New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-26
Rum and the Pulpit.

Rum ana the fUipH-
What a strange iuxtaposjlion OF incongruities!
excaims the reader as his eye rests upon The words
atthe head of this article. Rum and the Pulpit
The phrase does indeed sound oddly but will notthe
reader be still surprised when we tell him that
the occasion for using il is the fact that Clergyman
OF high standing in one Of the most refined and en-
lightened villages in VermOnt-yes, VERMONT
has been virtually driven from his Pulpit for doing
as Paul did before him reasoning, calm y dispas
sonately, but earnestly as preacher should 'oi
TEMPERANCE Mark it was not Tor denunciation
and abuse, but for reasoning on The subiect-or
appealing with ali the force aud simple eloquence of
Truth to the conscences and hearts OF his hearers
The Clergyman to whomwe alldde is Rev. CHARLES
WALKER Of Bratueboro,' man proverbial Tor his
prudence as well as kindness in all emergencies. In
December last, just before the People OF the State
were 10 decide by their votes whether the Traffic III
intoxicating Liquors should have the solemn sane
ton Of the Law, he preached faithful Temperance
Discourse taking for bis text Rom Ii: 13-" But
Judge this rather, that put stumbling block
or an occasion 10 fall, in his brothers. way He
showed that this admontion is disregarded, LIST BY
the man who uses Intoxicating Liquors asa beverage
2dly BY the man who deals out Spirituous Liquors
for others to drink, or who provides the means for
doing it by furnishing house for the purpose ans
3dly BY all who lend their MD and influence III Civ
ing Licenses to sell such Liquors 10 be drunk as
beverage.
The Sermon appears at length in the Vermont
Chronicle. II presents claims to originality, but
the remarks OF the preacher on each OF the points
above enumerated are exceedingly Just and forci-
Bile, and they as applicable now 10 the condition
OF things in ttis State they were to those in Yer
mont at the time when the Discourse was delivered.
This latter fact furnishes strong nducement To
treat our readers with extracts, in addition 10 the
motive Of doing justice to man who has been turn
ed out OF his Pulpit for fearless discharge OF his
duty The following passages will show in what
manner the preacher did his work, aud how the
Clcrgymen OF this State mag do theirs ii they only
have the courage:
The whole system of licenses is bad oneit is vicious
in tself and always license TO do wrong thing
canuo, make right Butit has the effect Of quietina
the conscience OF him who is engaged in the wrongdo
ing and Of preventing the community from Kidding IT,
self of a nuisance. II there licenses to sell
spirits and il there had been any, there is
than one house in this village which might be indicted
at common law 5 a public nuisance and be suppressed
as pest in society But under the sanction OF license
that is made dwfal which IN itself IN lquous and is
the mother determinations. And the public mind. un
der the influence of the license system, has been SO
trained and corrupted that il bears and susains the evil
Just look at the matter. IL was always known that the
free and promiscuous sale OF Intoxicating liquors was
evil against which society should guard itself Hence
laws were made against il No man has night to sell
without license. la regard 10 other articles OF trahc II
IL NOT So ANY man who furnish them and find pur
chasers has right sell our meat or any other ar
tice injurious the consumers But man would
sell intoxicating liquors e. 1t he would sell IN article
which is Injurious to he must obtain license
to do it, And thus law s made te sanction wrong doing
holds its broad shield the man who destroying
individuals and nluring society ana II makes the man
feel coneated while committing the wrong- quets his
conscience for he pleads that he only doing what the
lay. sanctions.
withholding OF license will not stop the sale II Is said
that many will drink and some will sell whether licenses
granted not This, doubtless. is true. But this
no rcasUn granting license If men will do wrong
e, them do their responsibility. Do throw
the shield of law them project them i'll their
wrong doing Do give them this protection for their
purses and this savo for their conscences. Il any will
will continue deal the poison 10 their fellow
LEI than and NOT the law, bear the blame Let them do
it, and meet the consequences. Even there should not
be moral principle enough in the community to prose
them and bring them Justice. still il will hot be in
vain will take the quetus from their cousciences
and permit that monitor if there be any remains OF it in
their bosoms, sting them with setreproach. And it
will also develop their true character Non. many
man who pockets the gains Of selling would wish to
be considered the friend of law ana order He would be
considered as honorable man and aw'abidrg With
hold the license, and see il he will sill obey law. With
hold the license and what his claims to be good
and respectable and aw.soiding CITIZEN See ii be Will
not as some have done within remembrance, break
the law conuirc al It's being broken. See he viii
not show that he loves the gains OF inquty than
he does his honor and his lawkeeping habits Il is a
good way try the integrity OF men. II Is most eN
ceeut means for developing character. We have had
some trial of heretofore and may have again II
licenses not given Let US see done Let men snow
themselves IL is sometimes useful 70 community 10
learn the truc character Of mems protested patriotism,
and to ascertain what they when they say they
frencs OF law and order.
Beside the refusing Of; license viii not stop the sale
ifruen will sell whether they have license 10 do Il or
not why is it that all who interested in the
traffic are so strenuous 70 have licenses granted VIII
not their gains on what they sell without license be
cst as great AS they had license' And might they
not save also hc expense OF license by selling liquors
w:;hou, one Why then are they SO DESTROYS to have
Commissioners elected who Will grant licenses why
do they want license at a..
And here my friends. the whole mater comes out
Those who Sci! spurious liquors and those VINO otlh
them, and those who pocket gain from the uaic want
the sanction Of ao for the business so that ihelr con-
sciences may be more and their unrighteou'
gains be the secure IN their purses. Ihey want
you and aud all sober TO Sanction their ooinss
aud say they right This is the shield under which they
have hitherto been protected and they desire II SILL
WIN you give themi VIII you give your sanction 10
the sale OF intoxicating liquors IN this County WA!
you consent either BY acting not acting to have the
uoodgste OF nIqaity kept open and TO have men run
cd soul and body for time and eternity, By law
II must be ruined lei il be done against
the law! Ii sous, brothers and neighbors must
TALL victims 10 the tempters lust of gain let be done
assinsi law Il more OF what calls Liquid death
aud distilled ELIMINATION" is TO be poured the
muniiy lei IT, pray, you. done without the sanction
OF ls" Let the tratscers. and those who with them
share The gains OF the traffic bear the responsibility and
not the whole community.
The Vernon; Chronicle states that, 10 a few inau.
entail individuals in Mr.. Walkers Society who
were owners or keepers of taverns, or strongly in
favor Of Licenses. the sermon gave grea, offence,
and they sisnifed their desire to be released
from any farther pecauiary obligations for me sup,
por, of the minister. The Church and Society as q
body, il is understood approved OF the Sermon,
which has been published in a pamphlet form, and
were willing 10 stand by their Pastor but such
were the circumstances OF the case that he deemed
expedient to ask for dismission and the Church,
in accordance with the advice of Council, have
granted it-not that they had aught against their
pastor but from the necessity of the case.