A LECTURE ON- TOBACCO. 67 



home than in a pipe. If it is a mere question of pleasure, 

 he or she is most to be commended who gives up to the 

 other. But when the serious results of smoking are better 

 understood, true affection will do its utmost to avert them. 

 We all recognize the influence of women on social cus- 

 toms ; when they heartily beheve that this is hurtful, and 

 even dangerous, as well as of ill-odor, their influence will 

 be strong to discountenance it. 



The dehberate opinion of the medical profession will 

 sustain our efforts, whatever may be the habits of some of 

 its members. It is said that, as regards intoxicants, they 

 have been too apt to consider the pleasure of their patients, 

 and to prescribe that which may lessen a passing evil 

 without regard to subsequent dangers ; but of tobacco, 

 they will usually say that it is safest to abstain from it. 



In my youth there was no scruple as to moderate drink- 

 ing, and a pipe was considered a suitable appendage to a 

 minister's study. Now there are many who protest against 

 both, and some American Conferences refuse to license, 

 as preachers, those who take the license of the weed.-^ 

 Religious men, who have been taught to flee from idolatry, 

 have been conscience -stricken when it was brought home 

 to them that the pipe was their idol, asserting its claims 

 over those of social duty and Divine service. If those 

 who are not conscious of this idolatry, but who own the 

 obhgations of rehgion and morality, would look on smok- 

 ing-customs, not on their playful or social side, but with 

 due regard to their unsocial tyranny, and the serious evils 

 attending them, they would more frequently make it a 

 matter of conscience to abstain from them, and to induce 

 others to do the same. If they feel that this would in- 

 1 "Narcotism," No. 25; "Monthly Letters," p. 190. 



