John Wesley and Dr. Adam Clarke on Tea-Drinking by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1911

John Wesley and Dr. Adam Clarke on Tea-Drinking

By K. C. Russell

K. C. RUSSELL

THE evil effects of tea-drinking, with the benefits accruing from abstinence therefrom, are clearly set forth in the following letters written by John Wesley, the founder of the great Methodist Church, and Dr. Adam Clarke, the celebrated Methodist commentator. Let Methodists and all others take notice. Wesley says:—

“After talking largely with both men and women leaders, we agreed it would prevent great expense, as well of health as of time and money, if the people of our society could be persuaded to leave off drinking tea. We resolved ourselves to begin and set the example. I expected some difficulty in breaking off a custom of six and twenty years’ standing; and the first three days my head ached, more or less, all day long, and I was half asleep from morning to night. The third day, on Wednesday, in the afternoon, my memory failed me almost entirely. In the evening I sought my remedy in prayer. On Thursday morning my headache was gone, my memory was as strong as ever, and I have found no inconvenience, but a sensible benefit in several respects, from that very day to this.”

Dr. Clarke says:—

“Seventeen years ago I met with Mr. Wesley’s letter on tea. I read it, and resolved from that hour to drink no more of the juice of that herb till I could answer his arguments and objections. I never saw that tract since, but from that day until now I have not drunk a cup of tea or coffee. For these things I mostly found a substitute in the morning; and when I could not, I cheerfully went without; and in their place I never took anything in the evening. By this line of conduct I have not only joined hands with God to preserve a feeble constitution, but I can demonstrate that I have actually saved two whole years of time, which otherwise must have been irrecoverably lost; and perhaps my soul with it, for I have often had occasion to observe that tea-drinking opens the flood-gates of various temptations.”

Takoma Park, D. C.