adder.
NATIONAL EFFECTS OF
DRINKS
The Fate of Israel with the 10
tribes Keeling downward under
the leadership of drunken Eph-
rain exhibits the national effects
of alcoholic drinks. The crown
of Ephraim was a fading chaplet
The proud city of Samaria, sit
uated at the head of rich val
ley and impregnable under anci-
ent methods of warfare, has
been smitten down with wine. 1t
can but fall before the mighty
and strong one the Assyrlan
kept in leash by
the Lord. But at last the enemy
will come like destructive,
tempest sweeping everything be-
for it. Then Samaria, tho Sc
rene and secure in her seeming
strength. will to the Assyrian in
vaders be like the first ripe fig
which the passerby plucks and
swallows. A drunken ma
ton despite it's resources will be
easily and utterly destroyed.
INTERNATIONAL EFFECTS
OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
The Fall of Babylon on the
night of Belshazzar's drunken
feast illustrates the international
effects of alcoholic drinks. The
city of Babylon 538 B. C. was
one of the greatest cities Of an
cient. or modern times. It's walls
and hanging gardens constituted
one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world. In this great
capital Belshazzar was nominal
king (his uncle, Nabonidus, be-
ing actually on the throne). He
was commander-in-chief of the
army which just now was defend
ing the city against a siege by
Persians under Cyrus. But why
should Babylon fear? It's walls
were impenetrable. Its armies
were invincible Its resources
were ineXhauStible.
Perhaps it was to celebrate
some petty victory that Belshaz-
Ear gave a feast to a thousand
of his warlords. See him sink
deeper and deeper into sin. He
was indifferent to instruction.
He was inflated with pride. He
was ungrateful to God who gave
him every blessing. He was
basely irreverent in the desecra-
ton of the vessels taken from
the Temple in Jerusalem, and
used them in disdainful insult to
Jehovah. He was guilty of in
temperance, for freely flowed the
intoxicating wines, dulling sensi-
bilites. cloudng reason, UNDER
empire. He was guilty
of persistent idolatry when he
knew that Jehovah was ruler of
heaven and earth.
So Belshazzar's feast degene-
rated into a debauch. But the
intoxicated princes were startled
and shocked to see a mysterious
hand appear upon the walls of
the banquet hall tracing familiar
letters in such combination that
nobody could understand them.
The widest CONSERVATION ensu-
ed. The astrologers were called
but sat speechless and aghast.
Finally Daniel was summoned
Faithfully he told the king of his
sins and accurately interpreted
the sentence of doom which on
that very night was fulfilled in
the death of Belshazzar and the