istant_.'" I acknowledge my ignorance of the
derivation of the word temperance, but I do know drunkenness comes
from drinking intoxicating liquor, therefore I favor total-abstinence
and recommend it as the safe side of life for young men.

While, by quoting isolated passages of the Bible, advocates of
moderation have succeeded in filling the air with dust of doubt about
the teaching of the Scriptures on the wine question, there is one
thing about which there is no question, and that is the consent of the
Bible to total-abstinence for anyone who desires and "dares to be a
Daniel." I would rather search my Bible for permission to give up that
over which my brother may stumble into ruin, than to see how far I can
go in the use of it without committing sin. Marriage feasts in Cana of
Galilee two thousand years ago do not concern me so much as the social
feasts of the present age where "wine is a mocker, strong drink is
raging," and many are "deceived thereby."

A noted Bible scholar says: "The Bible is not simply a schedule of
sins and duties catalogued and labeled, but a revelation of immutable
principles, in the application of which God tests the sincerity of our
profession." To drink intoxicating liquor in this enlightened age,
with all the woes of intemperance about us and responsibilities of
life upon us, is a violation of every immutable principle laid down in
the Bible. First, it's against the law of prudence, which says of two
possible paths one should take the safer. Which is the safer,
moderation or total-abstinence? Next, it's against the law of
humility, which teaches where mightier than we have fallen, we must
distrust ourselves. Have mightier than we fallen through strong drink?
Next, it's against the law of human brotherhood, which makes it
imperative upon the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Is the
drinker weak? Next, it's against the law of expediency; "it is good
neither to eat flesh nor drink wine nor anything whereby thy brother
stumbleth." Do our brothers stumble over strong drink? Last, it's
against the law of self-denial; "if meat make my brother to offend, I
will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to
offend." Does strong drink make our brother to offend? On these
immutable principles the cause of sobriety is built, and the gates of
the devil of drink shall not prevail against it.

Young man, let me give you a bit of advice and assurance. Never take a
drink of