The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-15
From Rev. chas. MaoLean

From Rev. Chas. MacLean.
MIR. demonstrating last week shown
by means of"tlne dead languages" (Which
am happy to say are not dead in the
church in which l have the honor 10 be
a minister) and by Bible history that the
present Temperance movement is anti.
Biblical in argument. / proceed now to
show TINT it is
Anti-Temperance in results.-As there
is possibility ofa living language" be.
coming, by the careless, tl,oughtless Use
Of terms, even more mysterious than
any dead language think it well, be.
fore proceeding further, to determine the
meaning Of the word temperance.
l presume that not even a prohibition.
list will reject Noah Webster as an a,,.
thority in settling the meaning. of words.
According to him Temperance" is
!. "Habitual moderation in rcpurd to
the indulgence Of the natural appetites
and passions; restrained or moderate i'm.
diligence; moderation; rs temperance in
eating and drinking"
9. Moderation of passion; patience
calmness; scdateness."
3. Estate with regard to heat and cold
temperature"
! think, then, that the genius of our
language warrants the conclusion that
temperance means nothing more nor
less than self.control. Selfcontrol is no
mean virtue. The wise man Solomon,
Prov. 1882 says, "He that is SLOW to
anger is better than the mighty; and lie
that rulet, his spirit than he that taketl,
city," Is the temperance movement,
as now pushed, favorable to the deyc.op.
ment and practice Of self.control, or tenn.
perancc?
Answer l. Not in the use OF language.
Take the following as an instance of
the incorporate use of the Englisl, Ian.
guage by that model Of self control, the
prohibitionist, more to be initiated and
obeyed than the Saviour of men:
1--WE believe $1,000 clcrgymen will
resent with mighty emphasis this out.
rageous insult of the liquor men. But If
Judas felt worse after the betrayal of his
Master than this preacher ahe REV. Afr.
Sikes) ought 10 feel over the compile
ments the liquor men are heaping upon
him, It is no wonder lie went and hanged
himself. 1.-THE Voice. April 5.
o! whit an educator in moderation or
seif-control is tile above paragraph.
Answer 2. Not in conduct toward
others.
Surely Christianity land this move.
ment claims to be Cl,ristian) is not de.
pendent for it's advancement OH the con.
duct of those WHO would, and do, WELD
with nil the energy of fanaticism the
boycott weapons. These weapons were
applied against one of our most excellen,
ministers in this North Dakota. until he
felt obliged to resign his charge, because
he had the courage of his convictions
Last fall l myself was called upon to ex.
press my opinions OIL this great question
of temperance at q public meeting; and
because / had, to use the words of some
who were present, "the sand' to speak
out my convictions, the boycott weapons
have ever since been glittering in my
face and thrust into my back. Ny work
has been hampered in every possible
way. Candidates llaye been kept from,
come citing themselves with my churcl,
oil the plea that co.opcrated with the
rum sellers. People coming to INV
church were met on the way and i'll
duced not to proceed. Yes, AM told
and l partly believe 1t, that the w. G. L.
U. branch here met to petition for my
removal from my charge. All this I've.
cause l did what was asked to do-ex.
press my opinion OH q public question
But l can say with Paul, "None Of these
things move (abasl,) me-"
Answer 8. Not in the indulgence OF
appetite and the sale of Intoxicating
drinks.
Last fall, when this question was
about 10 he submitted to the people ut
the polls, gave It us u reason tor not
falling in with the movement that I did
not approve of multiplying laws only to
be tlislionored, as disrespccting one law
with impunity paved the way to look
upon every law will, disrcspcct and con-
tempt. l said, in support Of my position,
I'VE have prohibitory law now (the
Sunday law and fail 10 see it honored.
If we have not the Christian or the
moral back bone 10 insist upon ol,sery.
ing this law, which demands our resp Get
only one day in seven, have 1 any
grounds for believing that we will have
The courage or tile power to insist upon
The observance Of a law of the same kind
which demands our respect every day 2"
did not have then, and have not now,
after seven months trial of pro-
liquor law. Tho prol,ibitionist,
knowing that his temperance ways ore
Bible superceding, Christ criminating,
md man tyrannizing. is slow to own and
'tand BY his child before the courts. II
his prohibition law (tle child of many,
we're. like NATURAL law, (tl,e child of
iod), self operative, what IL fine thing il
would be! But it is not. Therefore,
Prohibition does not prohibit. A short
line after "loca; option" was declared
by the bench of judges ut
Bismarck, and knowing that it was just
as optional then us before whether one
should get drunk in Pcmbina, at least, !
said to gentleman whom I knew to l,e
enthusiastic fora prol,ibitory law: "What
arc YOU doing for prohibitionw He
answered me i'll dog Latin, II am non
EST" He has been mon est" ever since.
Himself and others. also mon est" suc.
;eeded in imposing prohibition upon
citizens who arc too loyal to violate law,
md who are sufficiently developed to
Practice sclf-control without sucl, Il law.
Prohibition does not prohibit in Dakota.
Read the history. observe the working
+ prohibition wherever it has been or Is