The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1881-03-30
"Several Preachers"

subject of Temperance it was enthusi-
astically resolved to put in circulation
throughout the County petition pray
ing the Legislature to pass law to-
tally prohibiting the manufacture and
sale of ardent spirits as beverage in
the State" Last week the Anderson
papers puhlished n card. addressed to
the ministers of the Gospel in Ander-
son County signed Several Preach
ers" calling for meeting yesterday to
take some similar action.
The signature of Several Preach
ers' strike us MS very singular. Why
should there be any concealment of
their names? If the cause is good
why should Several Preachers" lot
have the manhood to put their names
to the call: If they really mean to
war against the whiskcy traffic they
have shown the "white feather" too
soon. If Several Preachers" are
afraid to publicly proclaim their OPP
position to the liquor business what
influence can they expect to exert?
This card gives us an opportunity
to make few remarks on the subject
ofliquor drinking, the first of which
is, that there is more Smoke than
fire. in the late agitation. The op-
position lacks organization and judg-
ment in many respects. There is too
much profession and too little practice.
There is too much talk and too little
action.
Several Preachers" have masked
themselves under fictitious signature
but we will suppose they are preachers
and briefly show how they come short
of their duty. Whiskey is great
evil but no law that ever was enacted
will prevent its use and abuse. No
law ever will cure the evil unite
Christians everywhere until against it
in reality and not in loud professions.
The churches are not doing their duty
at all in the matter. 1t is a common
thing for church members to drink,
and often they get beastlv drunk. The
fact is notorious and wcll-known to the
officers and pastors of the churches
On salesdays and other public occa-
sions Mt our County seats it is no un-
common thing to see dcacons and eld-
crs staggering on the streets with
liquor, to the open scandal and shame
Of themselves and their churches.
These things are not punished but
overlooked. The elders and deacons
retain their positions and nothing is
said rbout it. Have "Severa. Preach
ers" ever turned member out of .heir
congregations for drunkenness, or even
reprimanded one? If they have not,
and members of their congregations
get drunk, then this card is a pretencc
and fraud.
Several Preachers" of late years,
no doubt, have attended political
meetings. Very likely they have been
invited on the speakers stand" and
opened the proceedings with prayer,
thanking God that our beloved State
was again restored to the control of
Christian men" &c. They have seen
two pitchers, glass tumbler and O
silver drinking cup, sitting on the
front of the stand. One pitcher con-
tained whiskcy, and the other water
The speaker who used the tuInbler
drank water. The one who used the
cup drank whiskey. Several Preach.
ers" saw all this with their own eyes
and yet cast their votes for the man
who drank whiskey and encouraged
others to do so. They even saw these
same speakers so much disguised with
liquor rs to use profanity before ali
the people. Several Preachers knew
from the ma udlIn utterances AMI red
noses of the orators that they were
bloated from canstant drinking, auG
yet gave them countenance and sup
port.
Several Preachers" know that tn,
Bible teaches to touch not, taste not
and handle not" and still they elevat,
to high position men who openly VIC
late all three injunctions. If such b.
the case, then the whole Of this card il
deceit and there is nothing to b,
hoped from it. 1t is vain and empty
pretence.
Several Preachers" have contrib
uted money during political campaign
to be used in treating Democratic mig