The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-02-27
-.,y RESPONSIBILITY OF III .: CHRIS.
rrAN CHURCH. fOR THF. LIQUOR
TRAFFIC.
py ". JENNINGS DEMoR

The delu,i,e apathy which exists in +,
.,,d 10 the crime of rum.seiling is awf,
;, contemplate. The people have been $
.o,. accustomed to a subserviency to Il,
,,,n ;nterc.. that this inleres, has now pos
x.ss;on Of ai,sost the entire Government
1'he ,udiciat and selfish blindness that pct
v.des the masses or this subject is sucl
,ha, j, will require .r,,ral earthquake I,
awaken t,,cn to q sense Of their danger
and compel an active effort to crush thi
monster cvii-an evil III such huge pro
portions that it threatens to engaif US il, .
naeis,rnn Of crime and debauchery.
Bu. the n,.>st marvellous aspect oi .hi,
rfeat question is the stupidity and seem
Ingly wiiiful blindness Of large propx
ton OF the Christian church, especially
when the responsibility for This awful
.courge is presented in The light Of Gods
word. Am l;tny brothce's kccper:'
In the present attitude Of some Chris.
tans, this argument and appeal acts like
water al, Il ducks back. The conscience
+ ali rock. and t'inty rock at that, when
spplietn 70 personal responsibility for the
crime Of rum. selling. It would seem that
all moral sense "n this vital question was
h+numbed and paruIyzsd else how soon
would this hideous traffic be blolted out of
existence. How easily the Church, with
lis millions of voters, could crush this
ssons!er vice and just as coon as she chose
nact. Nothing stands in he: way but her
stupid. wicked apathy. and in some cases
her actual sympathy, connivancc, and par.
'epation ia the crime, but we actually
hold up the church as 4 screen for o,r du.
picity. The ministers OF the church are
especially responsible for the active con.
science Of the people ON all moral ques.
lions. They, Of all others, reflect, ener.
glze, and control the sentiments of the
community. and they ought to sec and
Fealixe what God and humanity requires
" their IIands on this most .nomentous
Aaestion. The church should lead on
moral questions, not be led. The awful
had Of guilty responsibility that rests on
Ne members aud ministers Of the Chris.
ban church for the crime, misery, and
Efetchedness that aows from rum. selling
appalling. What grand revival would
|Ae1e be Of Christian sentiment could they
Pc awakened 10 see how easily the vile
a'fhc could be annihilated by them; how
as'ly It could be removed from our land
the church would but offer active and
Enthusiastic cooperation with the people
apoaittcal crusade against this crime of
|sm'se''ing. And It is only this political
es'on for the prohibition Of the LIQUOR
Fsac that the ram.seller breads. To him
P0'a' suassoo. license laws, gospel tenn.
france, or any other temporixing with the !
|aes''oa Of rum.selling At this stage Of the |
is so much sentimental non.
ea'e' Let him have relief from the 90.
'uea' action of the people and he cares
'''e or nothing about your teaching, your
reaching, or your prayers. for he knows
'aen better than the church are willing
oel'evc that faith is the substance Of
1'ogs hoped for, the evidence of things
Ok seen," and il the church had this faith
would act. That Is, nc. in the most eff.
ISN'T way to accomplish the purpose de.
"s'' and that this not being done, Is the
.'' evidence to the RUM. seller that the
"u'ea has not this necessary faith, and
'se'ote 81 the ru'n'se'ler's security.
W visionary attempt to meet the evils
":empcrance will accomplish the pur.
w. ~ we must have practical measures
''' strike at the difficulty, and however
's'''ous the sophistry Of moderate drink.
- 'umsel'ers. and their sympathizers,
: "aal conclusion must be that nothing
.'' OF prohibitory law. land an esually
y n'at'er), party to enforce the
~ WI" prove effectual to annihilatc the
y. .'se' and the sooner we reach this con.
,v.s 4 the sooner will our country be re.
.,s0 ~ from this Infamous curse.
A." ~ .'o'ch and its members ought to
:, ~" ~, the truthful and important lesson
o,x. ~ -. "0f doing is set down among our
.. crimes. Good intentions will not
NJ, w. Christ said, if you had faith YOU
e,a. remove mountains; He evidently {
u,t ,' mountains OF difficulty. But you {
'4'"'" A faith that laughs at
serr '''es ~, and cries it shall be done.'"
Dena os's' moral and religious virtue is $
w, vv"'ent On this faith. :
ness q" mountain Of crime and wretch. ,
is ,;o "'as an incubus on our world is $
n. s'or traffic, and vet how easily co,,d