THE WINE OF THE BIBLE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 18.

THE WINE OF THE BIBLE.

Why Farmer Newberry Gave up Taking a Drop Now and Then.

"BILL, ye may argify all day, and ye can't git them words out o' the Bible where it says 'wine that maketh glad the heart of man,' and 'give strong drink to the heavy hearted,' and 'use a little wine fer yer stomach's sake,' and 'give strong drink to him that is ready to perish,' and more of the same kind, which I'd find fer ye if I wasn't in such a hurry to git that hay in from the south medder."

That evening the weekly paper arrived, and Bill—otherwise William H. Newberry, aged twenty-two, graduate of the State Normal school, son of Farmer Newberry, studying to

fit himself for teaching—came upon a notice of a lecture by a woman, entitled "The Bible on Wine," to be given at the village, four miles distant, a few evenings later. When the time arrived, he rode to the village on horseback, provided with paper and pencil, and determined to take full notes.

The lecture was intensely earnest and unanswerable in the positions taken. William was entranced. He learned in one hour more than he could have collected for himself in a week. Being a rapid writer, he noted every main point and many of the details. He also spoke to the lady after the meeting, readily obtaining permission to copy her lists of Bible references, and when he returned home felt that he could do more than "offset" his father's verses.

The next day proved to be rainy, and as the "south medder" was cleared of hay and the other work well in hand, Farmer Newberry was very willing to hear William's account of the lecture. After breakfast and a drop of gin he seated himself in a broad-armed rocker on the veranda and said: "Now, Bill, sail in and tell us what she said. Len'me hear how she got over the 'wine fer yer stomach's sake' and about the wine at the wedding."

"The word used in the Bible is kalon, and it is the same word that Jesus used when speaking of the tree that brought forth good fruit," said William. "And he never said wine, but always fruit of the vine. But even if we admit that the words—well, admitting that the words used leave the case evenly balanced as to fresh grape juice and intoxicating liquor, the scale is easily turned by asking whether Jesus would be likely to furnish a liquor to make people drunk instead of a delicious and health-giving beverage, such as he is making in all the grapes as they grow; and I do not think anyone would be long in"—

"Bill, that's enough. After this, when I hear of Bible wine, I'll first find out what kind is meant before I think of a lot of drunken, sprawling patriarchs. But how about the other kind of wine, the kind that makes folks drunk—if they take too much, which I don't?"

"There's plenty of condemnation for that, as we all know; seventy-one texts against it in the Hebrew Scriptures, five of them requiring total abstinence; terrible denunciations everywhere, and woe pronounced upon those who make others drunk; but there was not time to consider both sides in one lecture."

"And then, the principal reason these women have for looking up this question, is to show that the word 'wine,' when used with bread for communion, does not necessarily mean intoxicating liquor."

"Look a-here, Bill, do they use regular liquor in churches?"

"Nearly all the churches did use fermented wine until the last few years. Many have abolished it, and the prospect is that very soon nearly all will follow."

"I declare! I never thought before of liquor in the church! Why, they'd be wanting a drink up in heaven! I ain't no church member, but if I wanted to be one, I wouldn't go where they'd hold liquor under my nose. Why, if a man should swear off and get a taste in church, it might knock his new leaf resolutions higher'n a kite."

"Yes, that is precisely what has occurred in many cases, and is what the temperance people are trying to prevent."

"Let 'em do it and I'd help 'em if I could."

And then he dropped his voice and asked in a hesitating manner, "Bill, d'ye s'pose my takin' a drop now and then, when I don't feel well, or want it fer some other reason—d'ye s'pose anybody, that is, d'ye think anyone else would be led to—to take mor'n he ought to?"

"Well, father, I did not intend to mention the matter, but I did overhear a remark last evening that made me wish your example was on the side of total abstinence. Neighbor Smith whispered to the man at his side that he guessed he could take a little if old Newberry could."

"Did Smith say that? Why, he's half drunk every few days. If he follows my example in drinking, I wonder if he'd follow me if I'd stop. Maybe I could help him, and save his wife and children from a lot of trouble."

And, with a resounding whack on the arm of his chair, while his voice melted into reverent determination, he exclaimed: "Bill, write out the strongest kind of a pledge, and I'll sign it and keep it, and try to save Smith."—Union Signal.