St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-05-27
Lesson for May 20
MAINTAINING PERSONAL
EFFICIENCY

MAINTAINING PERSONAL
EFFICIENCY
LESSON TEXT-Dan. 1876, 10. 20;
GOLDEN TEXT-Every man that
striveth for the mastery is temperate in
all things. I Cor. 9:25.
PRIMARY ToPIC-How Daniel
Pleased God.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Ten Times Strong.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
ToPIc-In Training for the Game OF
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-LiQuor's Effect Upon Working
Efficiency.
Personal efficiency is subject
which is receiving much attention
in our day. There has never been
so much accurate and disable infor-
nation as we now have regarding
diet, exercise, and medical care.
The mind as well as the body has
come in for attention and scores
of books are available on the de-
velopment and full use of the pow
ers of personality. Some Of these
are trash, but others are helpful.
Business is cooperating with the
school and the home in giving boys
and girls the opportunity to grow
up to be useful and happy members
of society. The church adds its i'm
portant contribution, although we
must confess that it is far from what
it might be by the grace and power
of God.
Having done all these things for
the good of the people, we then
largely destroy their value by per-
hitting the use and sale Of intoxi-
cants which destroy personal eff
fciency and dull moral perception.
la Sound Mind in a Sound Body
dan. 1916, 10, 20.
Daniel and his three Hebrew COM
panions had been brought to Baby
Ion as captives, and were there
chosen to enter the royal school for
future service at the court Every
provision was made for the students
chosen for that school. Their diet,
however, included not only meat
which was unclean to the Jew but
wine, which Daniel knew to be un-
desirable. It took holy boldness to
ask to be excused from that which
the king had prescribed, but Daniel
was blessed not only with courage,
but with tact and courtesy. A ten
day test of a simple diet and water
proved so successful that the plan
was continued. At the end Of the
three-year course the Hebrews were
not only physically stronger but
mentally and spiritually superior.
The experience Of Daniel and his
brethren is not just an incident
eagerly grasped atby ''blue-nosedre-
formers" to prevent their neighbors
from enjoying" Intoxicating liquor.
The testimony of science, of business,
of experience in all ages, proves
that the use of even an amount Of
alcohol so small that the user does
not feel its presence materially
reduces endurance, accuracy, and
rapidly of muscular action Of all
kinds" (Emerson). It so cuts down
the ability to think clearly and to
react promptly to danger that it is
absolutely taboo with such respon-
sible workers as railroad engineers.
1t is not stimulant, but narcotic,
which dulls the nerve centers. DR..
Edward Rosenow says, ''The use
of alcohol as a beverage is never
justified. There is no such thing as
the right use of beverage alcohol"
Such information as the above is
available in publications of temper
ance organizations, books by vari-
GUS writer's, and even in publica-
tons by state liquor commissions.
It is published in newspapers and
magazines and circulated by safety
organizations and insurance COM
panies. Yet, unbelievable as it may
seem, the use of liquor is on the
increase, and the rising toll it is
taking in our country is simply be-
yond our ability to understand and
describe. Who is there that will
Dare to be a Daniel
Dare to stand alone,
Dare to have purpose firm,
Dare to make it known"
ii. Success in Life Calls for Self
Control Il Cor. 9:24-2O.
Paul delighted in illustrations
taken from the athletic field. He
talked of running race, of fighting
good fight. He knew the athletes
need Of keeping his body under.
The one who serves his school or
athletic association in physical COM
petition gladly surrenders his per-
sonal liberty to the guidance of the
coach. He eats carefully, sleeps full
nights, exercises consistently, and
above all does not use alcohol in
any form. Listen to the words of
great athletic coaches-Yost: 81
would not waste my time trying to
train or develop one who uses al
cohol." Stagg: Coaches and train
ers are dead against the use of al
coholic liquors, even beer" Mack:
"All the umpires together have not
put as many players out of the game
as old man booze"
Paul rightly points out that all
these sacrifices are made by men
for what is but transient earthly
crown. How much more should we
do for the sake of our souls. Tenn