Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1881-04-07
PROHIBITION IN KANSAS.
How it Interfercs with Celebrating Conn
munlt.n in Churches.
Troy (Kansasl Chief

How 1t Interfercs with Celebrating Com
munl"n in Churches.
Troy (Kansas) Chief.
The prohibition amendment, and the
law passed to enforce 1t, have truly prov.
ed boomerang, and the ones who were
foremost in pulling through the amend
ment are now the loudcst in squealing at
lite enforcement. Rev. Dr. Bently, of the
Episcopal church, Lawrence, long q re-
gent uf the state university, spoke as fol-
lows from his pulpit on recent Sunday:
"Most of this congregation are doubt
less aware OF the fact that Temperance
law has been passed in this state. But
few of you, l think, know that it abso-
lutely forbids the use Of vino IN the
church sacrament, with two years i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary. and shut
ting up the church in which the act was
say to you that shall go right on with
our service in spite of the law. We
are, under our ordination VOWS,
obliged to administer the sacrament in
accordance with the law and usage of
this church. If we did not do so we
would be stripped OF our ministry. We
are willing to render unto Cesar the
things which are Caesars. but we still
give to God the things that are His. l
say rs did Peter, Judge We whether we
should obey men rather than God Oi
one thing You may be assured, we shall
never recognize for O moment the at
tempts of human legislation to destroy
the great sacrament of the Christian
church"
A minister at Topeka has expressed
similar determination not to respect the
law. 1t is characteristic of the orthodox
churches. They will come down rough
shod upon anything that doesn't Just
suit their views, and invoke the law to
assist them in enforcing their notions:
but when the sam ? law pinches them,an
interferes with some Of their mnmmeries,
that alters the case, and tho law is infn-
nous. The churches shouldered that
amendment as q thing of their own, and
every preacher in the state made it his
business to speak, work and electioneer
for it. They imagine that it was TO in
terfere with other peoples business
and not their own. Now that they
find they, are the first ones hit,
a howl goes up from the pulpit, and
they declare their intention to violate
the law. They place their obligations to
their church higher than to the civil law;
and rather than forego the useless mum.
meries and tlummeries of the church,
they will violate thelaw that they were
the chief instruments in forcing upon.
the statute books. There are cases of
sickness in which spirituous liquors are
absolutely necessary, and that without
the loss Of time ii. going through the
forms required by law. 1t was all we'll
enough with these preachers, no matter
what risk OF human life--.what cared
they for suffering or death? But when
the sacred tomfooleries Of the church
were encroaci,ed upon the thing became
Just Infamous and unbearable.
Some ministers cannot discharge their
duties and obligations without tho use
Of genuine fcrmented VINE. This is the
blood of Christ, and there can be no snb-
stitntes. Other preachers say they will
use the fresh Juice OF the grape, when
they can getit, and when thev can not
they will take the sweetened water, or q
decoction of nisins, or some other inno-
cent stuff. That also is the blood of Christ
it answers the purpose for one, why vii
it not for nll? They should grin anG
bear it, when their own club thnmps
them on their head. They may rest Us
surred that they vii! be well watched
and whenever they violate the law. the,
will have an opportunity to test whether
1t il good for my thing or not.
The best joke nbont this whole bust
ness is, that the Catholic church was tn
only one that did not bum in favor of th
amendment; and now 1t is the only on
that the law cannot touch in the matte
OF wine ut communion. The Catl,oli
priest does not administer tho wine t
his members; he presents them wit
consecrated waters. but drinks the win
himself. He gives no wine to Others
and there ia nothing in the law to pre-
hibit him from drinking it. He can in
port his wine from another state, and &
right ahead with the sacrament the sam
o. before.