The Danger of Wine by Prof. Goodrich

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 12, 1882

The Danger of Wine.

By Prof. Goodrich

I HAD a widow's son in my care. He was heir to a great estate. He went through the different stages of college, and finally left with a good moral character and bright prospect. But, during the course of his education he had heard the sentiment advanced, which he supposed correct, that the use of wines was not only admissable, but a real auxiliary to the temperance cause. After he had left college, for a few years he continued respectful to me. At length he became reserved. One night he rushed unceremoniously into my room, and his appearance told the dreadful secret. He said he came to talk with me. He had been told during his senior year that it was safe to drink wine, and by that idea he had been ruined. I asked him if his mother knew this. He said no; he had carefully concealed it from her. I asked him if he was such a slave that he could not abandon the habit. "Talk not to me about slavery," he said, "I am ruined; and before I go to bed I shall quarrel with the barkeeper of the Tontine for brandy or gin to save my burning thirst." In one month this young man was in his grave. It went to my heart. Wine is the cause of ruin to a great proportion of the young men of our country.—Prof. Goodrich.