Temperance | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 17, 1881

Temperance.

OAKLAND HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE CLUB.

THE regular monthly meeting of this society was held Sunday evening, the 13th inst. The attendance was good, and an unusual interest manifested. Exercises were opened by singing, "Greeting Glee," from "Temperance and Gospel Songs," followed by prayer by Eld. J. D. Rice.

After the reading of an appropriate selection, entitled "Cold Water," by Bro. James Leavitt, and an excellent recitation by Sister Lena Unger, Mr. L. F. Beckwith was introduced to the audience and delivered a timely address upon moderate drinking. He did not claim to represent particularly the views of the society, as he had but recently become a member, and knew but little of the organization; but he presented the subject from his own stand-point. He took issue at once with the recently published arguments of Chancellor Crosby in favor of moderate drinking and against the teetotal reform movement. He gave his own experience, which was quite extensive, in support of the proposition that the Professor did not know what he was talking about.

The speaker made the assertion, and demonstrated its truth to the evident satisfaction of the audience, that moderate drinking is the worst kind of drinking. On account of its apparent respectability it wields a more extensive and baneful influence than habitual drunkenness. What is recognized as moderate drinking bears no relation to the quantity imbibed, as one man may drink eighteen or twenty times a day without apparent effect, while another will be drunk on two or three drinks. The one will be deemed a moderate drinker and the other a drunkard. A moderate drinker could go down town, meeting with friends, drink up a ton of coal, a month's rent, and a sack of flour, in a few hours, and perhaps not show the effects of his drinking in his demeanor.

Although calling himself an unbeliever, the speaker gave it as his unqualified opinion that there could be no real permanent temperance reform outside of religious principles. And he gave most earnest caution in regard to going into temptation. He said there was no consistency in praying, "Lead us not into temptation," and then deliberately walking right into it. "And all the people said, Amen."

This address was followed by a male quartette, "The Temperance Call;" then a musical drill, conducted by the Leader, Bro. C. H. Jones.

Dr. E. J. Waggoner was then introduced and made a few pointed remarks on "Some Mistakes." He said one common mistake is the idea that while some intoxicating liquors are injurious, others are good. He argued that alcohol is poison, no matter where found or in what quantities, and that as a poison it must have a deleterious effect, and sooner or later must work destruction. He instanced one individual who drank a great deal of wine, and argued that it was good, because he had made it himself and knew it was unadulterated; but the speaker claimed that the alcohol in this wine was just as poisonous as alcohol in any other liquor, that adulteration in liquor is merely the addition of other substances.

Another mistake referred to is the supposition that alcohol is medicine, and on that account is sometimes necessary in case of sickness. The speaker maintained his premise that alcohol is poison, and is none the less a poison because found in a doctor's prescription. Some pointed illustrations were presented in support of this proposition. He also referred to the use of cider, and said that fresh cider was probably no more injurious than eating an apple. But the longer it stands the stronger it gets, and one might keep on drinking it from day to day, thinking one day did not make much difference, until it became quite strong and even intoxicating. Other mistakes were happily alluded to and exposed, to the gratification of the audience, and more of the same kind was promised at some future meeting.

The solicitors reported fourteen signatures to the different pledges for the past month. W. N. GLENN, Sec'y.