The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-12-08
Published BY reaae-, crs Good rsmplsAl }
ATEaPERAScE CHURCH.
NJ nrv. =. ". vsspKsan..s, MISSOURI.

We candidly think that every
Christian church which expects 10 dc
its whole work must have a temper.
ance department as well as q Sunday
school or missionary department. II
must have a machinery to promote
the cause Of temperance, just as well
as machinery to promote any other
department of church work. A we'll
appointed steamer must have, not only
q good engine In its hull, and a good
pilot at the wheel, but good supply
of life-preservers in the cabin.
The first essential feature Of work
ing temperance. church, is a jealous
temperance man in its pulpit. An
active temperance church, with a
wine-loving minister in its pulpit,
would be as rare curiosity as a vic
torious army with drunken comman-
der! A jealous advocate for the cause
Of temperance will preach ii as a part
Of his gcspel-message to his people.
The Bible abounds in temperance
texts and every community abopnds
with people who need to hear them.
One Of the great duties Of the pastor
Is 10 present the cause and curse of
drunkenness. A part OF his work is to
create and keep alive a temperance
conscience among his people. Such a
pastor may not only look for genuine
revivals of religion in his congregs-
ton, but Also for n more extended
influence upon the surrounding werld.
A fearless, faithful pastor, vbo
throws himself against popular sif&
commands the popular ear and the
popular heart. Let the career Of
Tying in New York, Barnes in Phil
adelphia. Kirk in Boston, and Hat
field in Chicago, testify to the truth of
the statement that ministers who bring
Gods word to bear against the great
sins Of the times must be heard and
felt. He may drive from him for the
time being, a few time-servers he
may awaken in the selfindulgent and
lovers of lust some bad and wicked
passions but he attracts to him the
warm-hearted, the truly philanthropic,
and the spiritually minded. Drunkards
wives will persuade their husbands to
go and hear such man, and mothers
rejoice to place their sons under. hisI
faithful ministry. II is not the msn1
who drifts with the current of evfS
but he who, like the firmly-anchored
rock, offers his breast to the angry
waves and dasbing current, that is
sure to arrest the popular attention,
and command the popular heart.
Every efficient church should have
a well-organized temperance society.
The title to membership should be the
simple signing of an abstinence pledge.
The church should make arrangements
to hold public meetings in the interest
Of the society, secure the very best
lectures possible but tickets of ad.
mission should never be used. because
this would tend to exclude the very
persons who most need the benefit of
the lecture. The best possible music
should be provided for all public meet
ings, and the pledge should always be
circulated before the meeting adjourns.
Temperance tracts and papers should
be distributed at such meetings. Such
an organization does not require much
and bylaws, or many
officers. The less machinery employed,
the better.
A working temperance church should
lay out no small portion Of its efforts
on the youth OF the Sunday school.
As the Sunday school deals with the
of life, it should deal with
the beginnings of sin. If the children
of the country could be kept from
touching the first glass, intemperance
would soon disappear.
In Surrey Chapel, London, the cele-
brated Newman Hall has temperance
society which has enrolled eight thou
sand members in fifteen years and
one hundred and fifty reformed inebri-
ltes have been received into the COM
nunion of the church during the same
period. What a noble work
Every church member should make
part of his daily religion.
The intoxicating glass is the most
ieadly foe to Christ in our churches
md our communities. A friend of
Christ must be an enemy to the bottle.
Every professed Christian who gives
his example to the use OF intoxicating
liquors, is partner to the dreadful
havec which the evil produces.
"lf any man will come after me-"
'aid the divine Saviour, ''let him deny