Temperance | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 25, 1881

Temperance.

BEER AND TOBACCO.

REV. M. C. BRIGGS, in a recent sermon at the Howard street M. E. church, San Francisco, expressed himself as follows concerning the "twin evils," as reported by the S. F. Chronicle. We would that all ministers had as sound sentiments in regard to them, and would let them be known:—

"After paying his respects to the American smoking-car, which, he claimed, would rival the Chinese opium dens, or anything else in filthiness, the speaker said: Every day well-dressed men can be seen walking along the street by the side of ladies and puffing away at huge cigars, and it is truly ludicrous to hear the lady, between the coughs caused by the inhalation of the cigar smoke, assure the smoker that smoking is not in the least disagreeable or unpleasant to her. The use of tobacco and liquor makes one selfish, unclean, unrefined, and ungentlemanly. Only a few days since I met a man who had squandered his property and afterwards been kicked out of his own house. He was walking down the street without a thought of his poor old parent, dressed in the latest style, and chewing tobacco as if his very life depended on it. My friends, enter into an active movement to suppress the growing vice, and give to the youth the benefit of your experience.

"I remember one day in Sacramento I saw four or five little boys sitting on the curbstone taking turns smoking a cigar stump that they had picked up on the street. I stopped, and tapping one little fellow on the shoulder, who had just put the stump in his mouth, said: 'My dear boy, do not do that. You don't know how bad it looks. Throw away that cigar, and give up the habit.' The little chap turning around and facing me, said, as he emitted a volume of smoke from his mouth, 'I would, sir, but I can't do without it.'

"In regard to tobacco-sellers I have this to say, that I believe any man who will sell tobacco to a boy would steal if he dared to do so. I have known men professing to be religious and Christian men who spend more money for this vice than they do for the cause of religion, and for an excuse say that it stimulates them and quiets the nerves. Bosh! I knew of a church once with a congregation of chewers and smokers, who, during three months had paid the preacher just 75 cents. The clergyman was a bachelor, and was going to leave, having received a call elsewhere. I went into the church and talked to them. They said that their tobacco cost them about $13 a year. I told them that they would have to give up the use of tobacco and support the pastor, and one of them promised to do so; but whether he kept his promise or not I did not ascertain.

"In regard to temperance, I want the boys to understand that the great army of drunkards was recruited from just such boys as are seen on our streets every day. They are gathered in by saloon-keepers, and each corner groggery is the recruiting office. When a boy takes his first drink, his journey on the road to ruin and degradation is commenced. Oh, young men, be warned in time, and shun the wine cup as you would a pestilence. In this State, and be it said to its shame, the Legislature created a Commission to promote the growth of the wine grape and tobacco. The public ought to protest against such action."