I. The Student’s Obligation
On being received as a student of this institution, I do solemnly promise, God helping me, that I will be obedient to the rules of this institution and endeavor to prove myself an earnest student and thoughtful, faithful worker; that I will be prompt in responding to every call, pay the cost of repair to any furniture or glass broken, as a result of thoughtlessness or carelessness on my part; and that I will refrain from the use of profane or angry words to man or beast; and also from the use of tobacco, cigarettes, snuff, dice, gamblers cards, and intoxicating liquors as a beverage, while I enjoy the privileges of the academy.
II. Christian Endeavor Pledge
Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise him that I will strive to do whatever he would like to have me do; that I will pray to Him and read the Bible every day, and that, so far as I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead a Christian life.
III. Pledge of Self-Help Students
As long as I am accorded and enjoy the privilege of a home and of a student at Oak Hill Academy, recognizing the fact that my time during the periods of work does not belong to me, but to the institution;
I solemnly pledge my word and honor, God helping me, that I will refrain from making any engagement elsewhere, that might interfere with the faithful and constant performance of the duties devolving on me at Oak Hill; that I will conscientiously keep my word as to the time of my return, when absent from my home at the academy; that I will yield a prompt and cordial obedience to all the rules and regulations relating to the conduct of students at the academy, and that I will constantly endeavor to show myself worthy the confidence and esteem of the superintendent and his helpers; and not leave the institution until I have honorably met all of my obligations.
IV. Total Abstinence Pledge
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”-Paul.
“With malice toward none and charity for all, I the undersigned do pledge my word and honor,
God Helping Me
To abstain from all Intoxicating Liquors as a beverage and that I will, by all honorable means, encourage others to abstain.
An acre of government land costs $1.25, and a bottle of whiskey about $2.00. How strange that so many people prefer the whiskey.
The Intoxicating Cup
Within this glass destruction rides,
And in its depths does ruin swim;
Around its foam perdition glides,
And death is dancing on its brim.
What They Think About It
A curse.-Queen Victoria.
A scandal and a shame.-Gladstone.
It stupefies and besots.-Bismark.
The devil in solution.-Sir Wilfred Lawson.
The mother of want and the nurse of crime.-Lord Brougham.
Saloons are traps for workingmen.-Earl Cairnes.
Abraham Lincoln
The following is the pledge of Abraham Lincoln, the great emancipator.
“Whereas, the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage is productive of pauperism, degradation and crime, and believing it is our duty to discourage that which produces more evil than good; we, therefore pledge ourselves to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.”
When Lincoln signed the pledge he was a tall awkward youth, and the only one that went forward at the meeting in the log school house to sign it that night. When he was president, “Old Uncle John,” who induced him to sign it, called on him at the White House and Lincoln said:
“I owe more to you than to almost any one of whom I can think. If I had not signed the pledge in the days of my youthful temptation, I should probably have gone the way of a majority of my early companions, who lived drunkard’s lives and are now filling drunkard’s graves.”
After reconstruction, the next great question is the overthrow of the liquor traffic.-Abraham Lincoln.
William Henry Harrison
“Gentlemen I have now twice refused your request to partake of the wine cup. That should be sufficient. I made a resolve when I started in life, that I would avoid strong drink: I have never broken that pledge. I am one of a class of seventeen young men who graduated; the other sixteen fill drunkard’s graves, all due to the pernicious habit of wine drinking. I owe my health, happiness and prosperity to the fact I have never broken my pledge of total abstinence. I trust you will not again urge me to do so.”
This noble answer was given to friends who were dining with him at the old Washington House in Chester, Pa., when he was a candidate for president.
