Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-06-19
IcutperaMte. q
Tram the Messenger and Recorder.
"The Great Red Dragon"

"The Great Red Dragon"
Mr.. Enron:
I congratulate you upon
the publication of the address OF the
Temperance Convention at Fairmont,
III one of your recent issues, and | have
been waitingto see it call forth wide
and hearty response. The Address
is one FIR ihe times,-condcnscd, ,ar-
rurcn,ativc, clear and conyicting.-
1t certainly does honor to the authors
aud | hope it may be fully digcsted'
especially by all Christian churches
You also promise us IN address from
the vigorous pen Of ED. c. koyes'
and these I hope will be the opening
up Of . full discussion Of this import
ant subject in all our churches and
Associations, until, as body, tho
Bap,ists of Western Virginia shallhe
cleared Of the foul limputation of har-
boring the makers or venders Of this
scu.-kiIling alcohol within their bor-
ders.
Many in tho Church find fault with
tho organization of Temperance as
sociations ont of it,and yet oppose all
ea;rts to bring the influence of Zion
,-te-bea,-again the" evil, by dealing
with drinkers and sellers within the
field. Now, l should like to see their
arguments for such a course upon
paper. / desire much to see the
Church walked up to'this question:
toscc 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, aud in some instances
ministers, apologizing for liquor and
its devolces. The press, religious and
secular; the pulpit and forum other
parts, are fur 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
OH this important subject
The ChuycA of the living God is
committed to high responsibilities on
this subject, for she processes to be the
L.GMr OF THE WonLp!! If then the
light that should be in her becomes
darkness, by the silence Of her min
istry and members, how great as that
darkness.
4 The Church las ever been in the
e3s66rc. front Of every great moral re-
form, she is their greatest, most in
vulnerable ally, and l long to sec her
everywhere marshalling her leglons,
aud going to the front and engaging
in tho thickcst of this battle with the
mowers Of darkness, for the rescue OF
The dcbnscd aud unfortunate Of our
race, and the training of the rising
.rcncruiion in the paths Of virtue and
.subric,y. '.H
For this purpose the ministry must
first sound the alarm. They are "thc
4 IvdrAmw,' and If, when they soc
the sword coming, they cry not and
warn the people, their blood will be
required ut their hands. So long as
they wal. mtil it is popular, for fcol
Of losing place or favor, they may cS-
prcl sIlln hlishlins curse of God Ia
rest un Zion for their sins, while the
nuod of death continues To sweep its
victims 10 tho pit,
So long MS churches co"n'cnanco
ministers who will moi face Tho enc.
ny, and I'll tho breaches Of Zion' 50
,ony will hmy bc wilierrd branches oI
tlm ,rcc.oi' t'oJ, drspiSol umI reject
Cd u! men, without the favor oF the
LorA or the influence Of tho godly.-
May These opening notes of tho tr''m'
not tongue or truth find company
wh,su nume is lcgios. ready Tor This
Great battle in behalf of truth and
humanity.
A VOLUNTEER ron rnr SERVICE.