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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
its use many bring upon themselves permanent disease. Some die of
consumption or fall under the power of apoplexy from this cause alone.
Some suffer from dyspepsia. Every vital function is deadened and the
physicians tell them that they have liver complaint, when if they would
break open the cider barrel and never replace it, their abused life forces
would recover their vigor.
Cider drinking leads to the use of stronger drinks. The stomach
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loses its natural vigor, and something stronger is needed to arouse
it to action. On one occasion, when my husband and myself were
traveling, we were obliged to spend several hours waiting for the train.
While we were in the depot, a red-faced, bloated farmer came into
the restaurant connected with it, and in a loud, rough voice asked:
“Have you first-class brandy?” He was answered in the affirmative,
and ordered half a tumbler. “Have you pepper sauce?” “Yes,” was
the answer. “Well, put in two large spoonfuls.” He next ordered two
spoonfuls of alcohol added, and concluded by calling for “a good dose
of black pepper.” The man who was preparing it asked: “What will
you do with such a mixture?” He replied: “I guess that will take hold,”
and, placing the full glass to his lips, drank the whole of this fiery
compound. That man had used stimulants until he had deadened the
tender coats of the stomach.
Many, as they read this, will laugh at the warning of danger. They
will say: “Surely the little wine or cider that I use cannot hurt me.”
Satan has marked such as his prey; he leads them on step by step, and
they perceive it not until the chains of habit and appetite are too strong
to be broken. We see the power that appetite for strong drink has over
men; we see how many of all professions and of heavy responsibilities,
men of exalted station, of eminent talents, of great attainments, of
fine feeling, of strong nerves, and of good reasoning powers, sacrifice
everything for the indulgence of appetite, until they are reduced to
the level of the brutes; and in very many cases their downward course
commenced with the use of wine or cider.
When intelligent men and women who are professedly Christians
plead that there is no harm in making wine or cider for the market
because when unfermented it will not intoxicate, I feel sad at heart. I
know there is another side to this subject that they refuse to look upon;
for selfishness has closed their eyes to the terrible evils that may result
from the use of these stimulants. I do not see how our brethren can