, 1882-06-23
Is the World DegeDerating7

and anon struggling with it. Their an
swer to it depends quite often upon the
point from which their observations are
taken, and sometimes, possibly, from the
state of their digestive functions. There
are many good people who think the
world is rapidly going to the bad" and
that nothing can save it, They think
this especially Of our own country.
spondent thoughts with the Scripture,
which admonishes us of the unwisdom OF
saying that "the former days were bet
ter than tbese;" and rs this is Scripture,
they regard this as "the end of contro-
versy." They see nothing but good"
in everything, or they at least transmute
everything into good in their moral lab
oratory.
The truth here, as in many other
things, undoubtedly is to be found be-
tween these extremes. That this is an
age of general progress, no one can rea-
sonably doubt That in some things
we fall sadly behind former times, is
quite as plain. As an illustration of
the latter, look across the Atlantic.
Scotland has generally been regarded as
a model country for Sabbath observance
and church attendance. But in this it
il unquestionably degenerating. A
few Sabbaths ago "a religious census
was taken in Edinburgh, without gen.
eral knowledge of the fact, showing on
the face of it that less than one half the
population attended church." Another
paper remarks. concerning that Sab
bath census" that las the majority of
the church-goers would probably attend
twice, it may be held that little more
than one-fourth of the inhabitants of
Edinburgh went to any place of wor-
ship A London religious paper says
that "Such fact relative to the metrop-
oils of Scotland, which has been re-
garded as an essentially church going
country, is not satisfactory" 1t is a COM
petent witness that in regard to the
Sabbath, both as to non-attendance at
church and direct and open desecration
of the day, the present, as compared
with former times, shows sad decline
all through Great Britain. Is not this
true also, very extensively, respecting
our own country? Is not this the case
with most of our large cities-perhaps
with all?
Look at another evil, first as seen
abroad, and then at home. Figures
sometimes reveal startling things. Re
Gently in Bristol, England, IA poll of
public visitors" saloon" visitors
was made between seven and eleven
o'clock on a Saturday evening, which
showed the number to be 204 ,557, or one
half the populationw The most deplor-
able feature of the case was that nearly
one-half of "these thirsty souls were
women and children" 1t is not at all
likely that the city of Bristol is an ex-
ception to the cities Of the United King
dom. On the contrary, while it is con-
ceded that the Temperance cause is NOV
ing forward in Britain, all agree that
liquor-drinking and drunkenness were
never so prevalent as now.
Is il not much the same, rs to intem-
perance, in our own country? Can we
truly say that the Temperance cause
(viewing our country at large) is doing
much more than "hoiding its own," if
doing even that? In many places retro
grade movement. In some states, as in
Kansas, there is hopeful advancement;
but the "liquor interest" was never more
fourishing, bold, and defiant than now,
and many who call themselves temper
ance men almost quail before it.
Then as to the enforcement OF the
laws, is it not as clear as the MONDAY
light that we have most woefully, degen-
Grated? Can any one OF our large cities
claim exemption! That was most pitt
ful story that DR.. Crosby told, and which
The Evangelist copied, concerning his
five years crusade against intemperance
in New York city, to get the laws exc
cuted. One word from his own lips tells
the tale" failure" Not one OF our
large cities can make better showing,
probably, than New York. Some OF
them are still more demoralized. Nor is
il the failure to enforce the liquor laws
that is the trouble. 1t is the same with
the laws aga,nst lotteries and all the
forms OF gambling, and those against
vile theatres, and for the protection of
the Sabbath Actual trials, in somv at
tempted cases Of enforcement, have we'll
nigh brought .hhe jury system into con-
tempt. l was in Chicago a few weeks
since, when trial involving gambling
in a saloon occurred. The case against
She accused was proven clearly, and yet
the juy brought in a verdict Of Not
Guilty" The Judge, in diseharging the
Jury said. 1.-THE Lord have mercy on
your perjuIed sonl.F' That prayer will
probably NOT find speedy answer, I'm
nedinsely afteS being dismissed, that
perjured jnry went 10 the very saloon
whose keepers we're defendants, and pap
took OF "a free lunsh." This is no nnu.
sual ending OF jury trial in othe, cities
besides Chicago. Were such things
common OF yoro:
Let me close BY giving you bit OF
history. On the Oath OF January, Just
passed, there died in Chicago one Of
natures noblemen" and faithful ser
want OF God. ! refer 10 DR.. Levi ID.
Boone. I have often enjoyed his hospi-
tality. Our families are connected by
marriage. In 1883 he was elected Mayor
of Chicago. As was his duty. he was de-
termined to enforce the laws. One Of
them required the closing Of all liquor
saloons on the Sabbath. He was deter
mined TO see it executed, and made proc
lamation accordingly. This aroused the
wrath of liquor men and their adher-
ents. They organized mob and took
possession OF the Courthouse square.
DIR. Boone at the head OF the police,