Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-01
For the Yorkville Enquirer.

- E.. A. CRENSHAW.
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE CHURCH AND VOLUNTARY soCIE-
TIE (
Mr.. Editor II find in your paper of June II,
and "a, vol. 4: some extended quotations made by
"Pclemon," from Messrs. Brown. WlLLBBREoRcE,
FISK, and spR1Na, and endorsed by "Polemon"
for correct sentiment; the scope Of oil which sto
show the bad moral characters Of many christians,
and their ignorance of duty in many points but
especially in the use and sale Of ardent spirits;
and 1t is there charged, that ''the Church is aiding,
and sbettng this diabolical conspiracy against the
bodies, and souls Of men," sPolemon" goes on
to say, eff some professors of the Christian reli-
gion in York, shall read [what Mr., spRrsa has
here %written] and maturely reflect on the princip-
les here laid down by Mr.. SPRING." &c. "they
will not be willing to abide in their present posi-.
ton in the Temperance cause" viz: non-member-
ship1 After considering the several objections Of
some Christians, to their becoming members ofs
temperance society, viz: 81 am temperate now,
and there is therefore no need Of my joining
'If I can'tbe temperate without joining q society,
joining will not help me-" A third imsgines it
[joining] will be a reflection upon his past life "to
join q temperance society" 'Polemon' closes
with the quotation thus, every one who stands
aloof, strengthens either directly, or indirectly the
opposite cause" Gviz: internperance, T him
that knoweth to do good, 70 join q temperance
society," and doeth it not" does not joint 'to him
it is sin." Then "Polemon" says on his own res
possibility. SNOW the question is, are these
men respectively liable to the.charge Of inhdelity,
and Of enmity to religion "&c.
To all this I answer. I understand the drift Of
all which ssPolemon" hos exhibited here, as teach.
ing that Christians are under a moral obligation
to God, in their full discharge Of duty, to become
members of some organized Temperance Society;
it may be the sssons of Temperance" sor some 9th
er one ofthat kind; and so be known and distinguish
ed as members Of a Temperance Society. With
this matter before me for consideration, l further
answer.
However praiseworthy it is, for Christians to
become members of q temperance society and
however strong the obligation by their own as.
sumpsit to be temperate, still deny the moral
Obligation of Christians to become members of
any voluntary Society among men atall; and hold
all under moral obligation to be temperate, inde-
pendently of any organized Temperance Society
whatever.
The writer of this article, is now in the twenty
eighth year of total abstinence in the use Of spirit.
Gus liquor; and he has often been o member of
various temperance societies, not for conscience
sake, but for good policy in the cause and he is
now as strong an advocate in feeling for the cause
of temperance, in any shape, as he knows how to
be. By precept and example he long has taught,
and enforced the duty and good policy Of temper
ance by total abstinence on bis part, and the only
objection which he has now to become a member
Of Temperance Society is, that he cannot give
his personal attendance to their meetings. And
the only motive he has for writing this article is,
to defend himself, his minister, and all Christians
from the charge preferred against US all, viz
That sthe Church is aiding, and abetting this dia-
bolical conspiracy against the bodies, and souls
of men" and that "every one who stands aloof,
strengthens either directly or indirectly the oppo-
site cause; " in the failure Of all Christians here,
to become ostensible members of q Temperance
Society, as, our moral duty before God. p
When I am told that it is my moral duty to be-
come q member Of temperance society, for which
is the same thing, she that doeth 1t not, to him Il
is sin,") I demand the rule Of right action to be
pursued, which makes this my duty in sight Of
God for there can be no moral right, nor wrong,
without a rule and in matters Of morals, I 90.
knowledge no other rule than the wiA Of God-a
thus saith the Lord. I do appreciate the opinions
Of such men as Brown, WILBERToRoE, FISK, and
SPRING; but these are men, and only men, and
if they do teach q moral obligation here, l treat
them as men, and claim the right to differ with
them, and to Judge in this matter by the analogy
of Christian faith-the precepts and examples in
the Holy Bible. The Church has suffered quite
enough already, in receiving for true "dootrine,
the commandments of men" ~
In the Characterization, and in civil government,
I do acknowledge the moral obligations On Chris
tisns to conform, and be members Of these associ-
atoms; but these are not voluntary societies,
made and dissolved at the pleasure Of men; nor is
the ,oiA of man the rule which lays on him the OBJ
LEGATION to be members here these are the insh-
tutions of God-Almighty, and his riu is the rule
here, which lays on man the obligation to a mem
bership. Not so in Temperance Societies. these
are all voluntary societies, the yiH Of man alone
is the rule, the only rule, which is brought to
bear in laying on him on obligation to q member
ship and dissolution.
It will perhaps be said: 'It is the duty Of
Christians, to combine for q more efectusl CO.
operation in the good work Of temperance" 1
answer. Duty implies a rule Of right seton to
constitute it such. Ifby this it is meant, that it
is expedient among men, for christians to associ'
ate with the world in a voluntary society, IN or
der to enlarge their field Of labors I; and in closer
contact to give promise Of success the more extern
sively, which is barred to sinners not in church re-
~lations, to this I do consent provided it b the
truth. EIEHSqs