Year: 1872

1


ligion does not shut men up. If it is


necessary at critical periods to give up
the right hand man must do it, but


that is an exception. All pleasures that


injure men are forbidden, because they


injure that happiness. Any man who


squanders the resources of his body sins


against the laws of health, and interferes


with his true happiness. No man has a


right to pleasure that units him for


his next days work. That is common


sense. An innocent pleasure may be


harmful under certain circumstances. A


dance is no more than walking. In a


seminary the young ladies must not dance


but they have calisthenics. What is the


difference? Both are motions in time


with music. But / wouldn't have dane


ing where there was funeral. | would


time the dancing. If you are able to


put a billiard room into your house to


keep your boys at home, do SO. But if


there is billiard saloon in conjunction


with liquor in village, would not go


there. | would cut off my hand sooner.


We are perpetually to judge accordingto


circumstances, to that which helps you,


and makes you grow, and builds you up.


If an amusement hurts you let it alone.


You ask me if you NAV play cards at


home Ask your father and mother


don't play; but don't say you shan't.


You know what time is to you, what


your influence is on others, and you


must decide for yourself. If you ask


me about theatres and operas and circus


es, l tell you to form your judgment with


large views as Christian men and women


There defend you. You must decide


unselfshly, and then yon have a right to


follow your own decision. If you don't


think it right to wear feathers, go to par
ties, dance or touch cards, then it isn't


right for you. But you must not sit down


and groan over your poor darkened


sister over the way who wears feathers a


foot long and goes to parties" have


seen more humility in houses of wealth


than in those who detract against them.


l am sorry that there is so large divis-


ion ofsentiment in regard to temperance.
Some say that alcoholic liquors should
: be excluded, and yinous liquors not -
: others believe in total abstinence; do
: not propose to discuss any of these ques-
tions. 1t is great misfortune that this
division should create acrimony and un.
charitableness. | affirm the right Of q
man to form his own opinion of what is
. right and expedient, II man thinks
E he may drink mild wine I differ from
] him, | wish he thought different, but
] affirm his right to his own position. Or
: the other hand, | have the right to ap
t peal to all men whether they use theil
r liberty according to the law of love. Ii
j there any other single source of somucf
f danger and distress as the drinking habit
s of society? Does it not lead downward
t Do you not know hundreds of men who
Y have run themselves into ruin by drink
i ing ? Have you not seen men worn ou
a by cares and disappointment who drink
y to drown sorrow and so 60 down? If {
0 ship comes into the harbor with five OF
i board infected with yellow fever, th,
e city is alive with excitement. But ar
j there not thousands of men-good mel
IS infected with the habit of drinking
e The restaurant system must stand th'
: name of making great many drunk
It ards. Habits are formed there that ma,
d lead the drinker to ruin, or may go t.
= his children and make them drunkards
| am told that there is a great deal NOR
n drinking done among respectable younl
e men then ever before. There is nothin!
e so takes down the health, so dims th
e honor, so fills the heart with sorrow, a
l. this very habit of drinking. You hav
1t right to your own liberty, but was ther
It ever case where your liberty ought t
be laid on the alter of love so plain a
b this You may be safe, but will you lie
n your example lead the young to destruc
re ton was there ever case where ma
a should use his conscience for others we
ct fare, if this is not one? | beg of you j
ts all public places, to forbear Do some
N thing for the good cause. You don
re know how many men will be saved b.
Iy your example. l ask you, as in th
L presence of God to look to this matte
ir again. The holidays are coming, and
to make my afectionate appeal-maintai
ut a conscience avoid of offence. / appea
lr to every young woman, disown the tenn
Is tation of wine. IF there be one thin
IN that woman should stand for it is fc
We temperance. May not beg of you no
IN to say by the help of God / will use a
n | have so that man shall be led to safet
We and not to destruction?


a The minds of some people are like ii
Id pupil of the human eye, and contra'