The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-27

speak Of It, But inaSmuch as the othe
side has been publicly and warmly pressed
perhaps | would be recreant to my duty |
| did not speak. ] admit in advance tn
good intentions Of those who advocate th'
course which 10 me seems so Objectionable
| fully admit also that all wisdom does no
belong TO myself,
refer to what has come TO be known Al
Ssrssl praying. The form in which tht
argument in favor Of this step is place.
before you, is that in the present movement
this method has been successful, and moth
ing else as a rule has succeeded.
Success is no test Of any method. |
that was the only criterion, still bette
plan in many cases would be 10 raise anc
perfectly equip band Of men and senc
them 10 destroy the liquors Of the saloon
and to drive the keepers out Of town. Thu
end does not in any case justify tht
means. Back OF the question Of immedi
ate success lies that Of the right and pro
priety Of the method.
But the success is not itself beyond ques
ton. That in number Of cases it hH
been attended by the closing Of some or o
all the saloons, especially in smaller towns
is not denied. But will they remain
closed? In the course Of a few month
they will be open again, unless other mean
are introduced TO prevent the step. Why
not begin by securing the adoption ofthest
means ? In most cases it is a easy TO usG
them now as il will be at some subsequent
period In fact while the present excite
ment continues, the public mind is not fl
TO judge as TO the permanent success. L
certainly may be that hereafter-per
haps a hundred years from to.day-tht
street praying will be used as an argument
against the cause Of temperance And oul
childrens' children may wish that we had
avoided it,
But it is not true that success 10 this
movement hss been rs q general rule
connected With street praying. My tes-
timony is that Of Do Lewis as given the
other day In the ministers meeting In
New York. quote:
"Dr Lewis here suggested that as be
had heard so many references 10 the Ohio
movement, he would like TO ask how
many here knew anything about 1t. That
movement consisted almost entirely IN
simple prayer, both private and public
Then the second step was the visiting o.
the saloons, and requests Of the propFie-
tors oil saloons 10 stop. The third stel
is that parties Of five or ten go 10 saloon
and ask 10 speak privately with the pro-
prietor. If he refuses they simply stand
aside and wait, thus making q silent pro-
test, and they pray also. The next step
Is when they are obstinate, and large
parties Of women go. Then there Is q
crowd, II gets into the papers, and this
last comes 10 you as the Ohio movement;
1t Is but very small feature Of the move
ment, and yet 1t ia only fair to say that
this last method has accomplished the
greatest results. You would be aston
ished II ] told you that l didn't believe
three hundred times In Ohio had there
been praying on the sidewalk. The
greatest portion Of the work Is in silent
prayer, and think myself that silent
prayer ia the method for New York"
Besides, II is to be remembered that 10
other States the saloons have been closed
without any such machinery. There are
counties in Pennsylvania where the
whole business Of liquor selling has been
exterminated, without 1t, through the
operations Of local option. In Maine the
traffic has been rooted out Of most of the
villages and towns by prohibition.
The truth is that praying on the streets
Is a mere incident Of this movement. Ii
has excited much notice. The conse-
quence is that it is magnifed. And as is
apt 10 be the case under such circum-
stances, there is a strong tendency 10 imi.
tate It without regard to the peculiarly oil
the circumstance Of the case, although il
Is not essential TO the accomplishment oil
the work.
l am, on principle, opposed TO street
praying. But, inssmuch as could not
argue the question Of principle here with.
out saying things which might be wrong.
ly construed, l am content to base my
objection on expediency. The friends OF
the cause Of temperance are not prepared
in this city for the adoption of that
method. II you enter upon it you must
do 80 with but q partial support. The
number OF ladies who would engage in it
would likely be comparatively small. And
the men have not sufficiently seen and ielt
the necessity oil that step 10 insure from
them the cooperation which you would
need. Some Of your best friends will feel
compelled TO stand aside II you pursue
this course. frankly acknowledge that
with my present views and feelings | can
not go with you into such operations.
Street praying in any case can be justi.
fed, On grounds Of expectancy, only as a
last resort. In Ohio it, as first introduced,
was employed only because there seemed
TO be nothing else 10 do. Here there are
other courses which arc open. 1t cannot
be claimed that you are shut up to tina,
plan.
Remember also that whether it will
succeed in a city SO large as ours is an un.
certainty. Experience elsewhere hardly
warrants the expectation. In view of the
large foreign population aud the Imper.
tect temperance sentiment among US, sue.
cess here ia by no means assured by that
process. And even II in any degree II
should temporarily be gained, you will
have 10 meet the necessities oil the case BY
other instrumentalities Il your success i
made permanent.
Remember, too, that in deciding this
matter you ought not to be governed by
any mere impulse. 1t is your duty to pray
Tor light. But you must seek it from the
scriptures and by an acquaintance with
the circumstances OF your situation. What
you do should be done intelligently,
Now, let me suggest few words of ad.
vice as 10 what should be done. One Of
the first things is, II possible, 10 secure the
hearty and harmonious co. operation OF the
large number Of persons who as yet have
taken no active part in your meetings.
To this end lay aside as far as possible any
methods which may prevent some OF our
Churches and ministers from taking any
prominence. Let US try TO remove ali
difficulties which may stand in the way.
This Is not the place TO particularize as 10
what mean.
Especially is it desirable to secure the
activity Of some OF the prominent lavmen