Year: 1872

ginia, upon the Importance OF


encouraging the Temperance


cause, by cooperation.


We the undersigned having been ap-
pointed committee TO prepare and
publish as above stated, beg ave to
present the following to your careful
and prayerfll consideration


We hope too, that each ;ndiuid"al
Christian will read and consider his
indiyiduui relation to the Temperance
Cause and the indiujdndi duties grow
ing out of these relations


No doubt all Christian people wish
the cause of Temperance success, but
like that class of the human family we
as a church condemn do not engage
themselves in pushing the principle on
to certain victory We refer 90 the
class of ungodly men who wish the
cause of religion TO succeed, but never
engage in the work themselves and ac-
tualy hinder the progress Of our Mas
ter's cause by their stolid indifference.
We condemn them, yet we are no less
guilty when we refuse our personal CO.
operation in putting down cause which
has done more and IS now doing more
to hinder tie success of the Gospel than
any single cause against which we have
to contend. We conceive there are two
reasons why as Christians we should
not only endorse, but heartily cooperate
in the Temperance movement.


First For the cultivation and devel-
opement Of moral and Christian virtue
in ourselves. Second For the general
good of our fellow creatures. Now II
it be shown that cooperation does more
successfully accomplish these two ends
there can be no doubt rs to the duty OF
each individual laying to helping hand
in the great enterprise OF destroying the
power of King Alcohol


If Temp erAnce be a moral principle
there can be no doubt that it is not only
o privilege, but an absolute duty to de
velope it in the heart. Paul reasons OF
Temperance Acts "a, 20; he makes 1t a
fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5, %; and Pc
ter expressly states it as one OF the prln-
ciplcs in Christian character the absence
OF which would not only damage, but
destroy the character. add to your
faith, virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
and knowledge temperance, &c. =
Peter, /, 5, G. Iii here added for the
protection of faith, virtue and knowl-
edge. The Master builder did not de
sign that this stone should be left out,
which serves not only as protection to
those principles already laid, but sure
foundation unto which are to be added
the other principles necessary to the
completion of that character which we
all desire to build for the Grent Day.
How shall we develope this principle
BY practice. We develope faith, virtue,
knowledge and all other graccs by prac
ticc; if SO this is the best means to devel-
ope this principle.


But some will argue that the Scrip
ture above referred to does not refer TO
a war against spirituous drinks, but tenn
peranca in all things True it does; but
we ask is there not more intemperance
in this form than in any other particular
form; and if so is it not our utytospec-
ify this form Of intemperance aud make
special war where the greatest danger
is, and by meeting it i'll its worst form
the more successfully foil its efforts; and
more particularly its effects upon our
selves. 1t is not enough that we mega
lively endorse, but We must positiveIyen-
gage in it if we wish to protect ourindi-
yidual character. What serious inroads
are now being made upon the church
by intempcrance i'll amusement How
should we protect ourseiUes against the
increasing influence Every candid
one will answer by attacking the vari-
ous forms as present themselves in our
midst, and the more active we are the
safer from the stealthy influences upon
our own feelings, lullng first to sleep
and making us an easy prey.


How many have fallen from our pull
pits even because they have not cult
waited in themselves the principle of
temperance, but pleading peculiar lib
crty of which they would not deprive
themselves; they haze used that liberty
as an occasion to the flesh; and of them
it is said How is the mighty fallen.


They needed special influences, spe,
cial work, by which principle would
have been developed in them and thus
secured them against the seductive In
huences OF strong drink.


But one may say do practice this
virtue and in my church covenant In
clude the pledge to temperance in the
use of strong drink, and faithfully keep
it by the grace of God preventing me
which is more cffectual than influences,
of Temperance organiz ltions and do not
need separate pledge nor those special
helps.


Supposing this to be actually true,
aud that you have no necessity for any
specials in your individual case, do You
not know that our goods only advan-
ced as we make efforts to advance the
good of our fellow creatures; and you
will find as Won make effort in saving
the thousands who are now falling by
this terrible evil that your own security
will be more certain, and your own hap
piness promoted by the consciousness OF
having tried to save your fellows.


Second proposition. For general
good. for the salvation of the masses
from this destroyer of human souls. But
one will say Il am opposed to making a
a speciality of Temperance. Do we not