FRIENDS, SOCIETY OF. Address. HV 5072 F7 OF TIIK REPRESENTATIVES OF THK Religious Society of Friends, FOR PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, AND DELAWARE, To their Fellow -Citizens, OX THK V INTOXICATING DRINKS. PHI LA I'KI.I'H I A: TO J?K HAD AT FRIENDS' I'.onK-sTORE, No. 304 A Ke safely asserted that habits <>{' moderate drinking almost universally precede excess, hence total abstinence is the "jily i" /y f means ~'6"f avoiding^ in itemperance^ The appetite for stimulating drinks almost invariably grows with their use, so that no one wh<> begins to partake of them, even temperately, can foretell how strong the craving for them mav become. norJoifboiq Modern investigations, made by eminent scientific and medical men, respecting the effects of alcohol on the animal frame, have disclosed results and established conclusions which go far t6>;dik- 4 The Duty of the Christian Church m Applying Remedies. \ sipate many of the popular ideas that have been entertained as to the value of this stimulant, either as food or medicine. Were it within the scope of the present address, we might cite largely from various acknowledged authorities in support of this view: those who desire to pursue further -this interesting and im- portant branch of the subject, may be referred to treatises by Dr. Benj. W. Eichardson, of London; Sir Benjamin Brodie, Baron Liebig, Dr. Liebermiester, Dr. Henry Thompson, and many others. The prescription of alcoholic remedies or tonics, by the medi- cal profession, is fraught with grave responsibilities, which we apprehend are too often lightly assumed by them. How many persons, of previously temperate habits, have contracted an appe- tite for strong drinks when recovering from illness, through this insidious avenue to temptation, and have finally found it the high- way to ruin and death ! The respectability, the professional skill and authority so readily accorded to the physician, all combine to give force to his advice in such cases, and tend to disarm his patients of those wholesome fears of entering on the dangerous experiment which they would perhaps otherwise have enter-, tained. We would therefore urge upon medical men to consider well the feajful moral risks and the doubtful physical advantages involved in the use of such remedies, and avoid then! wherever possible. What is the Duty of the Christian Church in Applying Remedies for Intemperance? a sense, then, of the magnitude of this desolating moral evil in our midst, which, while endangering the present and eternal welfare of tens of thousands, is affecting injuriously all classes of society, the query most pertinently and urgently presents itself, what remedies are being adopted to meet the case, and are all the agencies, which might be usefully employed, eii- listed in what should be a common cause ? Very much we know has been well done by the friends of temperance, who have devoted their time, their talents, and their means in the earnest desire to bring about a reformation. But such is the craving for the stimulus afforded by alcoholic drinks, and so enormous are the pecuniary profits growing out of their production and sale, that we see to-day legislatures and high officials pandering to the demands of the liquor interests; while intemperance, with all its fearful train, is sweeping through the land, and every organized effort to check its ravages must be The Duty of the Christian Church in Applying Remedies. tf' admitted to have been but in small measure successful. To the seriously minded among our fellow-citizens, who are not to be classed among the tempted or the fallen, or supposed to be directly implicated in spreading the evil in question, we feel at this time called to offer a few words of earnest Christian entreaty. As believers in the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ, our thoughts first, and naturally, turn to those who, like ourselves, are professing His name, and seeking to spread the blessings of His Gospel. For we have felt that upon the professing Church, as such, there are resting plain duties and heavy responsibilities in connection with the important question before us. Let us bear in mind that the members of Christ's Church are emphati- cally called unto holiness : (1 Thess. iv. 7;) that our Lord has likened them to " the salt of the earth," and " the light of the world ; " and that their influence and their example are among the means which He designs largely to use in promoting the spreading of His kingdom. The more therefore there is of dedi- cation of heart and purity of life among these, the more we may believe they will be made " sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Tim. ii. 21.) A mani- fest duty of the Church lies first within its own borders, carefully searching out the "abominable thing," and never resting until its skirts are clear of it. This will lead to earnest, faithful labor among those of its own members who have fallen into the snare of the tempter, or who may be only walking, as it were, in " slip- pery places." The young and inexperienced will therefore es- pecially claim the watchful care of their fellow-members. There will be felt also a godly jealousy lest any claiming church fellow- ship shall be found contributing to the spread of intemperance, either by the manufacture or the sale of intoxicating liquors. If the safety of all consists in putting the temptation wholly away, can that calling be* safe for him who makes, or him who deals out, the dangerous article to his fellows? And does he stand guiltless in the sight of Infinite Justice, who fills his pockets with gains made foul by the wretchedness he is thus directly promoting ? We cannot but regard it as a perversion of morals, to receive into our homes as companions for ourselves and our children the rich producer and vendor of ardent spirits, while spurning from our doors, as beneath notice, the poor victim to its use. We cannot separate them ; they are upon one plane of respectability ; and until men and women in their individual capacity, and as members of the Church of Christ, are willing to withdraw them- selves from every compromising association with those who sell as well as with those who use spirituous liquors, their testimony will continue to be only a weak and one-sided protest. Is it, 6 The Duty of the Christian Church in Applying Remedies. poverty only that makes rum-drinking disgraceful? Can wealth impart either to a business or a habit respectability? We desire therefore in all Christian tenderness, yet in Christian honesty, to ask, whether a professing Church is performing the duty which it owes to itself, or is holding up the light which it should do in the world, while retaining in its membership those who are thus bringing a reproach upon their profession, and thereby contribut ing largely to the weakness of the body, when called to deal with intemperance either within or without its pale? Again, when we recall the declaration of Holy Writ, that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God, (1 Cor. vi. 10,) how strong is the ap- peal to the heart of the Christian, to use all his or her influence in rescuing a fellow-being who may have fallen under a tempta- tion that, if continued in, may result in the ruin of soul and body. It is the privilege of the Christian to know much of the efficacy of the Redeemer's grace, whereby, as he has himself yielded to its convicting, restraining, and sanctifying power, it has proved sufficient for him in seasons of temptation and weak- ness, and from personal experience he can commend it to others. As the " Friend of sinners," Christ has become precious to his soul, and he has rejoiced in the blessed assurance that lie came " to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke xix. 10.) Such are peculiarly fitted to plead with the tempted or the fallen to yield to the visitations of a Saviour's love, as He knocks at the door of the heart, and seeks to make of even the hardened sinner " a new creature in Christ Jesus." As we recall the many instances in which the best resolutions have failed, the most solemn pledges have been broken, the earnest pleadings of anxious friends have been disregarded, and the strongest arguments proved unavailing with the victims of intemperance, we believe the one effectual remedy for these must ever be found in the heart-changkig, heart-cleansing power of the Grace of God. Fully believing in the Scripture declaration, that " for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil," (1 John iii. 8,) and that "whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin," (L John iii. 9,) we place this doctrine of the new birth through Christ Jesus at the basis of all personal and ecclesiastical reformation. No radical and abid- ing reform can be looked for, unless the heart is changed through faith in, and obedience to, that grace which comes by Jesus Christ, and was purchased by His atoning blood. Therefore it is that we would commend all to this Grace of God that brings salvation, and has appeared unto all men, as the Scripture testi- fies, "teaching them that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, they should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present The Duiij of the Christian Church in Applying Remedies. 1 world." (Titus ii. 11, 12.) Yielding their hearts to this blessed work of the Holy Spirit, men would be enabled in His light to see their lost condition as sinners, and would receive the gift of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The wash- ing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, would be shed on them abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, and strength would be given by Him to walk in the pathway of holi- ness and self-denial. We are assured by an inspired Apostle that God is faithful who will not suffer men to be tempted above that they are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that they may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. x. 13.) But the escape must corne in the way Christ himself has pointed out, who says, " Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.'' i Mark xiv. 38.) This watchful, prayerful state is the only place of safety for the strong as well as the weak, and most apt is that injunction of our Lord, " What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch ! " (Mark xiii. 37.) Thus being grafted into Christ, the living vine, and abiding in Him, He assures us that, " Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John xv. 7.) Hence the Church, so composed of living members, is qualified, both in the closet and its collective capacity, to pray in the Holy Ghost for the spread and power of tae Kedeemer's kingdom. " I will therefore," says the Apostle Paul, " that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy ii. 8.) Also, "that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." (1 Timothy ii. 1.) Oh, that this spirit of prayer might more and more prevail in the professing Church! Such weapons, we may be assured, would be mighty, through God, to the pulling down of even the strongholds of in- temperance. There is a practical work also which may be done by the Christian Church, in laboring among its fellow-members in pri- vate, as any who are spiritual may feel their hearts drawn in restoring love to warn the erring and tempted of their danger, and exhort them not to touch " the unclean thing." All connection with the traffic in any kind of alcoholic drinks, or renting build- ings to those who intend so to use them, should be discouraged and avoided. Frequenting taverns, or other places where liquor is sold, unless absolutely essential for other purposes, should be shunned ; and especially ought parents to guard their sons against familiarity with them. %/ In the exercise of a personal influence for good, much must depend upon our own careful and consistent walking, and, with this in view, we shall necessarily find ourselves often called to 3 The Duty of the Christian Church in Applying Remedies. practise self-denial for the sake of others ; for shall we be clear in the sight of a God of infinite purity and justice, if by our in- dulgence we give any encouragement to a fellow-creature to par- take of that which, however harmless to us, may be spiritual death to him ? The privation, in most cases, would be very tri- fling to ourselves, while the possible consequences to him might bu ruinous. How fearful the responsibility in such a case, and how solemn the thought, of finding in the last great day of account that a brother's downfall was traceable to our unfaithfulness or thoughtless indulgence I We have said that the amount of self- denial would generally not be great. If it is felt to be great, we may be sure that we ourselves are not quite out of the reach of danger. In this connection, we would remark that the use of spirituous liquors for culinary purposes in the household is un- necessary, and might be entirely dispensed with. Children, and those in our employ, would be thus far relieved from a temptation to which they might otherwise be exposed under our own roofs. And remembering the apostolic injunction, to "abstain from all appearance of evil," (1 Thess. v. 22,) we should not overlook what, to some, might seem a matter of very trifling importance, when seeking temporary accommodations for ourselves or our families away from home, endeavoring, if only for example's sake, to select as our boarding-places or eating-houses those from which intoxicating liquors are known to be excluded. If we are alive, as we should be, to the danger as well as the best interests of those around us, these, or other little acts of self-denial in the same direction, may often, unwittingly to ourselves, exert a silent influence for good, while they will bring their own reward of quietness and peace within. Is there not, therefore, as regards individual Christians, as well as the professing Church in all its branches, a manifest and most fitting duty which is loudly calling them to put forth their power- ful influence for the suppression of an evil, which is not only spreading desolation and wickedness throughout our own land, but causing the very name of our common Christianity to be a by- word and reproach among the heathen? And if, in order to lit i lit- Church for this great duty, the cleansing of her own hands is first called for, we earnestly desire that, as in the fear of the' Lord and with an eye to His honor, this may be brought about. As representing the religious society of Friends in this part of our country, we may be allowed to press the above considerations the more earnestly upon our fellow Christians of other persuasions,, lrrause we have long since felt called to see to it, that our mem- bers are clear of the use of spirituous liquors as a drink, and that uone are retained in religious connection with the society who either manufacture or sell them. With this object in view, we may state that committees are yearly appointed by the proper Restrictive or Prohibitory Legislation. 9 meetings for discipline, whose business it is to inquire of every male member whether he has partaken of any spirituous liquors as a drink during the previous twelvemonth, or thus offered them to others. In the few cases in which the answer is affirmative, earnest, brotherly persuasion is used to induce the abandonment altogether of an indulgence so full of danger to themselves, and so wanting in right example to others. The committees then report to the respective bodies appoint- ing them the result of their inquiry and labors, but without personal allusions or exposure. This practice, with other favor- able influences, has resulted in causing intemperance to be al- most unknown within our limits, while we know of none in membership with us who are engaged in the manufacture or sale of ardent spirits. From our own experience, therefore, we have reason to believe that patient, faithful, Christian labor with brethren who may have gone astray, will, under the Divine blessing, accomplish much. Should each branch of the profess- ing Church thus discharge its duty, first to itself and to its own members, we cannot doubt that the way will be opened to take some decided action, on the part .of religious bodies generally, whereby the influence of the whole Christian community shall make itself felt, as it ought to be, in relation to this fruitful source of misery and corruption. Restrictive or Prohibitory Legislation. WE fully believe in the Divine institution of civil governmeim among men, and that rulers are not to be a terror to good works, \ but to evil ; that men placed in power are bound to act as " min- isters of God for good " to those they govern, agreeably with the / doctrine of Holy Scripture. That the State, as the natural guard/ ian of its citizens, has the right to restrain OF forbid the manu- facture and sale of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, on the same\ principle that justifies the prohibition of the sale of obscene books \ and pictures, or lottery tickets ; and by which it regulates and ) restrains the vending of poisons, gunpowder, and other danger- / ous articles. This right has been abundantly affirmed by four Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Grier, of that court, remarks, in giving his opinion in a certain case before him, that " it is not necessary to array the appalling statistics of misery, pauperism, and crime which have their origin in the use and abuse of ardent spirits. The police power, which is exclusively in the State, is competent to the correction of these great evils, and all measures of restraint or prohibition necessary to effect that purpose -are within the scope of that authority.'' 10 Restrictive or Prohibitory Legislation. Judge Catron says, " If tlie State Las the power of restraint \>y license to any extent, she may go to the length of prohibiting sales altogether." We be'lieve the system of licensing public- drinking houses by the authority of the State, to be an unmixed evil. It tends to cast around the business of dram-selling the shield of law, and to confer upon it a fictitious respectability, which is destructive of right sentiment in the unthinking part of the community. The plea that it produces an important rev- enue to the State or National Government to grant a license to manufacture or vend strong drinks is plainly delusive. The cost to the nation or State at large, to repair the losses inflicted on the people by drink, must sink the paltry revenues its vendors pay, into insignificance. Statistics show that it would be far more economical for the government to maintain the liquor dealers in idleness, and forbid their trade entirely, than to receive all the taxes they pay for the right to impose the criminals, the paupers, the idlers, and the diseased upon the body politic for support. It is not just, nor consistent with the principles of our free government, to permit one class of men thus to prey on the rest of the community merely for their private gain. The necessary uses of spirits and other intoxicants for medic- inal and mechanical purposes, may be provided for by law, under such restrictions as will, at least, greatly curtail the abuse of them in other ways. Such prohibitory laws have been in force in Maine since 1851. We quote the following recent testimony of five eminent members of the Maine Legislature, respecting the operation of what is known as " The Maine Liquor Law."* "At the time of the enactment of the Maine law, the liquor traffic was carried on openly and freely, wholesale and retail, in every city, town, village, and rural district in the State. Imme- diately upon the enactment of the law the open sale of liquors ceased, and the traffic was at once abandoned by a very large majority of those who had been engaged in it ; and now it is entirely unknown in all our smaller towns and villages, and throughout all our rural districts. The traffic. ye.tJingers in our cities and larger towns, secretly and on a small scale, and is^cion- fined almost entirely 1<> lln- worst p;irt. of our foreign population. It, is not too much to say that the quantity of liquor now smuggled into the state, and sold in violation of the law, is not one-tenth as great as it was before the law. This great change in the habits of the people procures an enormous saving in the wages of labor, and in the resources of the State, which were * An Address to the friends of Temperance, by Nea' Dow, Lot M. Morrell, James M. Buz/ell, Joshua Nye, and A. P. Morrell, dated June 2, 1879. Restrictive or Prohibitory Legislation. 1 1 formerly so largely squandered, and wasted in strong drinks. No one who knew what Maine was before the law, and who knows what it has been since, and is now, can fail to see the wonderful change for the better, in all its interests, public and private. In 1871, an additional Act, of greater stringency than any which preceded it, was adopted without a dissenting voice in either house, and at the session of 1879 a question came up for the modification and amelioration of the penalties, and the require- ments of the law, which was promptly defeated by the emphatic vote of 127 to 17. This latter vote may be fairly considered as marking the present condition of public opinion of this State upon the whole principle and policy of prohib tion, and the determination of the people to suppress the liquor traffic." The foregoing testimony to the effect of prohibitory legisla- tion is sustained by the results in other communities where it has been tried. In Massachusetts, it was in actual force through local elections from the year 1841 to 1852 with most beneficial consequences. After a thorough investigation of the matter, the Judiciary Committee of the Legislature reported "the evi- dence to be perfectly incontrovertible, that the good order and the physical and moral welfare of the community had been pro- moted by refusing to license the sale of ardent spirits ; and that although the laws have been and are violated to some extent in different places, the practice soon becomes disreputable, and hides itself from the public eye, by shrinking into obscure and dark places ; that noisy and tumultuous assemblies in the street and public quarrels cease, where license is refused ; and that pauperism has very rapidly diminished from the same cause." In Vermont a prohibitory law has existed for twenty-seven years. In St. Johnsbury, in that State, where there is a popula- tion of 5000, the law has been strictly enforced; and it is stated that " there is no bar, no dram-shop, no poor, and no policeman walks the streets." Connecticut enacted a prohibitory law in 1854. In 1855, Governor Dutton said in his annual message to the General Assembly, " There is scarcely an open grog-shop in the State, and the jails are fast, becoming tenantless, and a delightful air of security is everywhere enjoyed." But in 1873 the liquor influence was strong enough in the Legislature to substitute license for prohibition. T\vo years afterwards the Secretary of State declared that " there was a greater increase of crime in one year under license than in seven under prohibition." From the foregoing, and a multitude of other examples of the practical effects of wise laws to control intemperance, we feel that we advocate no visionary theory, but one that commends itself to all who are concerned to arrest this awful scourge in the body politic. The citizen in casting his vote for candidates 12 Restrictive or Prohibitory Legislation. for office should be awake to this important question, :i Are they heartily in favor of temperance, and of prohibitory laws to promote it? " If the friends of temperance generally made this a condition of supporting candidates for office, we should soon find that political aspirants would respect their views, and that the apathy now so prevalent among legislators respecting this great question would be succeeded by the attention its merits so imperatively demand. Whatever doubts may be entertained by those engaged in framing laws, with regard to the feasibility or expediency of enacting statutes which are directly prohibitory of the liquor traffic for a whole State, on the ground of a lack of public 'sentimsnt in the majority of all the people to sustain them, there can be no objection of this nature urged against local option laws, whereby townships and small municipalities may have extended to them the privilege of protecting them- selves by a vote of their own inhabitants against the sale of liquor within their respective precincts. Such legislation has been decided by the courts of several States to be constitutional and valid. It is surely in harmony with the spirit of our free institutions, and ah act. of simple justice in a matter so inti- mately connected with the material as well as the higher interests of every community to accord to them the same degree of self- control as has long been recognized and practised by townships and boroughs in regulating public education, repairs of high- ways, etc., within their limits. No charge of injustice or party bias could be reasonably brought against a legislator for advoca- ting such a law, by those who deal in or use intoxicating drinks. The advocates of prohibition and of license stand on an equal footing at the polls, and are only required to acquiesce in the will of the majority. For those who have been placed by their fellow-citizens in positions of authority, whether legislative, executive or judicial, we have felt especially desirous that in dealing with matters which may have a bearing more or less direct upon the subject under consideration, they may fully realize the responsibility which attaches to their official acts. Many are the influences tending to draw them from the plain path of duty, and among *hese perhaps none are stronger than the fear of man and the desire for his favor. But when we remember the Scripture declaration, " He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God," (2 Sam. xxiii. 8,) the source to which those in power should humbly look for guidance and approval is plainly set forth. And as they are actuated by these higher motives, any tern] tation to swerve from their own conscientious convictions will lose its power. For those who have at heart the best interests of our people, The Public Press. 13 and who do in their public services remember that there is a God over all to whom they must shortly give account, we believe the time has come when, regardless of partisan considerations or the loss of popularity, they should deeply and conscientiously consider whether they are taking that decided stand which they should in connection with this pressing question, and whether' they are heartily throwing their influence into the right scale. The Public Press. THROUGHOUT a reading population like that of the United States, the Press necessarily exerts a powerful influence, not only by giving expression to public sentiment, but as a means of moulding that sentiment for good or for ill. We desire, there- fore, that Editors of newspapers especially, may feel the deep responsibility that rests upon them in connection with the ques- tion before us. As chroniclers of the events of the day, they have it in their power to commend the good that may be passing before them, and by their editorial comments may incidentally instil noble and virtuous sentiments into the minds of their ' readers ; while, on the other hand, they may point out and con- demn what is injurious to public morals, and consequently to the best interests of the community. With the freedom which is happily accorded to the press in this country, the action of legis- lative bodies and public officials is open to its criticisms, and, as a consequence, those who are holding posts of authority are strongly influenced in their public acts by the approval or the censure which they thus receive. When the prevailing tone of the Press, whether secular or religious, shall be fearlessly on the side of right, recognizing its' duty in leading and elevating public sentiment, rather than obsequiously following it, we may hope- fully look for the happiest results ; and since the enactment or enforcement of wise and just laws which would effectually restrain the production and sale of alcoholic liquors, must depend upon a corresponding sympathy in the community at large, it can scarcely be otherwise than that the daily newspaper will be largely instrumental in promoting, or retarding the legis- lation which is now urgently demanded. We desire also to call attention to a flippant, and even jocose, style of writing too com- mon with newspaper reporters who, when relating the doings of the wretched drunkard, are disposed to picture the ludicrous side of intemperance rather than the misery and shame inseparable from it. We fear that by this means the thoughts of the reader are often turned from the merits of a case in its graver aspects, 14 Woman's Influence. and, almost unconsciously to himself, he may come to regard the whole subject of intemperance with a lamentable indifference. It is cause of satisfaction to find that several popular periodicals have of late opened their columns to a free consideration of the evil before us, and the wisest methods of dealing with it. We can but trust their example will be followed by others, under the conviction that it is one of the most pressing questions of the day, and that some of the highest interests of our country both present and prospective are involved in its right solution. Woman's Influence. IF one class amongst us more than another is personally inter- ested in the suppression of intemperance, it surely is the women of our country. As we recall the scenes of domestic wretched- ness, the heartless neglect, the pining want, the brutal violence, to say nothing of the many murders in cold" blood, which are almost daily being brought to light by the public press, as the doings of drunken husbands and fathers, we must believe there are, behind all these, experiences of untold woe which are known only to the silent sufferers and the all-seeing One. The fortitude and the enduring patience with which these trials have been often borne, are amazing, and only add to the claims which the sufferers have upon the heartfelt sympathy of every right-feeling mind. Earnestly could we desire that these might know the power of Divine Grace to sustain them under their burdens, and give them that " measure of wisdom from above," which they so greatly need, in dealing with the wanderers and the fallen ones. Those of their sex who have happily been spared such afflictions, should remember their sisters in adversity, and may well be stirred up to use every right effort for their relief. In social life they have it in their power to discountenance, if not abolish, many of what are known as the ' drinking usages of society," which have so often proved the means of leading, step by step, to habitual intemperance, while they have many times seriously hindered the poor inebriate who, in weakness, is strug gling against his besetting sin. As mothers, we need only re- mind them of the tender but most responsible charge which has been committed to their keeping ; the importance of early im- pressions received at a mother's hands, and the value of a mother's prayers. As the teachers of a very large proportion of the young children of our country, may they wisely employ the golden opportunity thus offered for imbuing the minds of Conclusion. 1 5 their pupils with a deep sense of the degrading effects of intem- perance, as well as the delusive character of those allurements with which they must shortly meet. Thus fortified, may we not hopefully believe that multitudes from among the children of to-day will be training to take their places, erelong, in that great work of reform to which, we trust, the rising generation will be found devoting its best energies. For many and strong reasons, we therefore feel that women are called to exert their influence, which. is so powerful for good or evil, in giving a higher tone to public sentiment upon a subject in which they are deeply interested. We cannot but believe, that it is mainly for want of fully appreciating the latent power which they hold, that the influence of female minds and hearts has not been more largely felt in this direction. Should this be wisely put forth, as we trust it may yet be, in dealing with one of the most alarming problems of our day, the results for good, under the Divine blessing, can scarcely be overestimated. Conclusion. In conclusion, we are afresh impressed with the magnitude of the evil we have been considering, as it presents itself in- its varied aspects ; and under the conviction that its source is deeply rooted in the sinful propensities of our fallen nature, we are well- nigh ready to exclaim, " Vain is the help of man ! " Yet, how- ever fortified in his strongholds the liquor dealer may be, how- ever powerful the influence he wields, by the unscrupulous use of his unrighteous gains, there is encouragement for the Christian laborer, in the assurance that the weapons of his warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and Satan. Widely extended and deeply rooted as intemperance is, it must ultimately yield to the peaceful but victorious extension of Mes- siah's spiritual kingdom. Encouraged by this animating belief, may the Church, a designed agency for the spread of this king- dom, and the diffusion of the blessings of the Gospel, may all who occupy positions of influence in civil or religious society, be incited, in the meekness and gentleness which the Gospel inspires, and with a love for the souls of those engaged in the iniquitous traffic, as well as those of the unhappy victims of intemperance, to earnest, faithful labor for the removal of this great and in creasing evil from our midst. We do not doubt many are earnestly longing, with us, that the 1 6 Conclusion. miseries resulting from intemperance may be stayed, not only for the relief of those who, directly or inclirectly are suffering from them, but because it has long been one of the most serious ob stacles to the promotion of vital religion among mankind ; and, as we remember our own helplessness for the work, let our prayers be directed to the "God and Father of us all," that, through the quickening influences of His own Holy Spirit upon the hearts of men, this, with every other obstacle shall be re- moved, which now hinders the coming of that promised day, when " the earth shall b& full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah xi. 9.) AT a Meeting of the Representatives of the Religious Society of Friends for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, known as the " Meeting for Sufferings," held at Philadelphia on the 7th day of the llth month, 1879, " the Committee on the subject of Intemperance, appointed in the 6th month last, now produced an Essay of an Address on the use of intoxicating drinks, which was adopted by the Meeting, and referred for publication and dis- tribution to the Committee that prepared it." Extracted from the Minutes. JOSEPH WALTON, Clerk. 507 P. '7 3 1205 00840 9375 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. S.-rios 9482