p. 513 | Temperance

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1880

Temperance.

EXPERIENCE OF A MINISTER.

I HAVE used tobacco in the three forms of chewing, snuffing, and smoking. For nearly twenty years of my life I was a “chewer.” When I began I was at an academy, preparing for the ministry. I chewed from early in the morning until late at night. Upon entering college at Amherst, I joined the “Anto-Venenean Society,” and thus became pledged to eschew tobacco while a member of college. But on the day I graduated, I smoked several times, and then returned speedily to “fine-cut” and “plug.” Both at Andover and New Haven Seminaries I was a slave, not, however, without remonstrances of conscience. I would determine to be free—would keep my promise for a while, but soon relapse again. In due process of time I entered the ministry, and carried my habit with me. But I studied concealment. I suffered no one of my people even to suspect me. Sometimes my conscience upbraided me so severely that I protested I would reform; and, that I might not indulge, I put the thing away. But my old tormentor would furiously clamor for indulgence. Resistance was vain. In my pangs, I would diligently hunt every pocket where I had carried tobacco, and, scraping up lint and dust, would put the whole delicate morsel into my mouth, and happy was I if a particle of the precious weed touched my tongue! This would be enough, and soon I would be back again. Thus I went on, sinning and repenting,—sometimes enduring great anguish on account of my miserable weakness,—until about four years since, the crisis came.

One day, happening to be with a neighbor—an old chewer—I asked him for a “quid.” He gave me more than I asked for. I put a piece into my mouth, the rest into my pocket, and, going into my study, threw myself into my chair, and began to reason with myself, “Shall I keep on, or shall I stop?” I ran over my history. I thought seriously of the past, and, feeling that it would never do to live so, I resolved at last to throw away what I had. I went then to an open window, and threw out my wealth of weed, with all my might, and, for aught I know, it is still upon its travels. At all events, from that day to this I have not defiled my lips.

From my experience, I am prepared to say that the ill effects of tobacco chewing, physically, are by no means the worst. These, to be sure, are disagreeable enough. I suffered frequently from indigestion, loss of appetite, lowness of spirits, and my hands trembled like those of a sot.

But the mischief, spiritually, was far greater. The consciousness of indulging an appetite that warred against my soul, kept me from being whole-hearted in my testimony against similar indulgences in others. How could I preach up self-denial heartily, when I could not thoroughly practice it myself? Then, how many opportunities for doing good have I suffered to pass unimproved, when, going by the doors of my parishioners, I should have called, but for the fear that my polluted breath would betray me! How many opportunities of private prayer have I lost, because of my resolution to pray when my mouth was clear!

I am convinced that no Christian can conscientiously use tobacco in any of its forms; least of all can any Christian minister so use it. May God speed the day when this vile abomination shall cease.