The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-27
POTENCY OF THE CHURCH
Rev. DR.. Rondthaler Discourses on Ad-
vent of a New Reform Movement.
The Church Militant United. and Utterances
Against the Liquor Traffic Declare Q
Common Enemy-Other Sermons


Organization. Not for New Party, but to
Fight the Liquor League.
Rev. DR.. Rondthaler addressed his con-
Nreaation at the Tabernacle Church yes
terday upon the subject Of temperance
agitation. taking for his text Isaiah's jubi-
latIon, Awake. awake. put on thy
strength. o. Zion; put on thy beautiful
garments y, Jerusalem, the holy city"
In his exordium he declared that every
where and at all times indifference is one
Of the besetting sins Of religious people.
The great temptation OF good
people, he says. Is to go to sleep.
We are so easily satisfied with forms
of religious worship. Church organize
tions and church doctrines are only sue
cessful as they are energized by the work
of faith. Church doctrines are only sharp.
incisIye and quick in conviction as they
are struck out from the heart of believers
and flash in the lives and actions OF the
people OF God.
The preacher then went on TO herald an
awakening conscience among good people
rs to the evils of the liquor traffic. 1t was
described ss tremendous power, standing
for immortality and vice, enemy OF the
home and a place of ruin. regarding the
habit il creates. puolic morals. he said.
have undoubtedly advanced. The drink
habit is no longer respectable:
But. he continued. while all this Is true.
it In Just as true that the forces back of
the traffic have strengthened as well, and IL
were never more STRONGLY entrenched. Ev-
cry effort TO overthrow it has taught Its
promoters that they must root 1t deeper.
Speaking of the methods OF opposition.
DIR. Rondthaler said:
The history OF the temperance campaigns
through the years is a brilliant story OF heroism
and successes Not company that has entered
the field against the drink habit or tho liquor
traffic has fought In vain. The earlier organiza-
lions demand our highest respect. The total
abstinence societies have saved thousands of
lives Gospel temperance reforms, the blue-rib-
bon and red-rlbDon movements are agencies of re-
markable power and success. Personally. give
M 10 t1e RsO and greet
army OF undsunted heroines and untiring
workers who live. and pray, and
home. and native land with all the
strength OF purpose, COURAGE OF convictions and
But, in addition to ali these there is one
mighty force that needs yet to be brought into a
larger and more definite activity. The whole
movement has been waiting for it. When this
force can once be brought into decisive
and united action the reform will make greater
advance than has been known in the history of
the cause. When the Church Of Jesus Christ can
be heartily and with wholesouled action en-
listed in the reform. then VIII come such tot
has never been known before.
When the church wakes up to put on her
IL
upon the walls OF the liquor power its sentence
or doom.
DR.. RoudthaIer explained that forceful
movement has been In process which he be-
Ieves Will ultimately WIN its way, and
place the church IN her right attitude and
posture. 1t has commenced, he said. in the
right quarter. Immediately at the head of
authority and power. General assemblies.
Roman Catholic dignitaries have taken up
the cause of this reform and dealt with it
rs has never been known in the history OF
the church before. The speaker then quot
illustrating his thought, giving q consen-
sus of the church militant on this whole
bject.
Itis great step. he said. The church
step; will the church aotf Will the rank
and file honor authority The work to be
done is to bring this about He said it
could be done. 1t Will be q work OF time,
fore. sooner or later Gods people nave
brought themselves under the sway OF ite
power. The agency for usefulness toward
this end. said the preacher, is societies like
of Illinois or the Voters Anti-liquoi
League recently organized in this State.
Iii is not a political party and not at wal
with men or parties only as they pro.
so far as the Liquor League has gone into
politics. so far must the opposition 60. Dr.
Rondtbaler reviewed the progress in sew.
eral States of these societies. and said
the movement does not mean that q man
need not sever his party affiliations, but
may yet reserve to himself the right
to assist his Christian principles by this re-
form movement Summing mp, he deducet
the following:
l. AS Christians we must be deeply conscious
OF the tremendous obstruction the liquor traffic
is to the advance of righteousness and purity II
our land and the success OF the gospel Of jesus
Christ
2. AS Christians ought to be ready to d.
all that lies In our power to cOunteract this evi
power.
3. AS members OF the church we ought to Civ,
earnest heed TO deliverances OF our highes
authorities under God on this matter.
4. As Christians owe IL to be true to Coo
and loyal TO Jesus Christ in our protest agains
the worst form OF godlessness and our activit,
against the supreme evil OF the land