The Experiences of a Smoking Clergyman.
AMONG a lot of Temperance Tracts sent me by a friend, one was headed, "Dost Thou Smoke, Bill?" I read it, and it made me feel uncomfortable. Some copies of it had got into circulation among my people before I was aware.—A fine young black man came to me one day, and, after bowing and scraping and bidding me "good morning," asked, "Will massa please gie me one little tract?" "Yes, Quamina, and welcome; which will you have?" "Dat one called, 'Does You Smoke, William?'" He thought it would be too vulgar in my presence to say "Bill;" politeness led him to say "William." I gave him the tract, but I felt I would rather he had asked for any other than that, and my uneasiness was increased. The tract was evidently exciting some attention. It condemned among the people their pastor's habit. One night, soon after Quamina's visit, having knocked out the ashes of my last pipe before retiring to rest, a colloquy took place between my conscience and myself, which is faithfully reported. I scarcely ever felt more despicable in my own eyes than I did at that moment. From this night forth I vowed that I would never spend another penny for tobacco! So ended the colloquy.—Having asked God to forgive me the great sin of which I had been guilty, and to grant me grace and strength to carry out the resolve I had just made, I went to bed. The next day was the commencement of a great struggle. At the usual time for taking the pipe, the craving for it was very strong. I managed to resist it, however, by putting to myself a few plain questions, such as, "What is the matter with you? Why are you restless and unhappy? Have you a headache?" "No." "A toothache?" "No." "Have you pain in any part of your body?" "No." "Are you cold?" "No." "Hot?" "No." "Are you hungry?" "No." "Thirsty?" "No." "Then why, in the name of all that is rational, are you not contented, and even thankful to God for the exemption from pain which you enjoy?" In this manner I lectured myself against the unnatural craving. Every time I resisted the appetite, I felt that I had achieved a victory; that I was rising higher in the scale of being; that my moral strength was augmented; that I was getting more into harmony with God's laws and my own conscience; and that my example, with regard to the youth of my congregation, was becoming more worthy of me as a Christian missionary and pastor. Ere long the craving ceased; the appetite died away; I was emancipated! And now I would not be again enslaved for "all the world calls good or great." Most devoutly do I thank God for my deliverance!—National Baptist.