The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-02-27

CoLUMBUs, February l6, 1852.

tFOr the Organ Of the Temperance ReiOrm.l
CoLuMBUs, February l6, 1852.
Mr.. Editor ;--In your last number, is an
article from which the following is an ex-
tract "The religious press, as well as the
secular, is respected. The religious journal
must not denounce the splendid salOon-the
vast rum palace-because some of its prin-
cipal patrons are stockholders in such es-
tablishments." True, lamentably true. A
few weeks ago, and before the regular issue
of the Organ" agentleman of your county,
then in this city, wished to communicate to
the public some facts on the subject of
temperance, and chose as the medium of
his thoughts, the Central Christian Herald
of your city. The first two or three arti-
cles spoke in general terms, of the cheering
prospects of the cause, and Of a growing
public sentiment in favor of the Maine Law.
These were published in the Herald, and
favorably referred to by the Editor Soon
the writer came to speak Of the obstacles in
the way Of the cause, and among others,
commented, with some severity, on the per-
ucious influence exerted by protesting
Christians who rent their houses for dram.
shops and invest their capital in splendid
saloons and vast rum palaces" The fact
was stated that Elders, and other Church
members, own stock in that mammoth
depot of the DEVILS Railroad, on Third
street, where thousands are ticketed through
to perdition, aud that a thousand dollars
worth of liquor was sold at that establish
ment on the first Sabbath it was open,
while, perhaps, those protesting Christians
we're reading in their Bible. ,Ooe 10 him that
Putteth the bottle to his neighbours lps"-" no
drunkGrd shall inherit the kingdom Of Heauen," !"
and closed the exercises of that holy day in
the evening prayer meeting by offering the
petition, "thy kingdom come, thy sOiH be DONE
in earth as It is in heaveR, and by Monday
morning they were prepared to receive their
share of the Sabbath days profits. But
strange to say, upon receiving this article,
the columns of the Christian Herald"
were full, and the Editor had no room for
it then, aud has not had since. Some of
the principal patrons of the Herald" are
stockholders in that establishment. "COn-
sistency, thou art jewel" and Christian
virtue, too, of priceless worth. 1t ia a
hackneyed saying, that the power Of the
Church, if concentrat, d, is competent to
crush any evil but alas, her strength is
paralyzed by her compromising spirit. The
glitter of wealth, the power of the cal.
mighty dollar" strikes faintness to the
heart of the minister at the altar, and the
Christian editor in his chair, and the
standard Of moral courage is graduated by
the "mammon of unrighteousness." Dr.
Chauning justly said, "the capital of the
rich places at every poor mans door g
temptation to destroy him." And worse
than this, it adulterates the Gospel of the
Son of God, so that often it cannot be had
in its purity from the sacred desk, mol
from the columns of the religious press
Sinful practices must not be exposed les
r patronage should be withdrawn from som,
l. benevolent enterprise. Wickedness il
g high places" must be tolerated in order I,
obtain the means to- denounce it in low
l. places.
d Where are the JOshuas', the Daniels, tn,
=, John the Baptists' and the Pauls' of tn,
d nineteenth century. How greatly tn,
D. Church and the reformatory measures o
U the age need such spirits to carry tn
!, standard of truth into the enemy's camp
;, and rally around it the scattered forces o
= Christianity, and inspire them with hol,
u zeal and an invincibe faith in the worj
and word of their Divine Master.
At A Pastor of wealthy Church; which
within ten years, has sent away two minis
ters because they applied Gods truth plainl
II to the accursed business of distilling whis
h ky, which was carried on by three or fou
r. of the members, has recently commence,
the noble work which ostracised his prede
\. cessors, and when questioned as to tn
le policy of his course, replied that he ha
rs counted the cost" Magnanimous an
s. swer. Ny heart was enlarged when
h, heard it, and l felt like travelling ift
e. miles to shake the hand of him who made /
o. Mr.. Editor, before you enlisted in tn
to war Of determination against alcohol,
hope you counted the COST" for befor
victory perches upon our banners man
fierce battles must be fought, and some {
IN them, too, with those who "daily worshi
y in the temple" of God.
u Yours in the conflict,