Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-07-03
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Nia. Enron

"The Great Red Dragon"
Mr. Enron:
congratulate you upon
the publication of the address OF tho
Temperance Convention at Fairmont,
iii one of your recent issues, and lhave
been waitingto see it call forth wide
and hearty response. The Address
is onc FIR Lhe times,-condcnscd, ar
rur,cn,ativc, clear and convicting.-
1t certainly does honor to the authors
aud hope it may be fully digcstcd,
especially by all Christian churches
You also promise us an address from
the vigorous pen of ED. c. keycs,
and these I hope will be the opening
up os j full discussion Of this import
ant ,suhicct in all our churches and
Associations, until, as a body, tho
Bap,is,s of Western Virginia shullbe
cleared of the foul imputation Of har-
boring the makers or venders Of this
scu!-killing alcohol within their bor-
ders.
Many in tic Church find fault with
tho organization of Temperance as
sociations ont of it,and yet oppose oil
ea"rts to bring the influence of Zion
te-bea,- against the evil, by dealing
with drinkers and sellers within the
field. Now, should like to see their
arguments. for such a course upon
paper. | desire much to see the
Church walked up to'this question:
tosce it asitated and discussed until
truth shines among all our members,
and tho denominations Of liquor SELL
ing and drinking arc abundantly dis
closed.
This is needed. On every side we
see members, and in some instances
ministers, apologizing for liquor and
its dcvo,ces. The press, religious and
secular; the pulpit and forum ofother
parts. are far in advance Of these in
strumcnts Of reform among US, and
consequently they are leavening the
mass Of mind around them with the
high moral sentiments of the age up
OIL this important subject
The Church Of the living God is
committed to high responsibilities on
this subject, for she processes to be the
Light OF THE WonLp!! If then the
light that should be in her becomes
darkucss, by the silence of her min
istry and members, how great as That
aarkaess.
II The Church las ever been in the
c3,6rc.front Of every great moral re-
form, she is their greatest, most in
vulnerable ally, and l long to SEQ her
everywhere marshalling her lcgions,
and going to the front and engaging
! in tho ,hickcst Of this battle with the
powors Of darkness, for the rescue OF
tho dcbnscd aud unfortunate Of our
race, and the training Of the rising
generation in the paths Of virtue aud
.sobricty.
For this purpose the ministry must
iirstsound the alarm. They are "thc
a Jydr1mrw,' and il, when they 500
4 the sword coming, they cry not and
warn the people, their blood will be
e rcu,lired ut their lands. So long as
y they wal, mlil It is popular, for frnl
Of losing place or favor, they may cS-
prrl slllo hlghlins curse Of God ID
rest on Zion for their sins, while tho
Duod Of death continues 10 sweep its
victims 10 tho pit.
So lmny Ms churches conn'cnanco
ministers who will noI inc" tho enc
my, aud Gil the breaches Of Zion, 50
,ong will Ilry hc willercd branches o!
the tree of God, lcspiscl aud reject.
cL Of mcu, without the favor of the
Lorh or the influence Of tho god|y.-
May these opening notes ofthc tr''m-
prt tongue or truth Gnd company
wlrsu name is legion. ready for this
great battle in behalf of truth and
humanity.
A VOLUNTEER ron rnr SERVICE.