p. 589 | Health and Temperance by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 1, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 37.

Health and Temperance.

By Editor

A Question of Morals.

THE Sunday-School Times answers the question which follows, in a very happy manner. If the questioner was unable to learn the opinion of the Times, we give him credit for dullness. We recommend the answer to all who are troubled over this and similar questions:—

'I am a constant reader of the Sunday-School Times, and one who has, for three years, got up a club for it. I have been much interested in your Notes on Open Letters. Incidentally you have referred to tobacco. I would very much like to have your opinion as to whether it is right for a Christian to use or sell tobacco; especially the selling. I do not use or raise it, but I sell it. Without telling you my own opinion, I would esteem it a favor if you answer in your usual concise manner, either through your columns, or personally by letter.'

'He is a friend of the Sunday-School Times. He is a worker in its behalf. He sells tobacco. He has his 'own opinion' as to the right or wrong of his course. And here he wants us to say concisely whether, in our opinion, 'it is right for a Christian to use or sell tobacco; especially the selling.' Of course, it wouldn't do for us to intimate that his own opinion is against his practice in such a matter; nor would it be pleasant for us to tell him that no Christian ought to do what he says he is doing. We can, however, go so far as to tell him confidentially that, in our opinion, tobacco is one-fourth poison and three-fourths filth; although we do not care to tell him that that is any reason why a Christian shouldn't live on it. As to the selling business, perhaps he remembers the story of the Jerseyman who was seen gathering some wild mushrooms in the woods. 'Look here, my friend,' said the passer-by, 'those mushrooms are rank poison. You'd better let 'em alone.' 'Oh! don't you be afraid,' was the quick response. 'I ain't picking 'em to eat. I'm picking 'em to sell.' But those were mushrooms, and that was in New Jersey. About selling tobacco in Massachusetts, we would rather not express an opinion, concisely, on the strength of that letter.'