American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-26


eating liquors. Where were the Elders
of the different Churches? They are
required to ''feed the flock of God which
is among them, taking the oversight
thereof" aud, to be ensamples to the
flock" Paul said, he was an Elder and
as such, it is said, he reasoned of riobts
ousnes, temperance and judgment" Why
should not modern elders do the same p
Where were many of the Methodists, who
boast of million of members; and not a
Rum Seller in the whole church? They
must be more active in the Temperance
cause, elsewhere than in Butler, or they
would be as badly cursed as others, with
Incorporate members. What explana-
nation can be given for there being but
two Presbyterians present, out of their
large aristocratic congregation And,
where were those who adhere so risidly
to David's Psalms9 David's son said!
| ''Look not upon the wine when it is red
when it giveth its color in the cup, when
it moveth itself Alright At the last, it
biteth like serpent and stingeth like am
adder" No doubt he learned this from
his wise old Father, whose Psalms are SO
! full of instruction In short, where
were all the remainder of the professed
followers of Christ Are they afraid of
this Hydra Headed monster Or do
they themselves like the beast? There
is something wrong in this matter But
Ter is represented by eight different chur-
ches, and nearly twice as many hotes where
| they vend that which kills soul and body.
No doubt they are visited daily by fully
twice the number that visit the churches
weekly. And yet | am informed that
there has not been temperance meeting
in the town of Butler for years.
Any man who applies can take out
| license, without a remonstrance Rowdy-
ism is said to be rampant, so that peacea-
bic citizens can hardly be refreshed with
natures sweet restorer," for the distur-
bance carried on in the streets We were
informed that gates are taken off their
hangings, signs are taken down, and car
ried off, dore steps are carried into the
streets, buggies and wagons are run into
the creek, and in fact stranger hardly
feels safe to stop in the place over night.
All this learned from responsible per-
sons resident in the place But few signs
of improvement are seen about the place.
And have heard it said that several en-
terprising men, seeking place to educate
their children, have turned their eyes else
where, on account of the amount of whis-
key sold in Butler. Though do not re-
side is the place, yet it is the county seat
of my own county, and for the honor Of
my native county, and for the cause of
temperance. Tam induced to write what
| | have.
Ministers may preach till their heads
are grey, without affecting any great re-
formation, unless they use Gods Minister
the law, to aid them in their work -
One Rum Hole can, and will do more
harm, than ten Ministers can do good
God intended the law to be a terror to
evil doers," and the citizens of Bntler
ought to male II such. d
If those young men who parade the
streets at night, had no Saloons, or Whis-
key shops to visit, many of them would
likely spend their evenings in Literary
Societies, or perusing good book, or do
ing something to prepare them for sue
cess in life.
Ministers and their focks must first
move in this temperance cause, or intem-
perance will sweep away into drunkard's
grave and adrunkard's he'll its thousands,
and many of them may be our sons, broth
ers or fathers. Providence may teach some
of our prominent Ministers and Laymen,
to their own disgrace, that which they
will not learn in any other way. May we
learn wisdom, before we drink the bitter
dregs of sin, to our own sorrow.
TEMPERANCE.
Sunbury, July 81 1865.