Press enter after choosing selection

Communications: For The Signal Of Liberty: Temperance And Re...

Communications: For The Signal Of Liberty: Temperance And Re... image
Parent Issue
Day
4
Month
March
Year
1844
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

It ie notorions that gome lecturers in Ihe WashingLonian Temperance meetings, have labored to convince their beaiers (especia)Jy the inebríales among thom,) that there was no -religión, or politics in the enterprise vvhich they advocaled- that it invulved no partizan principies in either of these interests. We doubt not the benevotence and ardor of these friends iu the worthy canse they have esponsed But we question, whether iheir course, in this regard, has Ijeenthc most elig.ble. it would f=eem to imply that the former societies contuined elements wbich oblige its members to join some church, and to array themselvcs on the sice of some political par ty. But nothing of this kind was ever designed, or presumed by the advocates of temperance, or ever obtained in any of our temperance societies. 'Tía troe, that multitudes of church members joined these societies- and that when individuals were about to connect with some churches, they wére invited to sign the temperance pledge; but this thinqr was never rrmde one of th? tests of fellowship in such churches- o we repeat the fact, that any one raight be a member of a temperance iociéty, who had signed the pledge end conformed to its requisitions, whatever might be his reiigious or politica] faiih and practico. We reuiörk by the way, thal we would to God, that all church member?, and especially ministers, would become members of the tempernnce society, nnd that all the members of the temperance society would become worthy members of the church . But this affair must be left to the unrestrained decisión of each person in the community. It s a little remarkable, that while many of our lecturers were pursuing' the method referred to, and deeming it radical to success, Father Mathew, and Jiís coadjutor were receiving thousandsof pledges, taken in a very solemn and imposing manrjer, and interwoven with the most sacred sanctions of their religión.In alluding to the Catholic mode of taking the temperance pledge ve merely state a factj without offering any opinión in reference to its character. It is obvious, however, that its done, with religioiis solemnity, haö not deslroyed, or limi'ted its ueefulness. The eminent 6iiccess vvhich has rittended the bensvolentefforts of" the great apostle of tempranee in Ireland, hns been every where acknowledged with acclarnation. it would seetn to me, that we ought not to incúlcate the idea, that frail and depraved'man may safeiy ihrow himself eniirelyuponhisovvnV-esóurces apon the slength and efficacyof his own abused in-a cöniest with a cöh'firmed morbid appetite, numerous temptations to indulge it, and all the toils of the deyil. If moral and reügions motives and influences- if the favor and proXection of the sinner Friend are ever necessary, and are an infinite purely chey must be in the case of every one who is,or has been in the habit of inebriaüon. It is our duf}-, parJicularly wben treating of moráis, to cali things by their rigïit narnes. Drunkenness is a very great disgracoful sin. It is a prolific sourceof multifarious and uggravated evils. It is not proper to speak of it as a mere uuavoidable misfortune. A natural deformity is a misforUine, bat it is not a crime. No moral quaüty can be affirisied of it - it will nol exclude f rom the kingdom of God. But drunkennesp, unrepented of, will bs attened, (so says the Divine word,) witli this dreadful result. Must we then despise a drunkatd? By 110 means. This wonld be very imlovelj. Indeed, many of ua have conduced, diroclly, or indiroctly, to his misery and degradation. - While jve. abomínate the debasing crime of cJrunkenness, we are bound by the sentiments of huiïianity- the precepts of our holy rel i g'ion, and by the illnstrious example of the Son of God, to love the drunkard with thelove of commisseraíioo, and to exert al) our and influonce to reck'im and save him. Let us nof, however, in our sympathy for the poor and ivretched man, and in our strong desire to get him to sign the teinperance pledge, so speak of intoxicalion as to dissolve it of half of its hatefu[ncss and terrors. Let us take care, lest we hold up the inebríate to the view. of the world, rnther as a patriot soldier, fetuminc: to his grateful conntrymen, trom mart al fields, on which hc had nobly fought Si bied for the sovereignty of his nation than as íin individual sustaining a characíer, revoltinff to every virtuous mind, and, which renders him obnoxious to the vvoesand curses of his Creator. To induce a pationt tosort to the most efficiënt curative remedie.?, we must conviuce him of the mnügnity 8nd danser of his disease. A knowledge of the law of God - of the dement of sin, and oí ones ovvn depravity anti condeinnution, are necessary to induce an individual to profit by the Gospel. In order to reclaim a fallen brother, we shoald cauee him to see and feel, so far ferth ae we can, the very worst of his case. The baneful eflects of alchoholic drioks, have pervaded nnd disordered his entire sys!cm of body and mïnd. líe has formed a confirmed or artificio), diseased and insatkble appetnefor mobriaiing liquors. lts import uhity for gratificaron, maj for n (rñe, be frequent, intense and clamorous. He has to declare, and wage a perpetual war againsl the world, the-flesh and thedevil. These eneemies of the race liave brought him into the most direful bondoge. His disposition and capacity to break their galling chains have become impaired. Yet we see the bright star of hope in Uie ascendant. Our friend hns come to himself. He seriously reflects on what he was, is, and may be again. He now desiros and deiermines to be rcspectable, usefu! and happy. He resolves once more to stand ip in society, with conecious rectitude, in allthe dignity vf human nature- glad(jeinL the heartsand the prospecta of.-hís afflicted farnily. By a dne course of conduct victory will oertainly be announced on the side of temperance, prosperity and honor. Total abstincnce forever from aJl ihat will intoxícale must be his high and fixed purpose, ngidly end uniformly adhered to in practice. Mere fu, giüve mpulsive feelings, abhorrent from intemperance, and favorable toebnety, nre not eiiough. To perscvering warHire and ultímate triumph there most bs same itnowledge of the subject, firm moral principie, and 'the fear of the Lord." The oid and protection of God must all be invoked and improved Whether a Washingtoiuan be a Christian or not, if he be sincere, honest and faithful ín his professions of reforma! on, so far, the atributes of the Divinity- the sympathies of the holy universe are on his eide. Canhebe.eo unwise and impious as to wish it otherwise?- Certainly, certainly not. Should he falter in his lemperance course (which may Heavcn forfend) he should not despair, or abandon ail attempts to walk in the pnth of wisdom. God, and his friends wül forgive and comfort him, if he repente- re-resol veH, and renews his laudable career of sobriety and virtue. "To err is human, To forgive, Divine."

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News