Ministers vs. Tobacco

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1875

Ministers vs. Tobacco.

It seems that the clergy are really awakening, at last, to something like a proper sense of the necessity for raising their voices against a habit which threatens to exterminate the race unless some measure can be adopted to stay its progress and rescue its victims. Ministers can do more to aid the anti-tobacco reform than any other class. They have a powerful hold upon the moral characters of their followers, and can exercise a mighty influence in instilling into their minds sound physiological principles as well as moral truths. But in no way can clergymen accomplish so much in this direction as by a correct example. It would be of very little avail for a preacher to declaim against tobacco in the pulpit when half his congregation were accustomed to meet him in the street with a cigar in his mouth.

At a recent meeting of Methodist ministers in New York, the subject of tobacco was considered, especially its relations to the ministry. A paper on the subject was read by Dr. True. A city journal gives the following brief account of the essay together with subsequent remarks:—

“Besides the well-worn arguments touching its unhealthiness and uncleanliness, it contained many excellent suggestions drawn from its effect upon the minds of public speakers and writers. It destroys the logical faculties and tends to make such men very superficial. The pernicious effect which the habit has on the young, who are so fond of imitation, and its hindrance to growth in grace were made prominent reasons for breaking off the use of the weed.”

“The Rev. Mr. Corbitt, who is recognized as the champion chewer, was unanimously called to respond to the essay. He did so, and entered his solemn protest, founded on many years’ experience, against the use of tobacco in any form. He did not feel called upon to sacrifice his life in the attempt to give up the habit himself; but if he had his life to live over again he would not touch, taste, or handle it. These remarks, so unexpected from such a quarter, were received with applause.”

The Rev. Mr. Corbitt certainly deserves credit for his frank acknowledgment of the harmful nature of tobacco; but how much more good he might accomplish by resolutely discarding the filthy weed and asserting his liberty from the bondage which has so long enslaved him. His fears of dying are groundless. Many a man has done the thing before, and never one died for want of tobacco. He would doubtless feel as though his dissolution was close at hand, but he would certainly survive, and his usefulness would be immeasurably increased.

The Illinois Methodist Conference recently adopted the following resolution which augurs well for that denomination as evincing their appreciation of one of the great truths which reformers have been for years advocating:—

“Resolved, That in view of the fact of the great expensiveness and filthiness of tobacco, and of the fact that tobacco belongs to the same class of poisons and conduces to strong drink, we urge upon all our laymen to abstain from its use; we recommend that all young men admitted to the conference at this important point in life forego its use; and we suggest that the example of presiding elders using it is extremely hurtful.”

Dr. Talmage, also, who has so long been a vigorous supporter of the total abstinence cause, declares himself as an opponent of tobacco in every shape; and this, notwithstanding the recent demonstration by Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, who is a contributor to his paper.

Tobacco-using is adverse to piety, whether ministers or laymen indulge in it; and the wonder is that Christian ministers have been so long in finding out that the narcotic weed is one of their most powerful enemies. A narcotized Christian is not likely to be a very energetic one.—Health Reformer.