TEMPERANCE WORK by Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 16, 1900

TEMPERANCE WORK.

By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin

MRS. GEO. A. IRWIN.

For some time I have been much agitated over the lack of real temperance work among us as a denomination. As I see what other churches, leagues, and societies are doing as a means of prevention and reformation, we seem to be very far behind, considering the advanced light we have received. I know there is no class of people who stand so firmly for temperance in every phase as we do, or make it so truly a fundamental principle of doctrine; but there is a phase of the work that reaches even deeper,—for those who know not Christ nor the truth for this time.

Sister White spoke very definitely in the Review of May 22, 1900, in regard to the temperance work, and I quote the following to bring it again to mind: “In our work more attention should be given to the temperance reform. Every duty that calls for reform involves repentance, faith, and obedience. It means the uplifting of the soul to a new and nobler life. Thus every reform has its place in the work of the Third Angel’s Message. Especially does the temperance reform demand our attention and support. We should call attention to this work, and make it a living issue. We should present to the people the principles of true temperance, and call for signers to the temperance pledge. In other churches there are Christians who are standing in defense of the principles of temperance. We should seek to come near to these workers, and make a way for them to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.”

There is a work of education to be done, first of all in our own families, and then for those in our immediate vicinity who are addicted to the use of liquor and other intoxicants. We, as Seventh-day Adventists, can not sit down and feel secure, thinking that we are beyond the reach of this evil. Many of our own dear sisters’ lives are blighted because of this dreadful curse in the lives of husbands, sons, fathers, or brothers; and it is time that we arise in our might, and stand shoulder to shoulder with all true temperance workers for a thorough reformation everywhere. The following, from a pamphlet written by the superintendent of the Department of Non-Alcohol Medication in the National W. C. T. U., is authentic, and is indeed a startling revelation to many, but it contains facts that every mother should know:—

Mothers sometimes wonder why their boys take so readily to cigarettes, or their daughters to cocaine, never thinking that the soothing sirup or cough mixture given freely by themselves to their children developed a craving for something stronger later on. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Sirup, advertised for years in church papers as well as secular papers as “invaluable for children,” is cited in the report for 1888 of the Massachusetts State Board of Health as containing opium; also Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, Dr. Bull’s Cough Sirup, Jayne’s Expectorant, Hooker’s Cough and Croup Sirup, Moore’s Essence of Life, Mother Bailey’s Quieting Sirup, and others too numerous to mention. The report says: “The sale of soothing sirups, and all medicines designed for the use of children, which contain opium and its preparations should be prohibited. Many would be deterred from using a preparation known to contain opium, who would use without question a soothing sirup recommended for teething children.” Again, the following is quoted from a prominent physician: “Among infants, and in the early years of life, soothing sirups are the cause of untold misery; for seeds are doubtlessly sown in infancy only to bear the most pernicious fruit in adult life. It is said that one of the best-known soothing sirups contains from one to three grains of morphia to the ounce of sirup.” “Cough mixtures, as a rule, do more harm than good. Nine times out of ten the principal ingredient is opium.”

That the use of patent medicines has made many drunkards is a fact well attested. “In my experience I have known of men filling drunkards’ graves who learned to drink by taking some advertised bitters as a legitimate medicine. It would be hard to estimate the number of young brains ruined and the maturer opium wrecks from nostrums of this nature. I could write a volume on the mischief that is being done every day to body, mind, and soul, all over the land, by the thousands of miserable frauds that are being poured down the throats of not only ignorant people, but, alas, intelligent ones, too.” The main reason why so many people use these mixtures is the popular supposition that drugs cure disease. This is a great error. Drugs never cure disease. If people would quit drugging themselves, avoid indigestible viands, eat at regular hours, chew well, stop eating when they have had enough, take a sufficiency of exercise, sleep, and fresh air, with a hot bath once a week, and a cold sponge bath each morning, laying aside all alcoholics and tobacco, there would be very little sickness in the world. Overeating leads to the drug habit for relief from uneasy sensations. Those who value health must cultivate self-control.

We are planning to have a temperance pledge and more temperance literature, so as to begin a more aggressive work; for it is surely a part of Woman’s Gospel Work, and we hope to save our own loved ones from taking the first fatal step, and rescue an innumerable company from the depths into which they have fallen.

For the encouragement of sisters who are at present burdened for intemperate husbands, sons, or brothers, I relate the following incident, which came to my personal notice:—

The husband of one of our sisters was a drunkard for over twenty years. I well remember how this sister came to camp-meeting year after year. She never failed to come, nor to present the request that prayer be offered for her husband. But he went on and on until he seemed to have reached the lowest depth, and, apparently, there was no more hope for him. Still she held him up before the Lord, and loved him as tenderly and truly as she did the day she married him. At night she would go through all the saloons of the city in search of him, take him home, steady him up the stairs so that he might not fall and injure himself, and then put him comfortably to bed.

She said the Lord always provided her with means with which to attend the camp-meeting each year, until three years ago, when the provision was not made as in former years. But when the time of the camp-meeting came, it was held at the place where she lived. She one day persuaded her husband to go to the camp with her. There was a wonderful revival meeting held, and the Spirit of the Lord touched his heart. He went forward with others who were seeking the Lord, and was converted then and there, and has never since had any desire to go back to his old life. It is a remarkable fact that there is no trace of liquor left on him, although he used it constantly for so many years. He is a devout member of the church, and is always anxious to be present at the camp-meetings, with his wife. His employers marvel at his reformation, and are grateful for it; for he is a good workman, and they bore long with him, because they knew the faithfulness of his wife.

So, my sisters, if you have drunken husbands, sons, or brothers, do not become discouraged, but always treat them kindly and lovingly, and never reproach them. Imitate this sister’s example, and the Lord will surely answer your prayers, also.