Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-23
For the Spectator.
STAUNToN, Va, March Sth, 1869.

~, OTAUNTON, VA, n1arcn otn, IoO9.
Mr. MAUZY - $3.50
Through the columns of your pop
ular paper, will you permit me to say few
words in behalf of the cause of Temperance. -
And in order to properly introduce my subject,
will give the reader slight insight into the
scenes enacted in this town every Sabbath
From time immemorial it has been the custom
with ,ohiskey shops to keep back door open
on Sunday for the accommodation of such cold
and young soaks" as neither stayed at home,
or went to Church. Ii was considered as al
most necessary evil, and as such it was al
lowed. This we say aoas the custom. 1t is
the custom no longer. But some of the Bar
Rooms of this toon are getting SO bold in the
joint service of king Alcohol and the Devil,
that they no longer see fit to lock their front
doors on the Sabbath, but leave them slightly
closed and while the morally disposed, and re-
ligious portion of our community are going,
and returning from Church, they frequently see
men entering and leaving those places, In bold
defiance of both human and divine law, as well
as in defiance of that christianity which is thus
wantonly outraged in community protesting
sobriety. saa 1aaa
Yes Christian Parents, your sons, in visiting
those places, are thrown directly in contact with
the vilest of the vile, and learn lessons which,
if practised, will ruin them soul and body, and
leave them physical and moral wrecks. Grow
ing bolder, snares more abundant, crime con
| ~, tho cta 70 thoi,
places of abode, and in few Aeeting hours,
their bodies cold in death, and their spirits in
eternity-and yet the alarm sounded by the
Temperance cause, is as the voice of one ''cry-
ing in the Wilderness. But few hear it-still
fewer heed it, Fighting against these licensed
dens, (where wine and whiskey are being sold
to destroy the youth of our city, we have in
this place t,0o Councils Of the Friends o.
Temperance" whose cardinal principles are
"FAITH, TEMPERANCE AND CHARITY" The
objects of which are, to prevent the youth from
becoming drunkards, and to snatch the drunk
ard, if possible, from the jaws of He'll. One
might readily suppose that such organizations
in community that is being rapidly infected
with the deadly malaria of intemperance,
would meet the approval and receive the hearty
endorsatlon OF at least every protesting Chris
tian. But alas such is not the case. Very
few of the prominent Church members of our
town belong to either Council" Some are
opposed to temperance upon principle, while
others ease their consciences by saying ''the
Church is Temperance Society good enough
fer me, and they virtually Internationally we
believe) throw their influence with the other
party in this great contest.
We will state for the information of those
whom it may concern, that there are in the
town of Staunton about 200 persons pledged to
| total abstinence, most Of whom are young men,
who, following the impulses of hearts yet un-
sullied by vice, have found their way into the
temperance halls-but have been disappointed,
and disheartened, at finding there so few Of the
Fathers Of the town-so few Church members,
the protesting disciples of Jesus, whom the
Saviour in his sermon on the Mount denomi