MODERATE DRINKING by John B. Gough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 7, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 26.

MODERATE DRINKING.

By John B. Gough

I WISH to relate one little incident to illustrate my point. At a meeting in a large town in Pennsylvania, at the close of a lecture, a gentleman rose and was announced as Judge So-and-so, judge of the Quarter Sessions. He said: "Ladies and gentlemen, before the audience is dismissed I wish to say a few words in defense of myself and the class I represent. Now it is very hard to have it publicly stated that I set a bad example. Now I am a moderate drinker; everybody knows me. I take it at home, I take it abroad. I am a moderate drinker—a respectable moderate drinker. Who dare say anything against me? Who ever saw me the worse for drink? If young men follow my example, they would be as I am, respectable and respected. I challenge the country to say whether my example is a bad one. Let young men follow my example and they will be as I am."

A man in the audience cried out, "Give it to him, old man, give it to him. Put a header on him." Someone said, "Put the man out;" and a gentleman said, "No, let the man remain; he is the only son of the judge—his only son tried to follow his example, and there is the result. He is so drunk that he would disturb a respectable meeting." And I tell you, every man from the beginning who has become a drunkard has become so by trying to be a moderate drinker and failing.