The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-18

communicated

Some weeks ago saw 1t stated that
during tile Moody and Sankey meet
ings 10 Wilmington probably 100000.
gellsts. / also read that many people
rose for prayers and 1000 were con-
verified. Other people also read the
same pleasing lines and no doubt re-
ioiced that 80 many brands had been
plucked from the burning" II looked
as though Christianity had got a sure
grip on the residents OF the city of
Wilmington and sin would have to-
take back seat thereafter. That Is
the way-it looked then. but subseq uent
events indicate that the Moody and
Sankey meetings were merely ephem-i
eral In their effects, and the sin, vice
and misery still hold their own. and o.
little more. That is that way 1t looks
now and 1t Ia no doubt the correct
view.
The sound Of the evangelIsts songs
had just barely faded from tho ears of
the 100. 900 when we read In the same
Wilmington papers that there had
beean slight Increase in the number
OF licenses applied for In the city and
granted to men and women to open
drinking saloons and sell intoxicants
to any or ali OF the Aforesaid 100000
people who. through inclination.
weakness or hereditary appetite. may
lsee fit to cutter their doors. or course,
some one will yell crank" at the sug-
'gestor and suggestion, but will YOU
please allow mo to ask, through your
columns that the Wilmington Metho-
dist Episcopal Conference, now hold
ing its twenty-ilfth annual session I'M
Middletown, authorizes its standingI
-,
gate, as far as possible, the sort Of
ssalvation" preached by MIR. Moody
and see how 1t can DO made to iiu splr-
,ltually mot spirltuously) with the in
crease in the number OF Delaware's
saloon licenses. People outside of
the church, who may have decided
opinions on the saloon question. may
possibly desire to have such curious
mixture OF piety and whisky explain
ed In the practice or reform of relig-
Christian religion.
Tho investigation might bring to-
light great many interesting things.
1T might show that some Of tho bright
and shining lights OF the conference
were among those who have been
clamoring lately for Wilmington to
have large share of the license blood
money The inquiry would do no
harm. It might not shock the presi-
ding Bishop Merrill. who always votes
true.
Going back twenty five years to the
first conference Sunday, lind myself
sitting Ia old Asbnry Church listening
with every nerve strained, to Bishop
Simpson preach an unsurpassabieI
sermon from the words land now
abideth Faith, Hope and Chaaity; these
three; but the greatest of these is
Charity. He preached loving charity
to those whose hearts ached then with
the sorrow that comes to the helpless
victims of the drink habit.
Twenty-Five years have come and
gone since then and tho number of
aching hearts has not diminished, but
Increased. and though a hundred
Thousand people come and go before
tho altar OF that God who hath eaid:
Lo unto him that puLteth the bottle
TO his neighbours lips and glveth him
drink" yet the affairs OF Baal increase
in number, and helpless childhood is
made to work through fire up to the
red shrines OF Bacchus, while the
voices under the throne OF tho AL
mighty cry out: "iow long?o just
las long as the deacon and distiller,
rector and rectifier, Bible teacher and
bar tender cnst the came sort of bal
lot into tho ballot box.
Let the Methodist Conference the
most numerous religious denomlna'
Ition in Delaware, on whose shoulders
rest the responsibility OF the whole
bad business. Investigate that sort oil
salvation" that apparently increases
the supply OF saloons, IL not the de-
Inland. Now is the day of salvation.
Can tho brethren rise above the old
whisky parties 70 tho sublime charity
which excludes the licensed saloon?
PRonIpITIoNIsT MErHoDIsr.