Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-04-03
yum VI . Il ICAl ID.
Enfen;DerataE Zeal.

SO many probably VOL disposed peopla in
Alezandris. beaded by church dgnitsries, be.
ing in favor of stopping the ss!e of liquor alto.
gether in this city, fo7 the purpose of carrying
out certain contracted lotions, it izrespectfullv
asked By one who is no apoiogst fSr drunkards
or intempersto people Of any sort, tn At should
the meek and lowly Jtsus, whose teachings
have professedly baen received by tho clerical
port on OF tho club. conc to Alexandria in Quest
Of iru! ftomuis vineyard. would Ho not be as
much grieved to find tho Christian sanctuarr
converted into q COMFORT or Ihibion hal, wher,
little children are drilled into losing their mod.
esty and mada to are prims donnas and SON.
times actcrs--lltLle III ortals, who should bo
brought up il tho nurture aud sdnonition OF
ito Lort-and the minister appearing Us stage
manager or master ot ceremonies. he he would
DO TO lind sober, temperate disciple buying or
drinking wlne the moderate uss of wnich is
no where intetdicted by the New Testament?
1t often happens that men whose consciencas
ncvor trouble them when they arc lnstrumenta
in or ofton at the head OF worldly enterprises !,
rsiso money for ctu:ch purposes-and many of
the means resorted to. from q spiritual stand.
point, are porncious In the sxtremc-Will look
with great suspicion on tho Christian man who
entortsins the opinion that wine may be u:cd,
in strict moderation, and who believes that all
creatures CT God sre good and nothing to be re-
fused, if it DO received with thanksgiving. OF
course, those who are disposed to tsrry long
with the wine and cannot govern thor appr-
tites, should by ali m ,sns let it alone; but many
sober-thinklng people era not in sympathy with
these modern Mohammeds, who would Cut
down the vines altogether in order to remove
temptation from those who arc prone TO lot their
animal sppettes predominant over tho intellect
tual.
Inasmhch rs church roople seem 80 ready 10
become champions in this movement, it ough not
10 ba considered mpertinent when they are re-
minded that occasionally they carry on things
in the name of Christ which many think Will
be found to DO wood, hay and stubbla'' in tho
ages TO GOMEZ and that while their brains hsvo
been carried away by some wave Of temporary
tansGclsm they have omitted many OF the
Weightier matters, and By their apathy allowed
somu questionable things 10 DO carried on in
the churches themselves.
Church performances, either in tho sacred od-
lice or in halls in tho name Of religion, ought to
be deplored by every ono who names the nsme
Of our Lord Jesus Christ" But they have be-
come an institution in this (ho Laodicean) age.
and the church becomes an ice cream saloon,
oyster booth. lunch bouso, get!er up Of eIclr-
sions, fairs, (where gambling, i. O., railing is
often carried on) an exhibition, panoramic or
concert hall, III order - raise money for tho
cause of Christianity.
In the temple at Jerusalem there were money
changers and sellers Of doves, the former OK
changing Hebrew sheckles for current Roman
money, which no Jew would devote to religious
purposes, snd the latter furnishing tho victims
for sacrifice to those who had come from dis
tance-both trsili2s ssvoring, from human
standpoint, of legitimacy: aud yet tvsry Biblo
reader is acquainted with the manner in which
the Son Of God regarded such commerce, and
surely were Ho to come to His house t.. day and
find a performance going on and on admission
fee demanded, would there not DO stampede
anon thOsa enQSp3 d in il befOr6 tho whn cord
and the piercing eyes of the Holy One of Israel?
1t is, therefore. thought by some that the in
tentions OF people to carry by force OF law what
they have failed to do by argument or lnorsl
suason. arc rather too radical, especially when
such fantastic tricks arc played In their own
midsts, which, from apathy or timidity, (g ,acr-
ally tho lattor) are mover denour ed.
MATuRTps