p. 28 | An Example

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 25, 1866

An Example

AN EXAMPLE.—Hon. William E. Dodge, President of the National Temperance Society, was the guest, on a certain occasion, of Gen. Wool and other officers at Fortress Monroe. The General said to his brother officers at the commencement of the dinner: “Gentlemen, our guest whom we have with us to-day is a teetotaler.—I propose that we dispense with our wine to-day and join with him in his own beverage.” It was unanimously agreed to “taboo” the liquor. This was the influence of one consistent temperance man in a social circle. If every advocate of our cause would stand as firm as Mr. Dodge, he might be a “standing rebuke” to the wine drinkers and punch brewers. We fear that sometimes the surrender is on the other side, and from false delicacy or timidity the pledged teetotaler yields the point and takes a sip because “the circumstances are so peculiar.” No possible circumstances warrant a good man’s violation of conscience.