St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-26
A TEMPERANCE SERMON.
There Is No Way But to Close the
Saloon.


At Westminster church, last evening.
Rev. D. j. Burrill preached an interest
ing sermon from the text, Mark TX, 10:
1t is reported, he said, that 100000
600 is annually expended in this
country for Intoxicating drink. What
a tremendous amount of crime, sorrow,
poverty and shame that outlay repre-
sents! Back of it stands the evil genius
of our civilization; a man in his shirt
sleeves with a diamond stud on his
bosom, well-fed man with an unctuous
face and humorous eye, a decanter
in one hand and a glass in the
other. One of the problems of the
temperance reform is how to deal with
this man. the rumseller. AS rule, he
is beyond the reach of arguments that
appeal to mind and conscience. His
business is curse and nuisance, yet
he chooses to carry it on. "a legitimate
business" you say. Aye, there's the
shame of 1t. License means permission,
and any one who favors license is meas
urably responsible for the business, or,
to speak more plainly still, particeps
criminis. The only righteous way to
deal with the dram shop is to close it.
and the only Christian way to deal
with the rumseller is to force
him out of his infamy into an
honest business where he may live
not OH human blood and tears, but by
the sweat of his brow. The proper plan
of procedure is mapped out in the fol-
lowing resolution, which passed unani-
mously at the recent meeting OF the
synod of Minnesota: believing that
the time has come for Gods people to
make themselves plainly heard as to the
traffic in Intoxicating drink, we do de-
clare our opinion that the saloon is an
unmitigated and an unqualified curse,
and as such ought not to be permitted
to live. and we call upon the PreSbyte-
rian people of Minnesota to urge by all
proper methods the enactment at the
earliest possible momen. OF a prOhibi-
tory law
But the rumseller is not the only man
with whom the temperance reform
must deal. 1t must save the lnebriate.
We contemplate, with horror, the vast
number of persons addicted to drink.
Who'll save them? How? And when?
1t is vain to expect any movement in
their behalf from that goOdly fellowship
of Self-styled social reformers, whose
theories are all sweetness and light, but
somehow never materialize. They will
pose. and criticize, and speculate, and
Shed floods of sentimental tears and
then sit down and rest. If anything is
done the Church Of Jesus Christ must
do it. And why not? Thisis their bus
mess. The Lord said to his dis
ciples, Il will make you fish
ers of men," But how shall the
church go about this benefcent work?
By merely urging men to 'sbrace up"
turn overa new leaf. sign the pledge,
reform? Nay, that way lies failure.
There is no use telling man to brace
up unless you give him something to
brace up to. The true reformation be-
gins in regeneration; and the only hope
of holding out' is in holding the hand
of God. A Temperance crusade" is
proposed in this city. The name is well
chosen, The word crusade. suggests
the cross, and the hope OF habit-ridden
soul is in the cross of Jesus. When
shall wescommence? 1t can not be too
soon. Gods clock ticks, Nov! Now!
Now" 1t never says ssTO-morrow."
So here and now to every unsayed sin
her we cry ''Behold the Lamh-of God.'