Temperance by John O. Corliss

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 29, 1885

Temperance.

By John O. Corliss

A Good Word for Vegetarianism.

A CORRESPONDENT of the New York Observer, writing from Jerusalem, gives a description of a peculiar sect he chanced to fall in with there. He says: "We found them living in a delightful house, just inside the Damascus gate. They are as bright, happy people as I have ever seen. They eat no meat, but, in spite of that, look as well as we carnivorous creatures who feed on flesh three times a day." And why should they not be so? Probably no one doubts that when the Creator made man, he knew what was best adapted to his dietetic needs. Granting this, the question arises, Can man thrive better, or as well even, on a substituted diet as on that originally prescribed for him? "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Gen. 1:29. The human family would doubtless be more robust and healthy now if man had never broken through the restriction of the original rule. Indeed, when men have in any age adhered to that direction, they have been repaid with health and vigor above that of their associates who took the opposite, or common course.

It cannot strictly be said in the case of Daniel and his three associates in Babylon, that they appeared fairer and fatter than others of the realm because of direct interposition in their behalf. See Dan. 1:5-20. If they had partaken of the same diet as the others, there is no reason why they should not have appeared health-wise the same as they, all things considered equal. Again, the narrative that sets the matter forth says nothing of any miracle intruding in the case. It simply relates that they refused the king's meat and wine, desiring to prove to him that they could thrive better on a vegetable diet. The experiment proved the efficiency of the Lord's rule, and no good reason can be assigned why its application now would not have beneficial results. J. O. C.