The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-12
EIGHTEENTH STREET NJ. L. CHURCH.

OUGHT THE COMMISSIONERS TO DE SUSTAINED
IN ENFORCING THE SUNDAY LIQUOR LAW Pc
SERMON by REV. W. i. HATFIELD.
Last evening, in the Eighteenth street Methodist
Episcopal church, tho pastor, Rev. W. +. Hatfield.
preached sermon on tho right of the Commissioners
to enforce the Sunday Liquor law, taking for text
the twcntys Of the thirty second chapter
Exodus:-swho is on the Lords sidcsn The preacher
said -"rho question which ask ut tho beginning OF
my remarks was asked long time ago, wnen Israel
was divided in opinion in regard TO matter that
ccrncd their eternal wcll-being And this question
may be answered by the decision shall render upon
another that is OF vital importance tho people Of
this city at tho present tImc It's whether tho Police
Commissioners ought to DO sustained in enforcing
the Sunday Liquor laws l affirm that tho Commits
soners ought to hc sustained ia enforcing the law Tor
Because the law aims To promote the physical social
and moral welfare OF the people incompetence IL tho
greatest enemy that now exists IN this cty or Tho
nation. II stands directly in tho way Of human
progress All civil, social and moral reforms HIM
dered by It's unsecmy presence. II Is deadly Zoe 10
health, comfort aud happiness II breeds disease aud
scatters its poison widely through the community Il
Is more be feared than the cholera the plague;
Tor these though they prev AL in certain countries and
ut certain have their limo and they pass away
but ft
IsrRxrRRAxcg PREVAILS IN ALL LANDS
whore human foot has trod. aud. though tho
stringent laws have been made against IT, yet tho
evil exists, and THIS country threatens the
throw oi our most cherished institutions The boards
oil health have more difficulty III arresting disease In
the localities where dwell tho patrons OF the dramshop
than nywhcrc else. There you will nnd poverty and
squaior and ilth and disease IN their worst forms
Passing thon. to statistics IN proof OF ms declaration
he said the official tor 1874 showed 403 licensed
liquor SD ops and moro than 900 unlicensed making
than TO- 900 places where liquor IL sold In this
your goodly city. The people supported them. They
could not cxist unless their average receipts
81 800 year This would give SIS, 375 COO, but Is
believed to be $50 100000. II not sur
pris'ng that In that year.. when so, 600 700 was
sps. oa 'ha %.saSo e1 e miIs , ar
streets and army Of paupcrs thrown upon tho
charity Of the people and tho authorities to support
were two fatal accidents every dny. murder and
three suicides every week, and l50 0J0 accommodated
arrested 81 ola persons Tor lntoxcaon and dsordcry
conduct Tho taxes that year were about $2 600 00O
the greater part OF which the result OF tho liquor
traffic Dr. Willard Parker one othe most eminent ply
IN this CITY, stated In public address long
ago that thirty three and onethird per cent OF vii tho
deaths In this city occasoncd, directly indl-
rccfly, by tho Of intoxicating drinks, aud that
10000 persons had died in New York ia tho last
thirty eight years from TINS These lgurcs, he
said, alarming, and thoy are mighty argument
Tor the suppression OF the liquor traffic this city.
Now, liquor Is sold on sunday than any other
day where the law does not prohibit its sale,
crimes are committed and more arrests are made
THIS II motive for enforcing the law Another
he urgcd why the law should be enforced WAS because
II a Just law We told that the law intcrfcrcd
with mems rights and liberties, that this a FREQ
country aud that every has tho right 10 choose
in regard To tho IN which hc shal spend tho
Sabbath II he wishes, he claims that he may go 10
church remain ut home aud drink his beer, II hc
has kept open during the week. that he has tho
right 10 keep IL open Sunday, and that no
one has tho right To stop him. This Is tho Wow held
by the opponents OF tho But they either forgot
or not know when they talk about rights and bsr-
ties that has tho legal right 10 engage in any
business any community that threatens 70 destroy
The lc property OF hs ncighbors This law IL just
because its object preserve tho sanctty OF the
sabbath. Those who oppose u, and oppose Il most
earnestly, those who rolling up wealth Dy
inquous traffic This law should DO enforced for the
sake OF those who easily ny the tempta
ton OF the cup We II to those who easily
overcome 10 put II Of their way. Very many pass
whole week without tasting spirits, but they cannot
walk straight through the sabbath Ths lag ought TO
DO for the sake OF the fathers ncthcr wives
and children who have been made 10 suffer by intern
perance and who looking with The deepest interest
upon This movement This law ough to be enforced for
the sake OF Christ and His There ~ moral power
enough IN the Church in this city 10 put down any evil
that exists among us Lot her speak through her
ministers and members, and vice will hide her
formed face. law will be easily enforced ami right
ard truth will triumph over wrong and error. Tho
Commissioners who have undertaken To perform thsir
duty the lace ol mighty opposition nocd the support,
only oil protesting Chrstians but Of ell who are 10