Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-07-19

nE bl1Ccsiu AceaAN ~
movements, suggest inquiries, the So
luton of which may be of service to
real and professed friends ofthe cause
/. What Is the work of the Church
and the Gospel Ministry In the Tenn
perauce Cause?
2. What is the work and duty of all
classes of individuals?
3. What is the work OF, and, indeed,
the authority for temperance organic
atious including all classes of citizens,
church members, outsiders, high and
low?
4. should there be, or be countenanc-
ed any sort Of antagOnism in the aims
and labors of these various forms OF
effort in the Temperance Reform?
These questions may seem, in them
selves, to be sufficiently suggestive OF
appropriate answers to the mind OF
every rejecting friend of the Temper.
Ance Cause without formal answer OF
elaborate discussion. Leaving to some
able pen, detailed answers, we shall be
content with few general reflections.
We are inclined to think there is
legitimate working place for ALA
wide field for all-for church, for State,
for ministers, for church members, fol
christians, for every man and woman
individually or socially, in every reIs-
ton, whether secular or religious, in
every reasonable form of concerted
labor and in every form of voluntary
Organization that will bring influences
properly to bear upon the reform. i
is plain dictate alike Of reason ant
religion that every one should live ani
labor to do good as they may have op
portunity, and for every one, in ever.
relation in which they may be place.
in society; there is perfect model who's
life and sayings should govern ever!
one in the Temperance, as we'll a
J every other great reform. ..
But how did that humble Nazarene
that friend of sinners lead of in hi
glorious model work Of broad reform
Let US see. Read the Record of Hi
!, life and work and learn. He tce,l
about doing good. He did not wal
until sinners came to Him. He wa
Himself that good Samaritan whor
He held up in parable for the exsmpl
of all, Priest ald Levite, Jew and Ger
tile, saying-"Go and do likewise
He mingled with publicans and sinner
and harlots to reform them. He al
with them and drank with then
though he knew they would call hit
swine bibber." He never uttered
word to wound the feelings of the moi
degraded sinner. He never calle
them by hard uames-never "lo'
ltrash"-never said to them or othel
about them "too far gone" for reform
he never denounced one of them. II
never did an act, never uttered wor
that could discourage any one from n
form or from doing good. He did n,
lrebuke those who cast out devil
q though they were outside the pale
his disciples; but he did rebuke b
=. disciples because they would have di
lcouraged the outside workers. Z
never had woes or denunciatiOns I,
such workers, nor for the poor unfort
mates for whose good they labOre'
r But he had woes for another class-tl
lclass that would neither enter Il
Ibroed field of reform themselves, u,
encourage others to enter In and wOr
He did ell kinds of home mission wei
lamong the lowest OF the lowly; and
lis the model for the Church, all Il
ministers and all christians In eveI
reform.
,. Now, while the tide OF Temperan
% Reform is running high, what can Il
: lchurches and the commissioned mini
3 ters of reform do for st. Clairsville AT
vicinity? Are not "The Boys" mo-
susceptible OF good impressions this
K turing their drinking days? Can th
be q question among sensible and ear
est christians, ministers or peOpl
! rhe events of the past three weel
n show that the way is open as new
regard to their highest interests. The
actions and feelings say plainly to q
! who manifest a christian disposition
Ie "Come and help usW They desi
:. help. They need help. "the boys
have paused-they have turned sbou
l. At least one step from the "broad way
20 md have made at least one step in Il
right way. Will christians and chri
ian ministers stand back, while the
yearn for kindly approaches and got
4 kind counsels? Who among them vi
not show himself a friend to "tl
. boys" in this their greatest life stru
sIgle.