Teetotalers and teetotalism : a letter to the Rev. Dr. Campbell, in vindication of teetotaliam and the teetotal body from the attacks made by him and his anonymous correspondents / by Thomas Beggs.

  • Thomas Beggs
Date:
[1854]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Teetotalers and teetotalism : a letter to the Rev. Dr. Campbell, in vindication of teetotaliam and the teetotal body from the attacks made by him and his anonymous correspondents / by Thomas Beggs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    untried that were likely to secure the co-operation of professing Christians. When did you hear of a minister being otherwise than courteously treated and well received on a Temperance platform ? Again, I hold that our advocacy both in tract, publication, and lecture or speech, has been generally of Such a character as wise men, who see the im¬ portance of adapting means to ends, can approve. Of course there are exceptions, but we must not be judged by these exceptions. V I have felt in these unworthy squabbles something for the honor of Teetotalism. I^hould be sorry to lose your powerful aid, but I must say that I do not wish to retain it at the price we have to pay for it. Your retirement may be attended with some temporary injury to the cause, but we shall sur¬ vive that. That cause is safe, if it be true ; if it be not true, no honest man will wish it to live. But it is true, and will live. Total abstinence has become the habit of hundreds of thousands of men, its arguments have become incorporated with the literature of the country, and its own literature has obtained an immense and permanent circulation. We have no fears. I do not believe that your name, useful as it is, is necessary to our existence; and I may further say, that I do not believe that your most deadly hostility could do the cause so much injury as the course you have adopted in the last few numbers of the British Banner. I am indignant at your insulting menace. Are we now to be told that we are indebted to the tenderness of Dr. Campbell—that we are not blown before the four winds of heaven. After having braved so much, is it come to this ? You have done your worst, and we can calmly await any further attempt. As to the principle, we know that to be as impregnable as truth itself. We know our weak points— we are like all human instruments, full of infirmities; but I believe when we are cast up, that the great weakness of our movement will be found in having men amongst us who have not the courage to act up to their convictions. Men who, like yourself, stand faltering between their convenience and their duty, and who, having given in their adhesion are ashamed of their new associates—shrink from the opposition with which the practice is met in good society, and therefore feel it neces¬ sary to be always scolding and rating us as a sort of apology for belonging to us. That among all our weaknesses will be found to be the weakest part of all. Yours most truly, Thomas Beggs. 37, Southampton Street, Strand, London. London: Published by W. Tweedie, 337, Strand ; and Printed by Richard Barrett, 13, Mark Lane. 22501952287
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