Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-03-26
Where 0hall Thoy Meet.

Ihe<O % uinoHA0c0 OF opinion as to
whether the "young peoples union"
should meet on Sabbath evenings, or at
other times. It may be said that the
community is divided upon this question
Let Us see what the facts are. During !
nearly two years the Austin Temperance
Union has held its regular monthly sess.
ions, on Sunday evenings In this, there
has not been entire cordially, but there
has been IN ingenious acquicscence. It
10 now proposed with some vehemence
on one side, that the meetings Of the or
ganization just perfected, be held also on
Sunday evening. This will be equivalent
to the employment Of one fourth Of all
ID time,-or one half Of al: the Sabbath
evenings, for the promotion Of temper
.nce, exclusively. To this, some are SER !
iously and conscicntiously opposed.
They hold that the Sabbath day is tie
Lord'a.-&hat it should be employed in a
dtstinetively religious manner,-that for
such purpose churches are organized, and
ministers ordained to preach,-that tenn
perance 10 . bible doctrine, and is en-
Joined by church descipline,-that as
such, it 10 to be inculcated, IS all other
bible doctrines are, under the sanctions
Of the church, and by its authorized
&eachers,- that christian organizations
cannot properly relegate the subject to
the care Of special secular associations.
any more than they can the doctrine of
repentance, or of faith, that every organ.
ICED effort outside Of the church is essen.
italy secular-hoveser it may seek the
promotieaa.l diffusion of moral IDEAS
that the church cannot reasonably abdi-
cate in favorof any agency less important
than itself,-that societies for the promo
ton Of temperance through the employ
ment of legal restraints, and by the incul-
cati'n of moral sentiments-although es-
sentlal and of great value-do not. reach
the high level upon which strictly chris
:tian work proceeds, and hence just 50 fur
:as they innovate upon the Sabbath, they
trench upon its peculiar provinces. In
opposition to this it is asserted that any
organized effort to save the young from
the effects of intcmperance, is christian
work Of the highest type,-that the atten-
ton of the youth cannot be secured on
weekdays, that the frivolities Of society, its
attractions and amusements, exert a con.
. trolling influence over them, and engross
their attention and occupy their time,
leaving them no leisure, during the week
which inclination would prompt them to
employ in promoting temperance. These
we believe are the positions ofthe respec-
tivepsrties. To us it is clear that the
cause Of temperance may properly en-
ploy all corrective agencics,-human and
divine,-that those Of religious charac-
ter should be strictly under the control Of
the church, and used through its ordinary
chsnnels,-that organizations for special
e6ort,-no to convert the young to the
doctrines Of christianity, but to so far
develop their selfrespect as to hold them
above the influences of the liquor traffic,
ne agencies which every community
needs for the conservation Of its own in.
tesests. General society, Is essentially
secular. and must protec, itself by a
faithful observance Of the prime iples
which conduce to ito perpetuity. People
need opportunity less than they do dispo-
aition,-the time may be wholly fortui.
toas, if only tho purpose be determined.
sweeuneaas given to = child to induce
him to take medicine, may wholly men,
!yslize the effect Of the corrective agent
and render the patient worse for the
treatment, hence We: think 1t unwise to
sugar.coat this Temperance pill, by
prescribing it Is Sunday night remedy.
It may be swallowed few times, but
will ere long nauseate, and the whole eff
fort be "t1lrown up