Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-01-15
A MINISTER'S CALE,.
A Victim to Erroneous views-FaIsc
Notions Concerning re,sonRl Lib
erty-Intemperance and Anti
Sabbath Observance Yield
Their Legitimate Fruits.
Commercial Telegram, llth.l

The German Lutheran church, az or
ganized in thi, country, is not favorable TO
emperance or the American idea of the
Sabbath. They have attempted to bring
10 this country and establish here the
most Objectionable features OF social and
religious customs in the mother country,
with no apparent thought of obligation to
observe the laws and customs OF their
adopted country. The Lutherans are not
alone in this, but It is that denomination
that is just now at the front in this ocali-
ty, owing to the fact that one OF their lead.
ing ministers has been compelled to leave
the pulpit for drukenness.
Ignorant foreigners come 10 this country
with the belief that here there 10 no re-
striction OF freedom-that personal liberty
is without restraint-not realizing tile fact
that there can be no such thing as govern.
ment without restriction OF freedom.
They cannot understand how it is that the
wishes or appetites of the individual
should be made secondary to the general
good OF society-why one man may not
make common nuisance OF himself, to
the annoyance OF a community, aimee this
ia free country. With sucl, sentiments,
they are constantly demanding liberties
which the American people believe 10 be
inconsistant with the public interest.
AS stated, they are not friendly to tenn.
perance or to the American idea OF tho
Sabbath. That there are Lutherans who
believe in temperance and III the Aneri-
can Sabbath is probably true, but the
| church, as MI organisation, does not re-
quire temperance or observance OF tue
Sabbath on the part OF its members.
In village near this city, the minister
drinks freely, nj saloons, with his parish
loners, gets full, and then. in addition TO
preaching to them, profes.es to bs their
proper physician, and is employed, in cases
Of sickness, by the more ignorant of his
followers, although his knowledge OF
medicine is no greater than that of any old
lady, perhaps not IN much. HIS church
people will go direct from the church to a
saloon and play cards for the drinks and
cigars. and indulge in any amusement
suited TO their taste.
In this city, the same practices prevail
In one case. the minister, Rev. Albert T.
Weber, of the Erie-sl. church, became 81
accustomed to the excessive use of str ong
drinks that he went into the pulpit on a
funeral occasion, drunk. His intemper-
ance became 30 marked that the church
authorities could not avoid taking notice
ol it, and he resigned rather than be de-
posed. Iii. case affords but smother illus
.ra,ion OF the danger Of indulgins freel,
in the use Of strong drinks, and of ths
proprlcty of greater restriction than il
countenanced by that church. TIL,
preacher IN an adjoining village referred
To, has barely escaped the fate of Rev
Weber TN several occasions, and yet hi
people believe in the largest liberty ano
endure his getting drunk rather than tax,
action which might appear to be in opposl
ton to "l'eraonal liberty"
The case of Mr.. Weber should afford
valuable lesson To the chnrch, and cult
vate a sentiment favorable to more correc
views OH the subject of "per.unal liberty.
1t shonld not mean Indulgence in habit
which bring the church into disrepnts
Had Rev. Weber only avoided gellin
drunk, he would moi have been censured
He indnlged lille too freely. that WAS a
But what Il sad case this il. A prOmineIl
and much loved minister a viotim 10 Il,
erroneous theories of his own church cor
cerring individual liberty!
The question OF restriction OF pcrsonu
liberty, is simply one Of good policy
How far II should be restricted in order |
secure the best results, may not be easil
determined, but certainly there can be II
goud reason for opposing any and all =,
strction. The general good requires ii
restraint of the individual. Where sha
the line be drawn?