An appeal to a clergyman on the use of tobacco.

  • Trask, George, 1798-1875
Date:
[1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An appeal to a clergyman on the use of tobacco. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    istence. Let us no longer play into the hands of Satan by overlooking this foe, and thereby make a mock at sin. Cleanse tfce churches from this drug, and it will be as life from the dead. We sometimes strain at a gnat — discipline spiritual souls for slight mistakes, and fellowship others who are stupid and dumpish sots on Tobacco. The Profession may well ponder a moment upon this theme. 2. Clergymen who use this narcotic can give it up. Many have. Said one, Sir, I will renounce this habit, if it takes the flesh from my bones. He did it! Said another, I will be free of this, if I die in the attempt. He also suc- ceeded. Another, 70 years old, rising in an audience, said, Sir, here is my box; show it to my younger brethren where you go, and tell them it has been the bane of my life. I wrote to a Boston millionaire, soliciting aid in my work among youth, and sent him a book. His reply is instructive. Reverend Sir:— I have received your little book, Uncle Toby on Tobacco, and thank you for it. But the best proof of its utility should be its effects upon the clergy. We can hardly expect youth to refrain from Tobacco when their moral teachers set them so bad an example. When you have reformed those of your own profession, if you will apply to me, I will give fifty dollars to reform the rest of mankind. Yours very respectfully, &c. 3. Clergymen in examining candidates for church fellow- ship can enquire as to the use of this drug, as well as to other intoxicating agents, and advise its victims to stand aside till self-denial shall rise to a higher pitch in their case. An eminent divine assures me that he goes fully into this matter, and would no more admit to his church a devotee to Tobacco, than a devotee to rum. There are churches in the Sandwich Islands which act already on this principle ; and if we would purify the waters of the sanctuaries around us, we must do the same. 4. Clergymen can do much with youth, in schools. In nine cases to ten, the habit is formed in boyhood; therefore we should begin with the young, where the disease begins. Hence schools, academies, and colleges, with which clergy- men are identified, should receive special attention. And then our colleges, instead of teaching this vile habit, will become centres of purity, radiating light and- spreading reform far and near.
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