West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-03-03
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN
On the Southern Field.
BY A. A. HOPKINS.

I'VE give the following extract from a re-
cent lengthy and most interesting letter
from Prof. A. A. Hopkins, who Is speaking
in the South, under the auspices OF the Ma
tional Prohibition Lecture Bureau.l
MEMPHIS, TENN, Feb. Il.
was glad to meet DR.. Henry A. Reynolds
in Mississippi, non partisan worker tn he
to take him under The Bureaus outspread-
ing wing and to offer him Bureau engage
rnent until spring; glad to SPEAK Z, a. , one
idian) and to observe how many came for
ward and TODD the pledge; glad to arrange
series of appointmentments 1or MIN winch
will result, as have no doubt whatever,
in making many personal prohi ontsts,
and in creating positive sentiment where
greatly needed. Dr. Reynolds is not Francis
Mu ply. He isn't engaged in merely low
inga saloon Keeper out of a netarious bust
ness he does not sheer at law, and at those
who would procure IT; he can both feel and
think; and the man who thinks, and is hon
est, though he have broad charity, will con-
denim the saloon and It's keeper and insist
that there is 'Shall not" even Of the Cos
pei If money would permit and If there
were dozen DR.. Reynolds would gladly
science make plain the personal relations
which men sustain towards drink, and
bring into Prohibitions Primary School the
children of a new generation, to stand un
one day in all the strength OF the law and
the Gospel both, for God and Home and
Humanity.
bre duh of desire, that came back here
from Meridian to meet Brother Mead, and
to help on the fight Just. fairly begun In
Tennessee. / believed that the missionary
purpose of the National Temperance Socie-
{, could here find mafinifcent opportunity,
and that here in Memphis we two co-work
ers for Prohibition, though under quite diff
ferent auspices, could do primary work to
the common benefit of our cause, Sunday
have touched you TO see that large audience
on Sunday II, NJ. in the First Methodist
Church, sobbing over Brother Mead's search
4ng discourse; you would have been moved
at evening by the interest shown in yet
larger colored meeting. And If some had
been present with me on Monday night, in
the colored Tabernacle Church, they would
have gotten new faith in Southern posi-
blities.
The pastor of that church is a very black
mum, once resident In Lockport, n. Y :, Rev.
Way, chief colored Baptist paper in the
state. He has great executive gifts and
Yields wide influence. His congregation,
though not the largest of his people in Mem
thoughtful hearing. And when, after show
ing me curse of the saloon TO all men, ask
have heard Mr. Ss 1e G
"Vote it outn
Being requested to rise, all whe would
pledge to vote only for men opposed to the
saloon, and to vote for Prohibition when 1t
might come Up, three-fourths of the whole
audience stood.
tee to them; Il have supported the republic
can party all these years; out tell you now
that will never again cast my ballot for
nen who favor the liquor traffic, or for a
party not opposed to it Our city, our state
is governed by the saloon, no matter which
party wins, it is the saloon that rules. We
must separate from all this unholy assoca-
ton, and make stand for our manhood,
for all our best Interests. They tell me you
tell You it is the politics of Heaven, and
hereafter that's the politics for me-"
Said another colored preacher, who asked
permission to say word:
1--WE been a temperance man desc many
years. l hasn't drunk no whisky, and I've
believed in putin 1t all away, but de troC-
BILE is, rs been silence. Now see what
we've got to do; We've Just got got to go right
fight with all our weapons, and that mears,
with our votes"
All! the leaven is working. The primary
effort of winning confidence and securing
the cooperation of colored leaders must tell.
Each night this week we gather in some
church the men in black and hold white
while a series of evangelistic services rather
interferes, we feel encouraged and hopeful.
To night DR.. John A. Brooks begins his Sc
eond series of Bureau meetings here, and
and alabama, winding up in North Carolina
where Mrs. Lathrap has done royalty, and
mad the largest meeting every held. Next
week Brother Mead and 60 to Nashville,
TO attend the Convention of the Tennessee
Temperance ALI tnce. The Issue, official
organ of that body, gives notice that Sd par
ty men are not wanted, and yet we wero
both officially invited. AS the representa-
tive ola great national non partisan society,
Brother Mead will find it easy to hold him
speech, and | shall not abuse hospitality IL
hospitality does not abuse me. But unless
nisread the evidences, there'u be many
themselves democrats or republicans either.