Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors.

Date:
[1874?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Religious and educational aspects of temperance / by various authors. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Well, now, if these be the results, even if we shrink from so terrible and fearful an expression as that which Dr. Eichardson has at once appropriated and repudiated of calling alcohol “ the devil in solution, I am quite sure that we should not shrink from saying that it has a very great deal of bad spirits in reality, and that whether “ alcohol ” or “ Apollyon ” be the true name for that multitude of fiends, they would all of them bear testimony with one mouth, and exclaim—in the language of the demoniac of Gadara—“ Our name is Legion, for we are many.” (Cheers.) Now, ladies and gentlemen, what is it, then, that, under these circumstances, we ought to do ? Some people will say, “ Build better houses for the poor 1 give them improved means of amusement ; pass the Permissive Bill—(cheers)—try the Gothenburg system— (“ No, no ! ”}—withdraw the grocers’ licences—(cheers)—sternly punish adulteration, provide lighter beverages ; try to bring public opinion to bear upon the supporters of the trade so that they may rigidly, in God’s sight at least, regulate and, if possible, minimise it within what are supposed to be its absolutely necessary limits.” Well, try these and thousands of other things (and may God speed every possible effort to combat this colossal evil), but, at any rate, do not let us waste time in mere talk. Let us, at any rate, try to do something. Would to God that the millionaires in England, of whom there are now a considerable number, instead of trying to thrust themselves into the ranks of the landed aristocracy, might only have their hearts moved to try rather to make to themselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness, and to aim at the infinitely nobler and better end of lavishing their wealth to do all the good they possibly can in this sternly practical direction to millions of their fellow-creatures. (Cheers.) While, in the meantime, the Legislature is trying experiments ; while conferences are sitting ; while congresses are talking ; while the requisite thousands are being collected ; while efforts are being made to meet this immense and powerful monopoly, all this while thousands and tens of thousands of our stalwart men and fine lads, and our young girls, are simply reeling along that path of fiery pitfalls which ends in the drunkard’s grave ; and, therefore, let us all try to do something, and if we can do nothing else, we can do this one very little thing—viz., show by our personal example how easy a thing it is, and how beneficial a thing it is, to abstain from that which in extreme moderation may have produced no injurious results, but which is most fatal and most ruinous to thousands who begin with that extreme moderation, and are led by it to fatal excess as by a direct and yet most treacherous avenue. (Cheers). And, now, if I am not trespassing too long on your attention—(“ No, no”)—I should like to say one word on the other aspect—viz., that of personal security ; and, ladies and gentlemen, you must not be either startled or incredulous at my saying anything about it. You may with perfect truth say that all your life long you, Eke thousands of others, have daily drunk perhaps one or two glasses of wine or beer, and yet have never known in your lives, by personal experience, what it is tf> exceed moderation, and that may be perfectly true. And yet I do think that it you were to look round you—it may be in your own family circles, and it may be in the range of your personal acquaintance—you
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