The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-02-28
why Do You Not Join the Good
Templars

Templars?
To the Editor Of Temperance Department;
Reader, the writer asks you this
question; and he presses upon you
not to pass from the subject till you
find a satisfactory answer.
He begs to present in this con-
nection some well-known facts in a
group.
l. Forty years ago he who ad-
vocated tetotalism was considered
a crank.
2. To-day the very best intellects
in all sections of the country are on
the total abstinence side of the ques-
ton and he who openly opposes the
temperance movement is not only
looked upon as either a crank or a
reeklessly wicked man, but Is In
fact such.
This is not meant to apply to
those who are simply taking no
hand In the fight, but TO those who
actively fight the cause.
3. II thus appears (and is a fact
that a wonderful revolution has
been, and still is in progress upon
this subject Let us inquire how
this has been brought. about, and
we say, negatively:
4. Ii has not been done by the
churches as such. 1t is true and
we are glad il is true, that all the
orthodox churches are in line on the
subject now. They were not so
forty wears ago. They were not so
till temperance organizations exist
ed and ventilated the subject. But,
5. These temperance Organiza-
tons in one form or another have
done in the churches and out OF
them what has been done.
8. But intemperance still exists.
Whisky men are organized for the
fight and are cOntesting stubbornly
every inch of the ground-uslng
acfiUe means right in our midst to
capture our young men-taking
pains to thwart every effort Of the
poor drunkard when he tries to re-
form. and nearly always with sue
cess. Yes, sir, the battle between
peace and order mot 10 say IN this
connection religiOn) on the one
hand. and vice, crime, pauperism
and degraded humanity on the 9th
er, Is going on right under your
nose. The result Is no longer now
doubted by any thinking man, but
il is being unnecessarily delayed.
Are YOU an idle spectator? Can
YOU afford to be such Have you
not enough interest in the well be
ing of your fellow-man (not to men
ton your own pocket, your own
son, your own daughters happI-
ness) to impel you to action?
The Savior of the world under
stood human nature when he said,
HE that is not for US is against Us,
and he that gathereth not with us
scattereth abroad" This language |
defines your position. Yon are mis-
understood by the boys and young
men around you. Since you do not |
give active support to the temper
ance move, your action is under
stood to mean that you do not con-
slider it worthy of your support, or
that il has not your approval. And |
so whether you will or not you
scatter abroad an influence, adverse
10 the cause.
Now, suppose that fifty promin-
ent citizens of Morristown, who new
err get drunk, who are friends Of
law and order, with their wives,
should come up and join the Good |
Templars and stay with them.
Can't you foresee the result? Yes
you know that such a move, with |
the strength and compactness of
organization and the accretion that
would follow, would win the battle
here inside of twelve months.
Reader, why don't you join the
Good Temp!ars? -
AuaarFaan and FOrafwu TPmDRr-