Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-07

] ters, for we can find no fault with their
Christian character. But we have
none to take their places in the publ ic
prayer service. This is one of the
evils of bringing politics into religion;
they won't mix. The Grand Old
Republican party is good enough
temperance party for me, and while
it is not up to the standard on
the temperance question that would
like to see it, yet am not going to
throw away ny vote on a party that
hasn't a ghost of chance of electing
its candidates" (Applause.)
"I don't understand what these fa-
natical Prohibitionists want" said the
| Hon. Mr.. Smith. "Our church as
church has declared that the 'liquor
traffic cannot be legalized without SIM
and nothing stronger than that could
be uttered. The man who sells liquor
for living is worse than a."
just then there was sharp knock
on the door.
"Come in" responded the double
bass voice of DIR. Williamson.
The door opeEed and the pOrtly
form of the saloon Keeper across the
street appeared in the doorway. He
was the first to break tho oppressive
silence
"Gentlemen, knowing this to be
your regular meeting night, decided
to come over and inform yOu that |
and my family have made up our
minds to join your church aud help
along the good work you are. doing"
This speech was greeted with dumb
astonishment by the members of the
Board. DR.. Williamson was the first
to speak:
"Have you given up the saloon bus
mess ?"
"No Sir" replied the saloon-keep-
er.
care you going to-"
''No sir am conducting a respec-
table place and see no reason why |
should"
'W-e-ll," slowly replied the Doctor,
"our church rules prohibit us from
taking in dealers i'll liquors, and for
that reason, we must refuse YOU"
"Oh, said the saloon keeper, a flush
of anger coming into his already tlorid
| face, II was not aware of that. On
what ground does your church refuse
to admit saloon on-keepersg
son the ground that they are en-
| gagged in business that sends souls
to hell" replied DR.. Williamson. "The
| Bible SAYS that no drunkard shall in
herit the kingdom of God, and there
fore no drunkard- maker can. More
than that, our Board of Bishops has
declared that the liquor traffic cannot
be legalized without sin"
Al
aroused by this time, and in a sup
pressed, angry tone he asked: 'Do
you know that a great many of your
members are regular customers of
mine -
~ have heard that some were," said
DR.. Williamson.
"Do you know that two of this Of
fetal Board, now in this room, are
among my regular custOmcrs?"
No reply, but two very red faces
showed who had been hit
"DO you know that got my license
from Judge Grant, who sits right here,
for which paid the regular license
fee ?n
"Hold on" said Judge Grant, "you
, are going too fast, my friend; do not
make the laws, aud | am compelled
by law to grant licenses; therefore
am not responsible
: "Wcll, the law was enacted by MIR
! Smith, there, and other Republicans
| You can't place the responsibility
: on me-" said Mr.. Smith. | carrie,
out the wishes of those who elected
f me. Had been elected on q Prohi
bition platform / would have voted
for % prohibitory law. My party
stands for high license and | voted fol
the law"
~ understand that fully" said the
saloon keeper, "but / voted for you
so did Judge Grant so did DR.. Win.
hanson; the rest of this Board and
the great majority of the voters in
your church. | took it for granted
that all who voted for yOu believed in
license. Now l am politely told that
; | cannot join this heaven bound band
and that shall go to hell. DIR. Will
hanson here, voted for you, Smith, to
pass license law which c0mpels Judge
Grant to give me a license-tO 90 to
hell! L am the fourth party to the
agreement and without the consent OF
you three | could not engage in the
| WHISKY UuSluCSS. Ou TIC
bound for heaven, where you will
wear crowns and play on golden harps,
while am to suffer the torments OF
the damned ! Gentlemen, if your
Bible is true, and go to hell for sell
ing whisky, yoa ,CiH 90 tcith me to hell
for uoting to gire me the leqat right ot
doing so. GooD NIGHT"
With that he vanished, closing the
door behind him with a vigorous
slam.
The members of the Official Board
looked steadfastly on the floor, each
one seemingly afraid of breaking the
silence. They were Christian men;
believed they were doing their Chris
tian duty. But the saloon-keeper, in
his fierce arraignment of those present,
had placed tremendous responsible
ty on their shoulders. Each one was
doing some pretty serious thinking
when DIR. Williamson ended the 81
lence by saying slowly:
"Brethren, that saloon keeper to Id
us some terrible truths. Brethren,
T our hands are not clean nor our skirts
unspotted. Let US go home and pray
, for light