, 1892-02-23
LIQUOR QUESTION.
Rev. Mr.. Drake Says it is Here
to Stay.
He Also Says it is Question of
Right and Observation-Disclosures
tsNOta DIsease--It is a Sine What
He Thinks OF the Liquor seller.

He Thinks of the Liquor Seller.
Reported by Miss Nellie Mcintyre
Rev. F. E. Drake preached very inter
esting sermon Sunday morning at the
First M. r.. church upon the subject Of
temperance. He took the 18th verse of the
18th chapter Of John as his text. Before
entering upon his discussion, Mr.. Drake
explained that he did not pose as the rep
resentatiye of any political party. He did
not intend to assail any particular person
or temperance movement, although it was
possible he would oppose certain
arguments advanced After citing nu-
merous Biblical authorities in proof Of
the assertion that it was the right and duty
of the church to rebuke wrong wherein
that wrong existed. the speaker continued:
'NOW l want to know what the aspect of
the liquor question is, then we will apply |
some of the truths. In the first place it is
here, it is here to stay. We may poo-ho /
. at it as much as we will; we may ignore it I
as much as we can. | can say to you in |
the fear of God this morning; the liquor |
question is here and here to stay and this |
question can never be settled until it is set |
tied right This question never can be |
settled until it is settled upon
the principle and upon the dues-
ton Of right. Moreover, it is not a |
question ofpolicy, not question of expe-
diency, not simply political question, but
1T is question OF right question of
wrong. lit is not a mere question to be set
tied by any political party, but question
to be settled by the church of God
''ls drunkenness a sin my brother? Does
the scripture teach that drunkenness is a
sin? That question answers itself: Woe
to him that putteth the bottle to his neigh
Dor S lips to make his neighbor drunk
Drunkenness is not disease, but drunken
ness may produce a diseased condition.
"A man who drinks commits sin. 1t does
not make any difference whether he drinks
q whole hogshead, or gill, that man who
drinks commits SIN. When 1T is a sin to
drink it, what is it toselI? For that drink
ing man have just one thing to offer, and
that IS the gospel of Jesus Christ. If there
is man present who is addicted to his
cups, l say to you, the blood of Jesus
Christ can cleanse you from all SIM That
is the only help / know Of Now, if to
drink is sim and to get drunk is sinful,
what is it to sell? and if that man who
drinks is a sinner, what is that man who
sells? I could stand here for an hour, /
suppose, and relate instances that have
come under my observation; the mothers
who have gone to saloon keeper and have
said to Mr.. So-and So Pray don't sell any
more to my husband, or to my son."
have known little children, Wretched and
ragged, who implored the saloon keeper,
with tears in their eyes, mot to sell papa
any more" | say to you, the most reIent-
Less and unfeehng class Of people in Gods
world is the saloon keeper.
His principle object is to crafty his pas
sion and desire for the almighty dollar
That is his business.
Here is a young man who has been led
to Christ, and is converted. He goes down
the streets, the saloon keeper has a place
to allure him. 1t is said Of him that he is
gentlemanly. The very fact that he is gem
tlemanly makes him more dangerous He
meets this boy and draws him into the
saloon. How many, many cases [ know
of this character. There is great deal of
gush in this world after all, and what the
church needs is not men who are like
gushing matr0n or a blushing damsel but
body and class of people who have one
settled, fixed principle of right, We are
ready to help the one class while the other
we are ready to suppress.
What is the relation of the church to
the unconyerted man? To that man who
neither drinks nor sells? Does the church
sustain a relation to him Does that man
voter Is that man a citizen2 Has that
license been granted by virtue of authority
vested in that man? There is only one
and can be only one relation; that is to
create such a moral sentiment, that man
would burn his hand, that a man would
be consumed by flames rather than
use his influence to perpetuate wrong.
1t is a principle Of law that if
l withhold testimony or conceal anything
that would, if used, secure a mans con-
VictiOn, am party to the offense.
know that saloon-keeper has ruined that
boy. He has ruined that boy by undue
authority, vested in him by me, and I am
responsible for tine crime that man com
mits, Before you can have law, which
shall become operative and effective there
must be sentiment. If we have pr0hibitory
law in this city what good would it do to
arrest a man and try him before a jury if
the mayor, marshal, and oJher officers had
not that moral sentiment. They would ac-
quit that man every time. A law will be-
come potent only when 1t is backed by
moral sentiment, and without that it will
become useless and dead letter.
What is the duty of the church The
duty is to create moral sentiment. The
province OF the church is to be a moral ed
Ucator, to bring every voter in this CITY to
see that it is wrong to so vote that any
saloon in this city shall have license. l
cannot see how any man who has a sense
of right can see otherwise. | believe that
the great curse of this country is this curse
of liquor traffic, and the only way / know
to get rid of it is to create sentiment ad-
verse to it, and the only body to create
that sentiment is the church. 1t is not
state law, or city law, or natural law, but
natural conviction, state convictions city
conviction, natural sentiment, state senti-
ment, city sentiment.
The little girl who says "my papa is a
drunkard," appeals for protection The
wife who says snry husband would be an
excellent man were it not for drink" that
wife cries to you my brother for protection
and | say that the church has authority
and right to secure that influence that will
insure their protection. That Door man
overcome by his passion and appetite, longs
for protection He would gladly get rid ot