A WARNING about excessive behaviour at Christmas time was published in the Annandale Observer in December 1881.
And the message is uncannily similar to that often promoted by health and crime agencies today.
The paper reported how the Presbytery of Dumfries had instructed all its parish churches to read a ‘pastoral on intemperance’ to their congregations.
The Observer also published extracts, referring especially “to the social customs which prevail chiefly at this season of the year”.
Their article said: “Our current modes of exhibiting hospitality are capable of improvement in the direction of true temperance.
“The custom of offering a stimulant to every guest is much to be deprecated. There is still an almost incredible amount of the old lingering superstition that it is an act of inhospitality not to offer a drink.
“One does it because another does it and because he dreads being thought cold or stingy. Sometimes through mistaken kindness the so-called ‘friendly glass’ is almost forced into the unwilling hand, or into hands trembling through past excess.”
They do concede that there are times when “drink may with safety and propriety” be produced, adding: “If, as a general rule, you refrain from offering it, you act a manlier and more Christian part, and you strike a blow at the prestige which intoxicating liquors have too long enjoyed as an essential factor in our social intercourse.
“To many, happily, they present no temptations, but to others they are a source of serious danger.”
Intemperance, or drinking, is described in the piece as: “It biteth like a serpent and sinketh like an adder”.
And the advice is to shun the occasions where it might be around, drop the customs that encourage it, pray not to be led into temptation, and not to encourage others in their drinking.
It continues: “In your social gatherings, at this and all seasons, see that your example and influence be cast on the side of strictest temperance and moderation. The often exploded idea that good fellowship is promoted by drink is still cherished to some extent and by it much of the excess which we deplore is caused and countenanced.
“It is indeed a strange idea that, to be convivial and social, a man must blunt his memory and heat his brain with the fumes of liquor. The clear head and calm mind are surely best fitted to promote mirth, to give rise to agreeable conversation, to render us capable of real enjoyments ourselves.
“Specially we urge this on such occasions as baptisms, funerals, and marriages. It is of vast importance that events consecrated by the rites of religion should be conducted in a serious and earnest spirit and we strongly recommend that all drinking customs should be disassociated from them. We think this of especial importance in the case of baptisms and funerals.”
