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"THE INTOXICANT EVIL." 1 Sermon by Rev. S. P. Kooii?Delivered at St. Luke's Lutheran Church , On April 5. , Published by request, * The following sermon was delivered ^ nt St. Luke's Lutheran ehurch in I number i) township on April 5, by the j pastor, Rev. iS. l\ Koon. At the re- t quest of a number of his peoplo he t had consented to furnish the mauu- i script for publication and The Ilorald I and News takes pleasure in complying' i with the request of his people and in j printing the sermon n full. \ Habak, 2:15. j "Woe unto him that giveth his ' neighbor drink, that putteth tho hot- I tie to him." i You can readily sec from this text ' that my discourse today will have ref- '' ere nee to whiskey and lire whiskey ' business. I wish also, Id include all 11 other intoxicants?such as wine, mor- ' phinc, cocaine, chloroform, etc. li. (" may be that some of you are not ' aware that these are intoxicants, but ' ti'fy .'ire. I realize the difficulties conueeled with this subject, and apprnach it in the most careful man- s ner. I know well I do not wish to v offend anybody, and so what I shall ' >a\ will be said in love. To appro- ' print** the words of St. Paul: "Hrclh- ?i ren. my Ireart's desire and my sup- ' plication to (Jod is for you, that you ' may lie saved." i\Ty method is not 1 the method of abuse, but of persua- s vion. Instead of abusing you con- t ceruing these intoxicants, I would ' p'ersuade you to lot them alone. t ll may be said there are other evils nid this is true. We have been urg- " ing you and will continue lo urge you a to abstain I rom all of I hem. Tlowev- e er, today we wish to urge you t<i all- I stain I rom llie inloxieant evil. The I presenI lime is specially suited lo s Ibis purpose. We are now in lire sea- I ?on of Lent we are approaching v fioi'd Kriday. We should now be j v studying 111c passion of our l.ord, and \ when we see how he suffered, and \ died fur u>. we ought |o receive s >1 reu.ul h and lie prompted to overcome I I he inloxieant evil for liiiu. h may ?i be asked, is tiiis intoxicant 'evil so I ureal as lo need atlenlion from Ihe \ pulpit. is i| worlh while to make an | entire sermon of it ? \\'v are eonfi- | dent it is, and let us show you why I we think so. t In beginning we want lo call your c attention to lire fact that the passages of Scripture along Ibis line refer , to wine. While I here is such similarity among wine and whiskey and all i opiates that they may be brought un- t> der llu-> same heading, yet there are ,, also difIereuccs. The intoxicating power of wine is not near so great , as that of whiskey and so wine is , not near so dangerous as whiskey, j I li us, when Ihe Bible speaks of wine , as a dangerous tiling you are always v sale in drawing the conclusion, wliis- ^ key is much more dangerous. When , the liible speaks oif wine as a danger- (| ous thing, you are always safe in ,, drawing the conclusion, 'every opiate v which has a higher intoxicating pow- v er I ban wine is even more dangerous. It will he well for us fo remember this s fact. The lirst statement T desire to make s is tiiis: Intoxicants when used lo any ( great extent injure the health. Here s we wish to call your attention lo Xa- ( bal, the husband of Abigail. (I Sam- | uel 'J.>:.!. ll.) Nahal had a great feast i and during Ihe leasl be became verv |j drunken. And it came lo pass after' the wine had left him, his wife told him ol the present she had sent lo .> Ihivid who was about to destroy him. s At ibis Nalrnl's heart died within , him and he became as a stone. That is, he had a severe stroke, and some ,, days later lie had another stroke and v died. This brings out the fact thai j intoxicants, when used to a sufficient ?, exlent, act as a poison and produce . death. W e know, also, from exper- ^ ience that when peopfe take inloxi- ? cants and take intoxicants they linal- ( ly reach a point at which death comes p almost suddenly. There can he no v douhl thai when intoxicants are used s to any great extent they injure lire j health, and if continued will produce i, death. flic second statement I desire lo make is Ibis, strong drink infuriates s the temper. In Prov. 120:1, we read a "strong drink is raging," or as it is n sometimes translated, strong drink a a brawler." 11ml s strong drink when h used to any great extent will infuriate e tire temper and Ibis will often cause I Ihe individual to get into a browl, v I ITow often you have observed this to v ^ he the cause. TIow often when peo- a pie are using intoxicants freely, they I i begin to talk loud and in an insulting a manner; soon a row is started and <1 some I hires this results In death. This v is so often the case that it is said in- v toxicants arc responsible for a large II per cent of all disorderly conduct, and <even a large per ?ent cf all crime, w \ fn view of tlrosc fiiots wc (ire confilent intoxicants infuriate Hie temper. Another statement we desire to nakvs is this: Intoxicants injure the neinorv and judgment. In Prov. 3.1:4, >, it is written, ''It is not for kings ) Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink vine, nor for princes strong drink, est they drink and forget the law, ui<r prevent the judgments of any of 1 lie afflicted." That means intoxicants will injure your memory. It nay he that you once knew the law, ' >ut now you have so forgotten it that fou may not follow it at all. Your ' udgnrent also lias ?>een injured. It. vill no longer guide you aright and 1 'on may he gnity of some very reck- ' ess deeds. Sometimes it is said of < lie man who uses intoxicants, "I (To ' iot see how he can act as he does? I do not see how he can bring so i ouch evil upon himself and his poo- i >le. One explanation is, his mom- i ?i\ and judgment have hecn injured, lerhaps almost destroyed, amf self- i ontrol is extremely difficult, so dif- i h'ull that I have in mind the words, i iracticallv impossible. , The next slalenienl I desire I.. make " > iliis: Intoxicants i|iflaino the pas- '< ions. 11 ere we desire to <|iiote llio i lords of Holy Scriptnre recorded in I siaah "ell, " Woe unto them that rise I i|? "early in the morning that they i nay follow strong drink, that coninuc till night, till wine inflame I iiein." They are now ready for al- ] nost any crime. This condition is ; 0 often brought ahout by intoxicants I hat it is said much of the impure iving of the present day is due to hem. We also desire to make the statenenl: Intoxicants bring contention ud sorrow into the home. In this mined ion the words recorded in l'ov. :'Ji( 11 are especially approirate. Who hath woe? who hath oitow? who lialh content ions ? who lalli ha I ih lings ! who hath wounds villi..Ill cause.' who hath redness <>l' yes? I hey ilial tarry long al tins vine, I iiey ihat go in seek mixed v * ' 'At l lie lasi ii hitcHi like a ?'rpe111 and slingelli like an adder." : riial means if you use intoxicants In my .ureal extent your home will lie i illed with sorrow mid contention, vliicii will Ire as latal to your hap- i liness as (lie liite of a poisonous scr- i "''it or the sting o.f the deadly adder. ; 1 you know of any homos where in- j oxieanls are used very freely, you 1 an verify this statement. ( I he next statement we desire to 1 nake is: ''.No dwinfcard can be aved. ' I his we gather from (or. (i:!), "lie not deceiv- ( d, neither fornicators, nor idol- '< 'tors, nor adulterers, nor oflfemin- ' ite, nor abusers of themselves with I i mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, < ior drunkards, nor revelers, nor ex- : orlioners shall inherit the kingdom 1 >t (Jod." Among these statements, i ve single out one, "no drunkard shall i nherit the kingdom of God." A ( 1 riinkard is one who hahitually gets < Irutik. Now if it i* your custom to t :'?'t drunk, it makes no difference J j vJiat intoxicants you use, whether 1 vhiwkcy, morphine, cocaine,' etc., you f ire a drunkard and there is not a ( ign of hope for your salvation while i n tiiat condition. "No drunkard i hall inherit the kingdom of Ood," ; >f course, you may reform and be i aved, but you cannot be saved with- 1 ml reformation. And here let us < aiisc to state, it' you allow yourself ! 0 develop into a drunkard, you will < in.! 'I extremely difficult to reform. ] One ureal difficulty with the intwx- 1 '"inl is, ii deceives you. In l'rov. I 0:1, we lead. ''Wine is a mocker, i 1 rung drink is rcging and whosoev- > r is deceived thereby is m >t wise." ' 'hose intoxicants deceive you. They I lake you think you need tlrom when < ou do not; they cause you to think t hey will not injure you when they fill. I'll is is so much the case that t <ni may develop tTie habit without ( careely being aware of i(. and you i nav never fully realize your eoiuTi- i ion until il is too late. There is no t oe so dangerous as a powerful foe | ilio comes upon you unawares and i ueli a toe is this-??s the intoxicant. > iewaiv of the intoxicant: it may 1 ave yon under iis control before von t eali/.e it. , e could give you much moro i cripture along this line. We could i ilso horrify your minds with the i wful crimes produced by intoxicants i fler the manner of the temperance i chirer, hut we do not think it nee- 1 ss.ary. AN e have said enough to vs- i nblish I no premise. Intoxicants are cry dangerous. This is a premise 1 hicli will stand the tests of logic I ud one which will appeal to you. AVe \ uke our stand upon this statement i nd we are confident no one cnn i rive us troni il. Intoxicants ar? t ^ry dangerous, and let every one t .'ho deals with them realize that i ley are very dangerous. I Here the question arises how are n '0 going to deal with those danger- 1 ouse intoxicants? It may be lai down as a safe rule, The best wa to deal with tliem is to avoid then lint 1 would not overlook the fat that there is an exception to this rule In 1 Tim. 5:23, we read, "Drink n longer water, but use a little win for thy stomach's sake, and thine ot ten infirmities." This certainly mean St. Paul advised Timothy to us wine for medical purposes. Thus w teach intoxicants may be used fo medical purposes. However we should not overlook the fact that Paul tol< Timothy to take only ? "little wine.' We lay the emphasis upon "little' because it has the emphatic positioi in the Greek. This means the Apostl lid not want Timothy to take mucl wine even for a medical purpose. [hen we further teach that while yoi iijv permitted to us Intoxicants fo medical purposes, you can do so onl; lo a limited extent. It you use in toxicants lo any great extent fo medical purposes, you do wrong, an* i!' yon thus develop yourself into liYunkanl. you will be lost like air ?lher drunkard. The physician ma; ise intoxicants in his practice, if h ins any confidence rn them, but h nusi do cautiously. If lie uses an in ox i can I until he develops a habit ii lis patient, a dreadful respoiisihilil; rests upon him. lint while intoxicanls may be use* lo a limited extent for medical pur ]>oses, lliis privilege must not b ibused. The dilliculty is, people abusi his privilege at the present day Sometimes they take an enormou: liiaulities for medical purposes whiel annot be .instilled. Sometimes wha Iliev consider a medical purpose i hily satisfying a habit. Of courso where the habit exists, when the in oxicaul is out of the system, a reac lion sets in which produces d nines:9 lepression, and false pain, which wi! lie relieved by more of the same in loxicanls. but this cannot be consider d a medical purpose. 1>'? not imay in" a medical purpose where il doe not exist. You may use inioxicaul for medical purposes, but d>> no ibnse t ii is privilege. Afle'r having thus noted the excop lion, we reiterate our former nil with the exception removed: Wire intoxicanls are used as a beverage lhat is as a pleasant drink or a pleas wit dose, it is better not to use titer ill all, either in small quantities o large ones. Look at the words o ->ur text, "Woe unto him thai givetl his neighbor drink, that putleth tit bottle to him." If "woe" exist when you give your neighbor drink loos not practically the same "woe' ?xist when you give il to yourself 'Wo'e" unto yourself when you tak i drink. That means you are takinj :1 anger, exposing yourself, unneces ?arily, to danger, which ought uot t< le done. Perhaps, you renvem'ber thi ^)ld Testament law would not allov he priests lo drink any wine wliili Migaging in the work of the taberna de, ( Lev. While that implies hat wine was preniittcd to some ox en I among those outside the priest mod, it also implies thai it is beltei o avoid intoxicants. Also, in Num ?:3, we learn that the Nazarite wa Hit permitted to use any intoxicants which clearly shows it is better t< ivoid intoxicanls. Tn l'rov. 23:31 w< cad, "Look not thou upon the win* when it is red, when it givelh hi olouv in the cup,'" which cloarl; eaches il is belter lo avoid intoxi ants. Perhaps you remember 111. [{ecabiles would never drink an; wine and the Bible commends tlion Tor it (Jer. 3."> :">, (i). which shows i s better lo avoid iuloxiianls. Nov f there is anybody here who neve iscs intoxicants as a beverage, am [ am sure there are some, wo want t< omnvend you for it. Il is better no o use intoxicants at a beverage. Hul notice the great force of on ext lies in the giving of the intoxi ant to your neighbor. "Wo< into him that pTVetli iiii lieghbor drink, thai puttetl ho bottle to him." When yoi >ut I lie bottle to your neighbor'; nnuth, let your conscience, that "slil .mall voice," uller the word, "woe.' iVlien you give any oilier intoxicant: o your neighbor, let your conscience liter the warning, "woe." I knov liese sentiments do not agree will he sent intents of many people ii his country, and many foreign conn ries. Often a man will offer his leighhor an inioxicaul and apparenty think he has done no harm,?h< nay say, "there is no harm in it.' V man may even put the bottlo U lis son's mouth and apparently tliinl ie lias (Tone no harm. " You ask vherein does the harm lie? and here s our answer, when you give yout leighhor an intoxicant the temptatior o take it is many limes strongoi ban if lie had to buy it. No money s to be spent,?there is almost no landling of the intoxicant, it is right it hand; besides your personality will lavo somo inifluonco upon himy?ht ? You Will Need ai t a ^ " ?, ^ p|| [j fire was burning. The quick conc : NEW PER] ; Wick Blue Flame r n goes directly to boil the kettle or is diffused *about the room to ove y *4 New Perfection" is real kitchen o r=* sizes and fully w 0 J 1\ dealer, write our The for the parlor; Btroii| \ or cotta8e; bright < 3 no* with your dealer This is V 1 ~ : ...READ! t It is not our po 0 bait for breakfast lemon for dinner shop worn goods? r find at "Special Be 1 dear at any price. s gle item in our line ; a lower price thai consistently offer. I viceable goods at 'I your own interes ' Show You a e < on any every purcl large trade we con i a day or by l4Sp< ; Only by persistent have we gained 1 ' public. Spend yo ? dollar gives the b\ Yo O. KLE' I* The rair and Sc 1 ? ???? "> may not want lo run the risk of of- i t fending your hospitality? and the i probability is he will take it. This < v firs drink may lead him to a drunk- j . a rd's grave. To show you how 1m- t 3 portant this first drink is, let us ask 5 some questions. Do you suppose any <1 i drunkard over bought Ins first ( i drink? Perhaps some of them l 5 did, but 1 think as r rule s tho first drink was given. 1 ' Whi skoy was given unto him, until he \ 3 found he had' a taste for it, or, do- ' } voloped a taste for it, and then ho ' bought it. Xow yow run easily see i that if he would have had to buy this ) disreputable whiskey Ire fore lie knew 1 - anything about the taste of it, lie > probably would have never bought it, - and would not have been a drunkard. 1 ? Do you suppose the man who uses ' ' the opiate bought his first dose? May > bo so, but I think in almost every " ^ ease, it was given to him. It was , given to him, or prescribed by some ' physician until he learned something ? about it and then he bought it. If * i it had never been given to him, he ( would hardly have bought it before n he knew anything of it from expyp- '' i ienee, and probably would never have j ' been an "opium eater." Now I 1 think yon understand why the Bible tl ? says: "Woe unto him that giv?Ui his a Oil Stove% When warm days and the kitchen fire make cooking a burx den?then is the time J) to try a New Perfection Wick Blue Flame Oil Cook-Stove. Marvelous how this stove does away with kitchen discomforts ? B how cool it keeps the H room in comparison with conditions when the coal entrated heat of the FECTION ; Oil Cook-Stove , i i bake the bread, and none -i rheat it. Tims using the | i comfort. Made in three arranted. If not- with your < nearest agency. ( Lamp i everyone wonts?handsome enough I enough for the kitchen, camp , enough for everj' occasion. If , writo our nearest agency. 1 WARD OIL COMPANY, ] (Incorporated) ^orth I 1NG... ! licy to hand you out a j and follow it with a j and supper. Shoddy, ^ -such as you generally , < irgain Sales" are too | There is not one sin- 1 on which there is not i any other firm can j We mean honest ser- \ Bargain Prices'. Study < t?come?if we don't 1 Glean Cut Saving riase pass us by. The imand was not built in scial Bargain Sales." hard and honest toil the confidence of the ur money where the est results. urs for Bargains, TTNER :iuare Dealer. ? icighbor drink." The giving of the ntoxLcanl is a responsible cause for I run ken n ess. Make it a rule never to jive an intoxicant to your neighbor o he used a.s a beverage. But how about selling your neigh)(>r a drink, or selling him some otliir intoxicant? Is that putting the >ottle In him? Certainly not in the anre sense as giving it to him, and > 01 it carries with it a resposibility vhich you can no moro get rid of than Mho leopard his spots." Of course, ('Continued on Page (Seven.) Look Who's Here WHERE? THE PASflME THEATRE, Next Door to Post Office. R.oal Vaucioxrlllo I ONE WEEK, Commencing Tonight. Program: I. B. O. Greason, Monolo[ist. II. Mrs I<\ I). Whetten, Indian longs. Ill If. I). Whetten, Comedian nd Contortionist. IV. 1,000 feet High 8 Jlass Moving Pictures. Illustrated Songs [ nd Pictures. Afternoon Performances I and 5 o'clock. " 4 complete perform nces every night-7.30, 8.30, 9.30, and o 30 o'clock. , Remember the location?next door to fl lie Po?tofficc. ij FRED J. RUSSELL, Manager. I rnuaj'j ^vprn JL/, iyuoi Merry Hardware * Company We are now occupying our own storeroom 1 104 Caldwell street, j and 12 U--12I3 Friend. This building has 16,- (1 300 square feet of floor space. We built I this store ourselves 1 a^d the shelving, etc., J especially adapted to the Hardware business and the convenience Jof the public. Having just completed 1 our Steam Heating 1 plant (the only one in m any* storeroom in the fl city) which gives us an 2 even temperature and m a perfectly comforta- fl ble salesroom in the 8 coldest weather. For ? the convenience of our I lady customers we I have a ladies' toilet which is complete in H ^very respect, also in 1 another part of the 1 building we have the fl ^ame convenience for ffl the men. The three m Floors of the building I are connected by a I power Elevator opera-, I Led by electricity. I We carry in addition 1 to one of the largest S ines of Hardware in H .he state, the finest line I }f China ever seen in fl ^e city, also fl Glassware 1 Lamps I Lamp Chimneys ? Flower -Pots 1 Jardineers 1 Enamel and Tinware fl Harness 1 Wagons ' Wagon Materials J Steam and Water * Pipe Pipe Fittings Valves Stoves Stove Pipe Glass Paints Oils Putty |j Mantel Boards J Tile and Grates m Guns I Loaded Shells J Ammunition, etc. j Vours to please, 4 dewberry j hardware 4 COMPANY, j