Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-10-28
TnE posarION OF THE CHURCH.

Much depends upon protesting Christians
in every moral reform. Advocates of good
enterprises may he sincere and not be Chris
tians--their motives reaching only to the
temporal benefits TO be secured by success
but can Christian I've sincere and yet give
an activity TO an enterprise having for its
object relief for the ones distressed, whom
intemperance il rapidly bringing to eternal
destruction? Nothing is palmer TO n sim
cere thinker than that one of the greatest,
if not the greatest impediment with which
the gospel meets in America is found in
the dissipation SO largely prevailing How
then can lover of the cause OF salvation
fail to enlist in every honest crusade
against the acknowledged evils so widely
spread? Can pulpit he truly orthodox
that gives an uncertain sound Tor no sound
at ally upon question 30 vital TO the well
fare of souls? To mike prohibitory law
effective, there must he public sentiment
in favor OF its enforcement-at least a suf
ficent sentiment in the population TO pre-
vent the ostracism OF men who would I'M
dertake to bring to the notice of Grand
Juries instances of the laws violation
Now, can the pulpit allow itself to be be-
| hind the platform in the manufacture of a
healthy public sentiment? Much has been
said, and said trulhfully, about the unwis-
dom of making the pulpit place ior The
discussion OF mere politics; but while the
minister may not carry politics into his re-
igiop, ought he not TO carry his religion
into politics? And is ii not plain duty,
belonging TO Zion's watchmen, to cry aloud
and spare not in reference to the religious
influences of aw.makng agents? The
King ought to have Chaplain. The
Chaplain should not be silent as to any
thing he knows will ruin his monarch in Il
moral sense. John the Baptist was right
when he said TO lIerod; 1T is not lawful
for thee to have her" In America the
people may be called the King. The min.
istry can be looked upon as the Chaplain
Hence it is easy to see where duty lies in
regard to laws for the protection of virtu
GUS enterprises.
A man may be good pious Christian
and differ with another eqnallv-pious maj
when the difference son the iffquestion
but il is difficult to see how pious men car
differas to the wrong of making drunkards
, We reach the conclusion that the churcl
ought to speak out boldly upon the matter
OF prohibition as to saloons. The ministry
should honestly proclaim the fair deduct
: ions from Holy Writ. If heroism is need
| ell to do this, let it not be lacking. 1t wa
| with great disappointment that the write
observed the stand taken by one OF th
prominent ministers of New York. NJ
wonder the liquor sellers laud him to th
3 skies, and give money freely to print ant
circulate his speech; but we hope Their
will be equal liberality in spreading coun
=. ter literature. Another thing we seriousl.
! hope for is such state OF conviction on tn
D part of congregations that the hands of ev
cry minister will be Upheld in honest worl
on the subject. Laymen have great respon
sibllity here. The ministry OF our countr,
5 can lay claim to no titles for support
Bread and clothing must come the volun
3 tary contributions of the people served
= Frequently it is the fact that liquor deal
ers are large owners of money. The temp
tation is hence presented to church officer
to look for a preacher that will be pupula
with men who can make the task OF collect
ing funds an easy one. They are tempted t
believe the church cannot meet expense
!, without the aid of men engaged in tn
,, liquor traffic, and hence there is restivenes
I when pulpit logic clearly shows that Ha
= bakuk meant something when he said
: "Woe to the man who giveth his neIghbo
. drink"
The resignation OF the minister is NOR
. readi Y sought than the running of the ris
', of driving away the contributions OF a elias
/, OF men 80 able. A salve to the consciepC
g is readily found in the remark: "Ou
i congregation is falling off; we must get
=, man that will draw" No matter If I'll
a fnlling-of be only the piqued liquor seller
q and this more than made up by anoLhs
y class OF hearers; the good of the church
10 the quieting plea. The church must l,a,
% money. In opposition to all fears nm
:, and temptations Of this kind, we hope Il
- time Is not far distant when this posi- il
- will be taken by every church: "Makir
l. drnnkards is wrong the liquor trnli
Il makes driinkards; therefore il il wron
N, and our discipline caunot allow IT," The
- :, is no fanaticism in this.-Er.
I'd ~