The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-08-16
The Temperance Movement.

dHCe, uOW SpltaulIS 81 i"Piuiy, 40 9'.'i
lar to that which the crusade excited a
few years ago. They are alike in that
they both look to the Lord for help and
deliverance, and in depending upon
prayer, the Bible and singing, as the
chief means of carrying forward the
work. The active workers in the crusade
were women, but wherever it went all
christian hearts became enlisted, and in
many places the meetings for prayer,
conference and singing, were continued
through the day and until late at night.
Of course such a method could not be-
come general or permanent, but it was a
time of seed sowing-of casting the
bread upon the waters, which will be
gathered many days hence.
The crusade had many opponents but
it made profound impression upon the
conscience of the world. Its influence
will never die. 1t seemed to be the de-
spairing struggle of many Of Gods suf.
fering, distressed ones, and he honored
them and sent deliverance as an earnest
of better things to come. That was the
prelude to the work now spreading over
the country, which we believe will be
followed by greater things than we have
vet seen. So certainly as right is to tri-
umph and Christ is to put all enemies
under his feet, shall this giant evil of
intemperance be slain. The Bible plain
ly teaches that Christ is to rule the
world, and that all that will not yield to
him shall be destroyed. We believe
this as confidently as we believe the wcrd
of God. Intemperance is the great evil
of the world. 1t is monster transmit,
ted to us from past ages. Such an evil
could not grow up in single century.
1t has not only come down upon us from
the past ages, but it so infects the inebri-
ate that it is entailed upon the chill
dren of the drinker, generation after
generation. 1t is fearful inheritance +!
1t must be checked and destroyed or it
will override and destroy everything
good, to all that is most dear to the chris
tian. If not checked, it will fall upon
the next generation with more crushing
weight. Are the christians of the pres
ent willing to leave such an accumulated
curse to those who are to come after them?
This would leave the future dark, indeed.
God, we think, is plainly indicating that
this is not his will, for he seems to be
stirring a spirit of resistance in the
minds of his people throughout the
world. May not the time be at hand
when he shall marshal his forces, and set
them in array for the overthrow of this
enemy? There is no other evil that has
such mastery over the world, and with
out the Divine aid there is no deliverance.
Christian men and women must consider
their duty in such time, for without
God there can be no general reform. lie
is clearly showing his willingness to work
with the people. The Lord is against
the evil, and the time has come for it to
be known who are on the Lords side.
The work and interest now springing up
should receive the most prayerful atten-
tion of ministers and churches every
where, for if the evil goes on unheeded
there will soon be no place left the
church. God can do great things through
his people when they are truly united
with him. They must agree in asking
him, and it is the agreement in this that
is the encouraging feature of the efforts
made of late. There is certainly no
power outside of the Church to check
and remove the evil. This is so because
God is in his Church, and works through
it. He leads it in every necessary con-
fict. There is no promise of success
without him. But if through indiffer-
ence or unbelief the Church fails to fol-
low him, golden opportunities may pass,
and the unmitigated evil will move on,
crushing out the life and hope of the
world. The church has not been faith
full in the past, or the evil could not have
grown to its present proportions God
could have mastered it long ago. but the
people did not look to him nor ask him
to help them to destroy it. He can de-
stroy it now as easily as at any future
time, and will, we believe, if his people
will rally under him. This is the call
the Church is now receiving. The press
and pulpit must send forth the call until
every one who truly loves God and his
fellowmen is stirred and moved to action
by it. The Church must so up to higher
grounds. Right sentiments must be dis,
seminated. The Church-ministers and
members-must 60 forward. God calls,
and the sea will divide when his people
move forward in faith. Who does not
hear the call Cumberland Presbyterian.