West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-07-30

nome where the gospel has not been
preached. But we prize Chris
tianity most of all because it makes
human character complete in
Christ. 1t purifes the heart and
fits man for the Fathers Home. 1t
glorifes God and manifests man.
l do not hesitate to say that Chris
tianity is the greatest blessing to
the State, to the home, to the heart,
to the life,
OPPOSED TO CHRISTIANITY.
And yet there exists in this
Christian country licensed, le-
galized institution, essentially OPP
posed to Christianity. There ex-
lists fiendish business, permitted
and sustained by the votes Of
Christian people-a business which
destroys those for whom Christ
died. The Christian Church is
engaged in morta. conflict with
this crowned leader of the fends,
because the liquor traffic is waging
war of determination against the
Christian Church.
Now the success of any cam
paign may be impaired by weaken
ing and discouraging the army it.
self The SHOWS of the winter of
1912, and the want and disease
which thinned the ranks of the
French army in the ever-memo-
rable retreat from Moscow, were a
far more terrible enemy to Napo-
leon than the Russian guns or the
bravery of the Russian troops. /
charge it against the liquor trade
of this country, carried on publicly
or sneakingly, that it obstructs the
work Of the Christian Church be-
cause it is the occasion of much
weakness in tie Church itself. I
need not tell you the reproach that
the downfall of a minister brings
upon the cause of Christ. Yet the
drink habit has dethroned many a
minister, some of them men of
great power. There are few cler-
gymen who do not hold in melan-
choly recollection one or more MEM
bers of their own profession who
have disgraced their calling, and
sunk to ruin through intemper-
ance. But strong drink has been
more fatal in the rank and file
of the church. 1t has been COM
puted at very low estimate that
not less than 10000 members are
annually lost to the Christian
Church from this one cause. More
than this, the effect of moderate
drinkins-too say nothing of the
waste Of thousands Of money
which might swell the sum in our
missionary treasury,-the effect of
moderate drinking upon those who
do not 90 so far as to demand, in
the Judgment of many churches,
exclusion from their fellowship, is
sad and destructive. Think how
this indulgence hinders their
growth in grace, undermines their
character, paralyzes their energy
in the Lords work, grieves the
Holy Spirit. Did you ever know
a very pious dram-drinker? Can
the Church now point to him as a
Christian light and example9 Is
he soul-saving institution? On
the contrary, his example encour-
ages others to engage in this most
dangerous indulgence. 0, how
many a young man has Satan won
to the first steps in that dreaxy.
pathway which leads to the drum
kard's dreadful doom, by whisper
ing, "Such church member,
man honored and esteemed, in
dulges in the use of intoxicants;
and if the church member does it,
why not your Besides, think Of
the trouble and disgrace it costs
the church to get rid Of such mem
bers. This evil is greater than you
would believe. / know whole
church not fifty miles from Nor
gantown, swamped in drunken
ness. No hope for Christianity
there till that church is either
converted or killed! 1 know pas
torless Baptist Church not fifty
miles away, who keeps in her fell