The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-31
DANGEROUS CLASSES OF SOCIETY.
The Methodist Ministers Discuss Them and
Suggest Remedies for Existing Evils.

| The Methodist ministers Of this city met yes
terday morning. and discussed the question
who Is Responsible for the Dangerous Glasses
| in Society?" Rev E. w. s. Hammond read a
paper, in which he maintained that the illiterate
and Incorporate classes were the most danger
ous 1.-THE growth of society" said he, "has
developed series of dangers which threaten the
Nation. Seventeen per cent of our population
can neither read nor write. Illiteracy threatens
| to blight our civilization. 1t is the fruitful
source of all our dangers We cannot rely on
the safety of our institutions, or expect sub
stantal progress in matters of civil policy while
the Ignorant class holds the balance of power.
That we are reaping the fruits of governmental
Indifference is not strange To-day the custo-
dams of our liberty are camoring for the spoils
! of Office. Who is responsbes The men who
hold the national right of suffrage should be in
| diligently qualified for the proper exercise OF
| the same The government must educate the
| ignorant. Make the spelling book the scepter OF
| power, and you will emancipate the country from
/ the hands of demagogues Again, intemperance
| endangers social moral and political happi
ness. 1t is the blot on our national escutcheon,
| for the government sanctions the sale and man
ufacture of strong drink. The liquor tax neces
states an army Of officers who stand in solid
phalanx to resist the friends of temperance,
/ by corrupting the ballot. The government
| is responsible for the great evil which
| it protects The army Of criminals. organized
| for deeds of lawlessness and violence, that has
for its object the dissertation of the Sabbath, and
| the subyersion of morality and virtue, should
| be antagonized by all good citizens The liquor
| 0ligarchy steadily grows more arrogant and now
assumes to dictate in matters of public policy.
| 1t would determine the destiny of great
political parties, and, entrenching itself behind
| the national authority, is to-day gradually
| Tightening its hideous coils. The equivocal,
vacliiatlng attitude of our temperance Organiza-
tions, the conspicuous silence of the pulpit,
| timidity of leading newspapers, moral cowardice
| OF legislators and general apathy of the best
citizens, all contribute to the success of human
| itys greatest foe. The remedy is the intelli
| gent use of the ballot and the fusion
| Of the scattered forces and friends of temper
| ance, without regard to party. When states
men and legislators rise to the dignity of their
| calling and citizens do their duty the evil will
| be eradicated. Great responsibility rests on the
| pulpit. 1t must not abate interest in all ques-
| tons of public welfare, but take bold stand on
| ali questions of moral and political prosperity
The pulpit must cease to tolerate those who pan
| der to morbid SentImentalism in order to gain
| political favor. The trumpet of the pulpit must
| have no uncertain sound on the question of pop
! ular amusements The way to reach the
masses, elevate society, ignify labor and pre-
serve the sanctlty of the Sabbath is to advocate
|
| love. The press also has its responsibilities
| pure press is the 'buttless of our
social fabric, but if it be the tool of corpora
| ton, or vehicle Of personal spite and revenge,
nothing can be more dangerous. the press must
work for pure, efficient government and not
| apologize for weakness corruption in the Of
| fees of public trust and emolument"
| Rev T. A. Goodwin followed in few remarks
| on intemperanee, the prevalence of which he at
tributed to the church in part political parties
| in part. and principally weak and undecided
| public sentiment. Rev. DR.. Lynch took the
position that the Democratic party, which he
called the whisky party, owed its success to the
| desertion of the temperance people from its
friend the Republican party, and that it was not
| difficult to establish the political responsibility
| for intemperance. spirited discussion, con-
| Stunning the remainder of the session, ensued be-
| tween Messrs. Goodwin and Lynch. The sub
! ject for next Monday will be "The Outlook for
the Speedy Evangalzation of the World" DIR.
| Marine being essayist
| The following resolutions were adopted
| Whereas, Rev. f. w. S. Hammond presiding elder
of the Indiana District of the Lexington Conference
is closing his time Che district and meets with
this morning for the last time as member of the
| preachers meeting therefore,
Resolved That in intercourse with him we have
| found him a scholarly, Christian gentleman and a
loyal earnest and eloquent Methodist preacher and
it is with sincere regret that part from him. Ear
nestly do recommend him to the confidence of the
church at large and feel assured that in the future
in the past he will do grand work for the Master.