The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-04
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
TOTAL ABSTINENCE AND THE LAWS ]


TOTAL ABSTINENCE AND THE LAWS EN-
FoRCEMENT.
According TO announcement, Rev. d. w.
LaLacheur preached at Vaughan street
church yesterday afternoon on "Total Alb
stinence and the Enforcement of the Law"
basing his remarks on the passage In Peters
first epistle wherein he exhorts the believer
to "be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason Of the
hope that is in you," etc. The sermon was
In two parts. and was preceded by some re-
marks on the mission at Gorham's corner
where. he said, he addressed a multitude
Saturday evening. and better order prevailed
than would have been the case In any other
part of the city. As to total abstinence he
said he believed in it after 30 years consider
alton. The word Of God nowhere prohibits
1t, nor is there any human law which forbids
man TO be total abstainer. No require
ment Of Christianity Is violated by 1t and no
man thereby units himself for the perform
ance Of his religious duties, nor has any
death-bed experience ever said 1t was wrong
10 De total abstainer. After some general
remarks on the drink evil, he proceeded to
discuss the present enforcement of the liquor
laws In this city. Last Wednesday the offic-
ers told him there were only seven notorious
paess ess ops9 %I And 9 doipg business In this city
humsellers never trembled before as they 90
now. The other night, after the GOrham's
Corner meeting he took deacon along and
they went through Commercial. India, Fore,
Centre and Pleasant streets, and only dis
covered light In one shop. OF the seven
mentioned by the officers the most notorious.
he said closed Friday. In three months and a
nalf.l6OO warrants have been issued, Sc0 seiz.
qres made and 5000 gallons Of liquor spilled.
1t was said few months ago public senti-
ment would not sustain rigid enforcement of
the law. Ask Mr.. Cram about that. The
demonstrations Of approval have almost TAX
en- our great sheriff off his feet. Our excel
lent governor has written him letter thank
Ing himland there Is nota society worthy the
name OF society that has not thanked him,
vaughan street. having been the first. It'll
said the cost OF enforcement to the county
Will De considerable, but for this object Mr..
LeLacheur Is willing his tax should be
doubled. There is still drinking. He saw a
man drink between two buildings the other
night. For doing what he can to help en-
spect him more. They call him "Mr." Le-
Lacneur now. A few evenings ago a seizure
was made at place diagOnally opposite the
mission and In 20 minutes after he was in
formed b barrel Of beer was being rolled in.
by telephoning he Informed the officers and
the barrel was seized. He was not indiffer-
ent to his duty to aid In the removing of any
sim. 81 am one Of the happiest men In Port
iand, says Mr.. LeLacheur.
STATE ST. CHURCH.
Yesterday being the day for the observance
Of the sacrament Of the Lords supper, the
pastor, Rev. Mr.. Bayley, preached Ia the
morning an appropriate discourse upon the
theme of Christian unity, selecting as his
text the 10th verse Of the 18th ehagt.r Of the
1st Epistle to the Corinthians.
He began by saying that the apparent
diversity among Christians In regard to doc
trinal belief had been to some a cause of
rejection Of religious truth, but the preacher
said that In all that is essential there is no
practical difference. Take for example, he
said, the Presbyterian, Congregationalist,
Methodist and Baptist; the first two and tie
last. In generations past exalted Gods
sovereignty until the Methodist denomin-
alton arose aud preached earnestly from the
other side Of the great mountain of truth,
mans free agency, and yet neither will deny
Gods sovereignty or mans free agency.
Dlnerence IN church government suggests
TO many to idea OF difference in religious
belief. The CongregatiOnalists and Baptists
are thoroughly democratic while the Method
ist andsPresbytera1systems are more or less
complex.
Again the differences that do exist are
mostly speculative. Take for illustration,
the doctrines OF the incarnation and atone
ment. All evangelical denominations be-
lieye them, yet various theories are enter
tanned by different schools Of theology con
cerning them.
Finally the vastness Of truth compels men
to regard 1t from different standpoints. Can
any one Of company Of people regarding a
beautiful landscape see everything OF beauty
and grandeur that IL contains? The same Is
true Of the truth contained In Gods word,
We oil see from our point of view yet, in the
language Of Canon Farrar, through all, and
above all, we see Christ and Christ alone.
In the evening, the service was designed
to illustrate the unity of Christians, in sacred
song, and some fine music was rendered by
the re-organized choir under the direction OF
the accomplished organist, Mr.. Harvey
Murray and hymns by the choir and congre-
cation were sung.