Intemperance Reform! by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1879

Intemperance Reform!

By Editor

A PARTIAL reform is sometimes nearly equivalent to no reform at all. Reform in one point does not redeem the character, while other points are left unreformed. But many times we see, not merely important points neglected, but, as one evil is corrected or repressed, others are suffered to flourish and strengthen on its ruins. It is but small evidence of reform when a man stops drinking whisky and uses opium as a substitute; or to drink less intoxicants, and use a greater quantity of tobacco to gratify the unnatural cravings of a perverted appetite. We have been often pained to see those who profess to be, and probably think they are, thorough temperance reformers, oppose any effort in behalf of the cause which went beyond abstinence from intoxicating drinks. We were pleased to hear a truthful and stirring address from Mr. Townsend, a Bible Society agent, at the temperance meetings in this city; and regretted that his remarks did not receive a more general indorsement by the workers there.

The following we find in an exchange. To every word we give a most hearty assent:—

"A recent address of Gov. Garcelon before the Maine temperance convention calls attention to various kinds of intemperance which have generally escaped attention of reformers in that State. He has been for many years an eminent physician of large practice, and a close observer of the habits of the people. He spoke of the use of tobacco as an increasing evil, especially among the young, the tendency of which is to cultivate an appetite for stronger stimulants, besides being deleterious in itself. In addition to chewing and smoking, he says snuff-dipping is almost universal. As he added himself, this fact many are ignorant of, and it excites surprise. The use of opiates has also increased to an alarming extent. Many a man, he says, has appeared upon the stand advocating temperance who had in his pocket a bottle of laudanum or black drops, which pave the way to an early grave. The lady, too, carries chloroform and ether to moisten her handkerchief with which to allay nervous excitement. As a practicing physician and observer of human nature, he places all these forms of intemperance in the same category with the intemperate use of spirituous liquors, all of which demand correction."

"Such views are very timely, and all the more needful from the fact that the temperance reformers have confined their efforts too closely to but one phase of the great evil, and, as a rule, prescribed but one remedy for that. They have proceeded too much upon the ground that if they could prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks there would be no more drunkenness, and the work of reform would be complete."

It is no doubt that facts like these caused Mr. Moody to speak so lightly of that phase of the temperance reform which inflates the partially reformed man with pride of character, and flatters him that he is a reformed man, while the lusts of depraved appetite hold him under complete control. Lay the axe at the root of the tree, and root up whatsoever is not planted by the Heavenly Father, then will the man be reformed.