Take away every drunkard from the earth today and
moderate drinking will soon create another supply; but sweep all
drunkenness from the world, let total-abstinence be the absolute rule
and the last drunkard will have debased his body, ruined his
character, and doomed his soul.

Since running the risk of being a moderate drinker is so great, I
commend to the young people before me the caution of the Scotch
minister, who, when called upon to marry a couple, said: "My young
friends, marriage is a blessing to a great many persons; it's a curse
to some; it's a risk for everybody; will you take the venture?" I
presume they did. I do not believe the use of intoxicating liquor as a
beverage is a benefit to anyone, yet for argument's sake I will permit
one who drinks to say: "Moderate drinking is a benefit to a few
persons; it's a curse to a great many; it's a risk for everybody;
let's take a drink!" Against this I affirm that total abstinence is a
blessing to millions; it's a curse to nobody; it's safe and right for
everybody; then let's take the pledge and God helping us, let's keep
it.

A very comforting reply to the infidel who claims there will be no
hereafter is the inscription on the tomb of a faithful Christian:

"If there's another world, he's in bliss;
If not, he's made the best of this."

If there is no hereafter, to say the least the Christian is even with
the infidel, while if there is a hereafter it's bad for the infidel.
If a moderate drinker has sufficient self-control to escape being a
drunkard, the total abstainer is equally safe; but if the moderate
drinker loses his self-control and becomes a drunkard his doom is
sealed. The safe definition of temperance is: "Moderation in regard to
things useful and right, total-abstinence in regard to things hurtful
and wrong." Is alcoholic liquor as a beverage hurtful and wrong? It's
the source of more misery, cruelty and crime than any other evil of
the world!

Some years ago after a lecture along this line, a doubting Thomas said
to me: "What answer have you for the scholar who claims your very word
'temperance' is the offspring of a word that signifies moderation?" I
said: "The same I would give to a Darwinian if he were to tell me I am
a descendant of the ape; and that is, I rejoice to know I'm an
improvement on my ancestor. To one who charges me with being a distant
relative of the chimpanzee, I give the reply of Henry Ward Beecher: 'I
don't care how _far d