Among the ancients beforementioned, if any of the persons present were
found deficient in drinking their proper portions, they were ordered by
the president either to drink them or to leave the room. This usage has
been a little altered by the moderns. They do not order those persons to
leave the company, who do not comply with the same rules of drinking as
the rest, but they subject them to be fined, as it is termed, that is,
they oblige them to drink double portions for their deficiency, or
punish them in some other manner.
From hence it will be obvious that the laws of drinking are of heathen
origin; that is, the custom of drinking toasts originated, as the
Quakers contend, with men of heathen minds and affections for a sensual
purpose; and it is therefore a custom, they believe; which men of
christian minds and affections should never follow.
The Quakers have rejected the custom again, because they consider it to
be inconsistent with their christian character in other respects. They
consider it as morally injurious; for toasts frequently excite and
promote indelicate ideas, and thus sometimes interrupt the innocence of
conversation.
They consider it as morally injurious again, because the drinking of
toasts has a direct tendency to promote drunkenness.
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