Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-04-11
Temperance Sermon by Rev. w. E.
Baker. s

temperance SERMON ny ACvs 1s
Baker. ss
On last Sunday night, Rev. W. E. Baker. pas
tor of the First Presbyterian Church OF this
city. preached methodical and well-consider-
| ed sermon on the evils resulting from the liquor
traffic and the duty of the Legislature to pass
prohibitory law.
His text was, Romans xiii: 3-"F0r ritlers are
not terror to good Oorks, but to the euil."
| The laws should be terror to evil doors, and
should protect the innocent. The evil of intem-
perance had grown so great that 1t was the duty
of all to labor to lessen it, There were mill
| lion of hopeless drunkards in our country, and
the misery they brought upon their innocent
| wives and children was Uncomfortable. The
members OF the church, both in their charac-
tiers as citizens and as disciples of Christ are in
duty bound to favor legislation that would les
sen this evil. To rely upon prayer. without the
aid of legislation. is "pious nonsense"
The idea that moral suasion is sufficient
means to effect the reform needed is fallacious.
Moral suasion is not relied upon to protect
citizens against theft. arson. personal violence.
and other evils, which sink into insignifcance
when compared with the evils resulting from
the LIQUOR traffic. and 1t should not, tortiori,
be relied upon to protect them against the
greatest evil which afflicts our country. We
should invoke the heavy hand Of the law.
The government that does not protect its
citizens against such an evil is a sham.
| The law should remove temptation-shouid
shut up liquor saloons-that the young may
not acquire the habit, and the inebriate may
be reformed. Some maintain that the intern
perate can be reformed alone by Sound con-
| version" If this be SO, then 1t argues the more
strongly why the proper means should be
adopted to prevent men from ever becoming
Incorporate, for the. "sound conversions would
| be few. .t
| The liquor traffic is now legalized. and is GER
ried on, by license, under the solemn sanctions
of the law. This Is wrong, and should be cor
rected.
| In some places gambling and lewdness are
licensed If the business be evil. it should not
be licensed. The principle is wrong; for 1t
should be the object of law, not to regulate but
prevent evil.
He maintained that prohibitory law would
be constitutional and reasonable, and referred.
in support Of Its constitutionality, to the au-
thority of the late Chief Justice fancy and 9TH
er men of distinction.
He said that prohibition prohibits" and
that is the reason of the opposition to it. That
it would not prevent all from drinking and be-
coming incorporate would not be an argument
| against it any more than 1t would be against
laws for the preventions Of theft and other
| crimes, because they do not wholly prevent the
| commission Of them. In reference to the argu-
ment as to the revenue derived from the
licenses in the liquor traffic. he said that the
cost to the State from the evils resulting from
| it greatly exceeded the revenue derived from
| that source, and in support of that view refer
red to the statistics of Pennsylvania which
showed that the cost to the State caused by in
tenn perance, was tiUe times great as the reve-
nue. derived from the licenses in the liquor traf.
fc.
This brief notice does not do justice to the
sermon, and has been written from memory,
without the aid of notes. with the view of CIV
ing our readers some idea Of the views express
ed. 1t will be observed that he takes stronger
ground than he did in his sermon on Local
Option some weeks since.
|
Attend Rev. Strngfelows Lecture tonight,
and you will not only enjoy yourself. but contri-
butte to theimprovemento of the Confederate Sol
diers' Cemetery.
Paper Hanging done in any Part Of the city
Main Street, Staunton, Va.
Message of the Mayor Of Stauuton.
At the meeting of the City Council last Tues
day night, the following message. from our eff
Gent Mayor, was received, which speaks Tor
ITSELF and needs no comment:
MAYORS OFFICE, April 4 1882
| Gentlemen of the City Council:
congratulate you on the peace, good order,
and generally prosperous condition of the city.
lily rising in price, and there is active demand
for labor at remuneratiye prices.
i But few houses in the city are unoccupied.
and many new buildings are in progress of
| erection.
| 1t is needless for me to comment on the work
Of your body. The duties of councilman are
| responsible and at times delicate and Onerous.
He receives no pecuniary compensation for his
labors, and however diligent and conscientious
| he may be, sometimes receives censure when
he deserves praise. 1t is fortunate for the city
i that. in view Of these considerations, her most
| worthy sons are willing to serve her In the
council. To the character of her councilmen
for years past the city is, in my opinion, in no
small degree indebted for her prosperous con-
dition.
| Our financial condition is satisfactory. Since
my last message some $4,000 of per cent. city
bonds have been called in, the means of pay
ing them having been provided by the sale Of
| an equal amount Of six per cent. bonds at
considerable premium.
tention has been paid to the sinking fund, and
there is every reason to believe tn t henceforth
| our debt can be steadily curtaied.
| The bonded Indebtedness of the city, to this
| date, is $295.70O. Since my last annual mes
sage the sinking fund has increased from
s22, 600 to S2961550 showing an increase OF
S7,6l5.50 for the year. There is also due the
sinking fund S5367.3S to be paid from the I'M
| col ected taxes in the hands of the Treasurer.
The schools have received your fostering
care and we are realizing the benefcent infiu
ence hat flows from source where knowledge
is impaired and proper direction given to the
youth.
The appropriation for street improvement in
the last year was well expended. and as We
must derive much benefit from money expend-
ed in that direction, would recommend that
your next allowance be as liberal as the condi-
tion of the finances will admit OF
| The Poor have been well provided for.
| All that was said in the last annual message
in regard to the Fire Depastment might, with
propriety, be repeated here, as it he's been DEM
Onstrated on more than one occasion, within
i the last year, that the fire companies are equal
to any emergency thatis likely to arise.
| The Police is as effeotual as/we can reason
ably expect from SO small a force The arrests
made in the last y ar number 428. Amount
| paid into the treasury on account of fines and
cost for the same time 1854 o. :
| VIM, l. BALTaIS Mayor