Religion and Drink By THE REV. E. A. WASSON, PH.D. RECTOR OF ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Search the scriptures.-John 5.39. CALIFORNIA NEW YORK BURR PRINTING HOUSE CALIFORNIA THE PREFACE THE word drink in this book means those alcoholic beverages spoken of in the Bible. The conclusions apply, strictly, only to those particular beverages. But, naturally, they apply, by analogy, for certain purposes, to other alcoholic drinks that are no more hazardous. For example; if wine is right, beer is. In the composition of this book I gratefully acknowledge valuable suggestions from my learned friend, Mr. Walter J. Kidd. What is God's will for us in the matter of drink? This book is an attempt to answer that question; and no other. As far as I know, mine is the first examination of this question, on so extensive a scale, in the English language. This is remarkable, too, in view of the fact that the religious aspect of the drink question is the really vital and critical one for millions and millions of people; and of the further fact that around all other sides of the question veritable libraries have been built up. The answer I seek in the Bible and the Church; -the Church, I say, not some division of it; but the Church as a whole, the Church Universal. The chapters on the Old and New Testaments may look hard and uninteresting, because of the Hebrew and Greek words recurring so frequently. But, after all, there are only four of these, and 3 302504 a little attention to them will not only overcome the very slight difficulty, but will place the English reader in as favorable a situation for judging the Bible evidence on the subject of drink as the student of Hebrew and Greek. Without the citation of these few original words I do not see how this could be done. And no one with any serious interest in the subject will begrudge the slight labor called for in these chapters, All I ask is that my readers read this book with open minds, knowing that only error and wrong shun the light. However passionate our convictions, we should surrender them, if proved wrong, as loyal servants of Him who enjoins us to cut off hand or foot, yes, to pluck out the eye, that offend, and cast them from us. Not only ought we to surrender our error; we shall have to surrender it sooner or later, willynilly. For this we may be sure of,-God's way will stand, not ours. Our passions, prejudices, ignorances will injure ourselves; they will injure others; they will retard the truth; but prevail they will not. At last we must come to God's way and God's truth. At last we must come to it; why not, rather, at first? Bias and passion, then, in this matter should be put away. They merely impede a good cause; one who believes he is right can afford to be moderate and calm. The theologian, at the court of James I., who was being worsted in the argument, spat in his opponent's face. "That", said the latter, quietly wiping his cheek with his handkerchief, "is only a digression. Let us now resume the argument". Does God forbid or allow alcoholic drink? It is not for you or me to say; it is for God's Word and God's Church. To the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them (Is. 8.20). In what quarter lies the morning? In what, the night? Newark, N. J. E. A. WASSON. |