The Greater Temperance Movement
By David Paulson
WE are a temperance people, and therefore we naturally sympathize with every temperance movement, even though it may not in every respect attain to our ideals. Our friends in the other churches have done much to organize temperance reforms, but the majority of them have failed to see that it is impossible to save a man from his drunkenness as long as he is constantly sowing for it by his wrong habits of life. We should do all in our power to help these people to see that the use of pure foods and rational treatments is an important adjunct to the temperance cause. The Illinois State Loyal Temperance Legion recently held their annual convention in Chicago. We not only had the privilege of speaking before this convention, but also of serving a pure food banquet to all the delegates. It was a blessed opportunity to provide such a large company of temperance workers with a genuine temperance meal, and to note their appreciation of the same. At this banquet I had the privilege of speaking on the subject “Are the Cooks in League with the Saloon Keepers?” This gave me an opportunity to outline the relations that exist between highly spiced foods, condiments, flesh eating, tea and coffee drinking, and the liquor traffic. It was a rare opportunity to become acquainted with many earnest Christian workers, and to note how thankful they are to learn how to cope more successfully with these great evils. God has given us much light and truth on these subjects. If we sit still, the work will be done by others; for the Lord will raise up those who will be true to their God-given trust. May God cause the groans of the drunkard’s wife and children, the moans of the drug fiend, and the despair of the tobacco slave, to reach our ears and our hearts with a stronger appeal than anything else could possibly do. Let us strive to save the rising generation from the evils that the last generation has drifted into unwarned. The August number of The Life Boat will be filled from cover to cover with timely truths in regard to the temperance question. It will contain interesting articles from the leading temperance workers of the day, and helpful suggestions as to how to reach the intemperate classes, and above all things, it will contain encouraging words that will tend to rekindle a fresh gleam of hope in the heart of many a despairing drunkard. Will you send us at once the names and addresses of all the victims of the drink habit within the range of your acquaintanceship, and a two-cent stamp with each? We will then mail them a copy of the August Life Boat. You will have to meet every one of these men at the bar of God. Have you done your full duty? If not, will you not do at least this much for humanity? We expect to issue a fifty-thousand edition, and also to have plates made, so that the supply cannot be exhausted. Address me at 28 Thirty-Third Place, Chicago, Ill. DAVID PAULSON.