Grappling with the Monster eBook

Timothy Shay Arthur
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 245 pages of information about Grappling with the Monster.

Grappling with the Monster eBook

Timothy Shay Arthur
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 245 pages of information about Grappling with the Monster.
and restrain him; and his co-operation with them was earnest as to purpose, but not permanently availing.  The nervous susceptibility inherited from his father responded with a morbid quickness to every exciting cause, and the moment wine or spirits touched the sense of smell or taste, he was seized with an almost irresistible desire to drink to excess, and too often yielded to its demands.  For months he would abstain entirely; and then drink to intoxication in secret.

After graduating from Princeton he became pastor of a church in one of the largest cities of Western New York, where he remained for two years, distinguishing himself for his earnest work and fervid eloquence.  But the appetite he had formed was imperious in its demands, and periodically became so strong that he lost the power of resistance.  When these periodic assaults of appetite came, he would

LOCK HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM FOR DAYS

and satiate the fierce thirst, coming out sick and exhausted.  It was impossible to conceal from his congregation the dreadful habit into which he had fallen, and ere two years had elapsed he was dismissed for drunkenness.  He then went to one of the chief cities of the West, where he received a call, and was, for a time, distinguished as a preacher; but again he fell into disgrace and had to leave his charge.  Two other churches called him to fill the office of pastor, but the same sad defections from sobriety followed.  For a considerable time after this his friends lost sight of him.  Then he was found in the streets of New York City by the president of the college from which he had first graduated, wretched and debased from drink, coatless and hatless.  His old friend took him to a hotel, and then brought his case to the notice of the people at a prayer-meeting held in the evening at one of the churches.  His case was immediately taken in hand and money raised to send him to the State Inebriate Asylum.  After he had remained there for a year, he began to preach as a supply in a church a few miles distant, going on Saturday evening and returning on Monday morning; but always having an attendant with him, not daring to trust himself alone.  This went on for nearly a whole year, when a revival sprang up in the church, which he conducted with great eloquence and fervor.  After the second week of this new excitement, he began to lock himself up in his room after returning from the service, and could not be seen until the next morning.  In the third week of the revival, the excitement of the meetings grew intense.  After this he was only seen in the pulpit, where his air and manner were wild and thrilling.  His friends at the asylum knew that he must be drinking, and while hesitating as to their wisest course, waited anxiously for the result.  One day he was grandly eloquent.  Such power in the pulpit had never been witnessed there before—­his appeals were unequalled; but so wild and impassioned that some began to fear for

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Grappling with the Monster from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.