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RE-SIGNING THE PLEDGE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 2.

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RE-SIGNING THE PLEDGE.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

WHEN I was a lad of about eight summers, a temperance lecturer came to the town where my father lived, and gave a number of lectures. Quite an interest was taken in his mission. He presented the matter to the Sunday-school which I attended. I felt quite a desire to sign the pledge, as I saw many others of about my age go forward, and with them my two sisters. But I was fond of sweet cider, and I thought the signing of the pledge would prohibit my drinking it. So I began to reason, What serious thing would happen provided I should not always keep my pledge? I reasoned as did the little girl who was requested to refrain from some wrong act in which she very much wished to indulge that once. When told how sinful it was, she replied, “Can’t I confess?” Thus I began to reason. But soon the question was asked, “What will be done with the names; and what will be the result provided the pledge is broken?” It was stated that “the names would be sent to Washington; and if a pledge was broken, the name would be crossed from the roll.” A thought of the dishonor which would thus be involved settled the question with me. “If I sign,” thought I, “I will never break the pledge.”
Again, some one inquired if drinking sweet cider would be a violation of the pledge. “No,” said the speaker, “sweet cider is the juice of worms and rotten apples; and it is not breaking the pledge to eat rotten apples or drink the juice of worms.” I then signed the pledge, my appetite for sweet cider being considerably lessened. By signing, I became a member of the “Cold Water Army,” and received a silk badge, upon which were inscribed these words,
“So here we pledge perpetual hate To all that can intoxicate.”
A few evenings since, I renewed this pledge. I have ever been a firm believer in the principles set forth in the first pledge, and hence did not sign the second with the intention of changing my principles in regard to temperance, but thinking by this act I might cast an influence on the side of right which would tend to rescue the fallen.
May God speed the principles of true temperance reform. S. N. HASKELL.