Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-06-17
md Indifference from others, the work has been

and Indifference from others, the work has beef
brought nearly to q stand. In many places it i
wholly so; and in some 1t is on the decline. Ii
some towns it has been ascertained that more ar
dent spirits were consumed last year than the yea
before some who stopped selling have resumed
the traffic, and many societies and individuals who
were jealous in the causehsve fallen asleep. Now,
why is this? The chief cause Of all this obstruc,
ton is to be traced to the Church. We expected
inhdels, and rum.drinkers, and selfish men, would
scof and oppose; but against them we expected
to array the enlightened statesman, the philan'
thropic citizen, and, above all, the whole body Of
the Church. But it has not been so. Christians
Of various denominations are strengthening the
hands ofthe wicked.
"The question now, then, stands thus:-There is
now o powerful contest between the powers OF
darkness and the principles of righteousness : as
yet it is a doubtful conflict: an awful suspense
hangs over the scene under God, the deciding
power is in the Church let her continue to counte-
nance the enemies cause, as she now does, giving
them aid and comfort, and intemperance will ti-
umph. The land will be filled with sorrow and
covered with blood, and millions of souls will 60
down to the pit. On the other hand, if tho Church
throws oil her influence on the right side, the pow
ers Of darkness will be driven back, and the cause
of God will triumph. Christian brethren, this, I
hare no doubt, is the true state of the case.
X X X
81 know there are objections to temperance So
c~ieties; but most of these objections originate with
the lovers Of rum, or with those who, for the sake
of the gain, pander to the drunkard's appetite, re-
gardless Of his present and eternal welfare. Such
men retail scandalous stories about "cold water
men," They impugn their motives, and laugh at
their efforts. They say, SIT is a s~eetarisn plan )"
''an attempt to unite Church and State % ga piece
of priestcraft to rob Independent citizens of their
rights and the like. These objections are too
ridiculous to merit q serious reply; and coming
from the source they do, they are q high commen-
dalton Of the measures adopted. But there are
the friends Of temperance. 81 am temperate now"
joining" Another says, "If I can't be temperate
without joining q society, joining will nothelp me-"
A third imagines it will be q reflection upon his
past life to join a temperance society. Now, all
these objections originate in q wrong view Of the
subject. It is not for your own sake that you
should join in this work, but for the sake Of the
cause. Dc you ask how this can help the cause !?
need only point you to what has been effected
by temperance societies, to answer this question.
The present philosophy is to test all theories by
their practical results. Now, what have temper
ance societies done? They have embodied more
than haJa million on the principle Of entire absi.
nence. They have thrown an influence over as
many more who practice on the same principle
This also will bring at least two millions of chill
dren under the influence of the same principles.
Temperance societies have walked up the nation to
its danger-have carried an influence into the ar
my and the navy-have raised the voice of thou
sands, that were before silent, in behalf of tenn
perance. Their tracts are in circulation, their
temperance periodicals, and their ADDRESSES
Their reports, and the reports Of their agents,
have collected and spread out before the public
the statistics Of intemperance, and have proved in
contestably the fallacy Of the old and too general
ly approved doctrine, that ardent spirits are use
full and necessary. Do you ask, then, "0f what
use is it for me to join temperance society ~
Every one who joins in good faith helps on this
work and strengthens this cause. Every one who
stands aloofstrsngthens, either directly or indirect
ly, the opposite cause. Here, then, is a way to
do good-'a great door, and an ~effectual one, is
opened" And what saith the word? ITO him
that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him
it is sim"
Now the question Is: are these men, (having no
reference to Paul) respectively liable to the charge
ofinadelity and of enmity to religion, or casting
these charges away as the suggestions Of ignor-
ance or Hypocrisy did each declare the truth
This is the material question. What say you, rea,
der? POLEMON.