West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-04-14
The Christian Church in Its Re.
lati0n to the Liquor Traffic,
BY ". JENNINGS DEMoREsT.

BY ". JENNINGS DEMoREsT.
The Methodist Church is un-
doubtedly far in advance of all 9th
or Denominations in its sympa-
thies with the Prohibition move.
ment for the humiliation of the
liquor traffic; but even the mem
bers of this Church would be far
more heroic in their efforts to de-
stroy this hideous evil if they could
be made to see their whole duty
and privilege on this subject. The
Methodist Church is singularly
adapted to an aggressive move
ment, and when she does become
enthusiastic her action, zeal, and
energy is developed in proportion
to the value of the work to be &C.
complished. Therefore, what the
Church most wants is an active,
Christian faith in the means to be
employed, confidence in the final
result, together with an intelligent
and abiding conviction of the glo.
rious moral regeneration and revi-
val of true religious sentiment that
will be certain to follow the Prohi-
bition Of the liquor traffic.
Lack OF courage to follow moral
convictions is universal, and it re.
quires moral heroism and real
Christian zeal to do so; but ardent
enthusiasm will combat this ten
dency, for there is a dominant SEN
timent and feeling which will re-
spond to the urgent call for consci-
entious effort and sacrifice. Indif-
ference is akin to hostility, and
conscience stif1ed by prejudice and
selfish considerations will be dor
mant; but when the light of Gods
eternal truth enters the mind we
become giants in the cause of right.
This active conscience once awak-
ened will oe like a whirlwind Of
energy, and all barriers of selfish
ness must bow before it.
The living, burning, all-absorb-
ing question now before the world
is, Shall the Liquor Traffic be Pro.
hibited? The Methodist Church
has given some grand illustrations
of its sympathy with the progress
of the Prohibition movement. Its
highest representative body has
unequivocally declared its adhesion
to this advanced and aggressive
phase of the Temperance question.
But there must be much more &C.
tive work on the part of large
proportion of the ministry and
membership of this denomination
to embrace all the opportunities
and secure the advantages that are
possible in this new crusade
against the crime of rum selling.
The enormity of the crime calls
loudly for the concentration of
Christian effort and zeal and the
high moral stamina of the Church
when the call is answered, and not
before, she will have occupied the
position requisite for q complete
triumph of this grand cause. Nor
can this call be ignored because
there are political questions nee
essarily connected with it; nor can
conscientious members free them
selves from personal responsible
ty because their action may cause
some disturbance or unfriendly
controversy and criticism, or be-
cause the Church will lose some of
its pecuniary support. All these
things and others of much more
consequence may happen if the
moral status of the liquor traffic,
and the awful food of crime and
wretchedness that flows from it,
are made prominent, but if we
know anything about the charac-
ter of Christ's teachings or the OBJ
legations of both ministers and peo-
Pile, we are quite sure that there is
no good evidence of discipleship or
true religion where moral obliga-
tions are ignored. AS well might
we expect to "gather grapes from
thorns or figs from thistIes" as to
expect to deserve the "Well done,
good and faithful servantp when
we have been deceiving ourselves
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