The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-12-25

READ at Inc IhsttI AsSocIaGion,
Little Rock. ARK, Monday, Novem-
Der IS, 1897
Shall the pulpit plead for prohibit
tion? Ifnot, why no? If so, wh,i
We answer affimatively.
Because prohibition is right. The
character and work of the liquor
traffic are we'll known. 1t is criminal,
and absolutely without defense. If
theft and robbery and forgery and
murder are crimes to DE prohibited.
much more is this; for the theft and
murder and anarchy and riot and
social evil and domestic distress out
side the liquor traffic it is but a tiny
stream besides its swollen waters. 1t
is the pulpit's greatest foe on earth,
and should receive its fercest ona
slaughts, The gospel of Jesus Christ
is IN this world to promote righteous
ness and order. the saloon is here to
tear down and destroy, to arouse ev-
cry unholy desire and passion, and to
incite TO every form of vice and
cruelty. Tue gospel is here to save
men; the saloon is here to damn them
The gospel is here to right wrongs,
to enkindle hopes and to fill the heart
with songs of joy; the saloon is here
to enthrone eulquity, to blight fond
est hopes ami to enkindle despair.
A pulpit that will not, or does not,
train its guns on the saloon and de-
mand its absolute prohibition fails to
face and fight its deadllest foe, and is
wanting in generalship.
Prohibition must have a place in
the pulpit because preaching temper
ance with prohibition left out is very
much like playing Hamlet with
Hamlet left out. Preaching tens
perance only, trying to stay the raw
ages of the saloon without prohlbi-
ton, is like trying to gave a flock of
sheep while the wolves have free
range in the pasture. 1t is like cul-
tiyating roses with hog turned loose
and licensed in the garden. Like
saving community from hydropho-
bia by putting tax en- mad dogs,
and then saying to the people look
out. Like stopping the yellow fever
by building hospital in one part OF
the city while you plant or license or
leave unattached an institution On
the opposite side Of the street, whose
sole Business is to furnish the plague
smitten victims. 1t is like fighting
an asssulting foe with ambulance
wagons and lint and bandages and
cordiaIs instead of musketry and can.
non. Like calling out the FIRE de-
partment alone to save the burning
city, instead of arresting or shooting
down the incendiaries who, all ovei
the city, are applying the destruc'
tive torch. This Preaching temper
ance with prohibition left out is like
a maple syrup once undertook X
buy. warranted to be not more thar
seven eighths molasses." Ii this b,
the only kind OF temperance allow
able In the pulpit do not wonder i
gets aired 50 little. 1t is like thl
chicken broth which the commercia
traveller examined and tasted lit
tie, and then passed back to th,
waiter With the request that be woult
let the chicken wade through 1t ono
more. IL Is too weak to be soup, to,
unfltered to be water.
Ill
Prohibition may claim a place il
the pulpit because this is a legitamat
union Of church and state. In on
revolt against papal domination it
possible TO 60 too far. That politica
duties are hot 10 be discussed in th
pulpit because the State is one thin
and the church another is fallaclou
and unsouBd. As well might We So
that because one man il one iudiyl
dual and another man is another
hence there il no union. The trut
is there are things We owe each Ott
er; and the gospel Of Jesus Christ
pre-tminehtly in this world I
make tbese things tally. There al
things the government owes u
church, aud there are things tt
church yves the goVerBm"'If; al
any separation u church aAu otal
which IgrOres THIS fact IS an unwa
rantud disruption. The church is |
be the educator Of the peopIe-Of q
the people one moral aud religion
question. She Ii % be tie moral an
spiritual guide VI presidents and sci
atofs ana all government officials, ,
well 81 farmers and africans. An
% show the people who elect OF
legislatures, aud our Legislators, VII
make our laws, the sln VI The liqut
traffic. and the duty ~ prohibit II,
as legitimate ind moral suasiUn an
ministerial function a. any other e
fort the pulpit can make to impre
society. Tbs cry IT "HsBds off
because it Is political question, is
cry calcuist.u TO silence or slihe n
form just as Il cOncs to the brit
Il il IKE pLfsVing yOur game till "a
get 1t freed, aud then calling of yOt
dcgs and sending your rife bom
Lac hunting the thief oil you ha,
reacte1 biz :, treat, and the beggin
Bis pardon and STEALING gently ava