THE ALBUM:

OR

Original, Miscellaneous

CONTRIBUTIONS OF FRIENDS.

(Vol I.)

THORNTON:

Printed and Published by A. C. ADAMS.

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1849.

THE ALBUM.

No.1.

APRIL 1848.

ADDRESS ΤΟ OUR

FRIENDS.

In submitting to our friends the first number of THE ALBUM,we beg to state briefly the design of the present miscellany.

We will not,like Public Journalists, embroil ou selves in the vindication of any particular clars of political dogmas or sectarian tenets considering such disputations not only to be negatively unprofitable, but positively prejudicial to the union of social interest. On the contrary, our columns shall be open only for such subjects as are serious, literary, or of an amusing character.

In our endeavours to carry our this purpose we shall insert in each number a few stanzas of original poetry, a charade or enigma, a popular tale, and such letters of correspondence as our friends shall kindly transmit to us. Contributions are earnestly solicited. Deeming it unnecessary to claim for curselves an exemption from criticism, we now venture our first impression into the hards of our private readers as a medium of mutual intercourse.

TEMPERANCE.

Vino forma perit, vino corrumpitur ætas.

The movement of Total Abstinence is one of some importance, all will admit; since it is a great movement either in the RIGHT direction or the WRONG. Here then is the question with which we commence its advocacy: Have Temrance societies a moral, or an immoral tendency, are they calculated to do good or to do evil This is a momentous query, and one in the answer of which is involved either a stand agait st the progressing inroads of tem

mée in our country, or a defence of the

iples which it professes to inculcate. As toits probable moral results, there can be but two opinious, one favorable, the other unfavorcblo But nguy will admit that the results eb good, whi ́st they deny the propriety of the seeing there are instances in Scripture wife is absolutely recommended". Og in plous amazement exclaim "can it Dutlawful to drink that which our Blessed ud while on earth?" No: we answer 6 once; it could not for one moment by any rational Christian be questioned that it was te lawful to drink the wine which Christ monsly produced at the marriage in

But it is certain that our Saviour only ONE kind of wine at the Galileean Was it Port, Sherry, Madeira, or angue. Ceruban, Falernian, Maronian, sic, Chinn, Lesbian, or Leucadian,&c.? All win -drinkers know well that modern we are widely different; and we may safely

lude that they all differ from the ancient.

Then granting that Christ made one of the ancient, or one of the modern wines, He could have made no more; from which it is manifest that this argument, or this fact rather, is no scriptural proof that the cup should be used indiscriminately. But we are told that wine is wine, by whatever other differential term it is denominated, and that the arguments which have reference to one, have equal weight when applied to all. Witness this assertion carried out in a parallel case. Christ by a miracle supplied a whole multitude with fish; but does any one argue from this that we should eat all kinds of fish without distinction?

By making such an affirmation any man would hazard his reputation as a judicious reasoner, for it is evidently repugnant to common sense. To eat the whale and dog-fish might be "lawful", but certainly it is "not expedient"; but to partake of such as Christ distributed to his followers is both lawful and expedient. Let the impartial apply this, with regard to the pure unadulterated juice of the grape, such as our Saviour honoured in his 'beginning of miracles', and to the alcoholic poisons which are current in the present day. We do not pronounce it to be injurious to use medicinally such wine as Paul recommended to his "son Timothy"; but we do boldly affirm that no portion of Scripture countenances the drinking of such wine as Solomon refers to in the following inspired advice. "Look not upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent. and stingeth like an adder". Mark the expressign look not upon' it, which surely implies that

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