The Danger of Example

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1914

The Danger of Example

A TRAGIC story was told by the late Dean Farrar, of the appalling consequence of a minister's "moderation." One of the speakers at a meeting arranged under temperance auspices, a clergyman, nonabstaining, ventured apologetically an endeavor to prove that strong drink, used in moderate degree, was healthful, Scriptural, and gentlemanly. When he had finished, a venerable, gray-haired man arose, and desired to be allowed to make a few remarks. It was a tragic incident he narrated in broken accents.

A young friend had fallen into the clutches of strong drink's power. At length, after much kind persuasion, he was induced to pledge himself to complete abstinence from intoxicants. Manfully for many months, at the cost of a terrible struggle, he stuck to his promise. At last, one evening he was present at a social gathering when wine was passed around. A clergyman who was there partook of the wine, and as he did so, vindicated the practice in a sentence or two. "Well," thought the young man, "if a minister can take wine, and justify it, why not I?" With tremendous force the temptation came. He accepted a glass. Like a spark it kindled the dormant alcoholic craving into a flame of insatiable desire. He drank, and drank, and drank, and scarcely ceased, until a few months later he died—a raving madman! For a moment the old man paused to overcome the choking in his throat. Then, in a voice vibrant with intense emotion, he added: "The young man was my only son, and the clergyman was the reverend gentleman who has just addressed the meeting!"—Selected.