Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1893-09-05
CLOSE THE GATES.

W. T. Boiling for the Nashville Chris
tian Advocate and clipped from that
paper is so full of truth that wish ev-
cry. CHI istian voter in America might
read it and be convinced and turn at
once his whole force towards "Closing
the Gates
1t is sent to the w. c. II. U. column
accompanied by the hope and the
prayer that. at least in every w. C.T.U.
home in our own fair Mississippi. the
men will see to it that their ''solemn
protest" shall be against the open gates
that lead so many to eternal death:
1.-THE Christian sentiment of the
country so influenced attendance up
on the Worlds Fair that the local COM
missioners without the fear of God be-
fore them. but with the love of money
within them, were constrained to close
the gates on Sunday, which Dutch
judge will doubtless open again.
1.-The action of the Commissioners
was triumph for the Christian senti-
ment of the land, and shows what may
be done when the entire Christian in
fluence is brought to bear in crystal
lized action. Now there are multiple
cd thousands of gates open in this
land which are worse in violation of
the law of God and evil results upon
the morals of the people than the
open gates of the Fair OH Sunday
could possibly be. These are the gates
of the devil called saloons found in
every city and town nearly in the land.
open seven days in the week, through
which a multitude are constantly
pouring unto doom of wreck of both
body and soul. The same power which
closed the gates of the Worlds Fair
on Sunday can as easily close these
foul gates of evil which are open to
the ruin of the home, the disgrace of
the Churches, and damage to the
State.
''One solemn protest from every
Christian man in this land in the
ohpPO VI a iIotlC otllots "hlSh WOultt
mean the crystalization of faith pro-
fessed into action which would be
clearly understood, vindicating faith
by works, would close these gates of
ruin for all time in our country. l do
not believe that the man must vote the
prohibition ticket to be a Christian;
but do believe that SO long as the
Churches Of America have the power
to close these gates of hell, and yet
will not do it, it is folly to expect sue
cess along the lines of the Church in
winning souls And the Inconsistency
involved in protesting fealty to Christ,
and yet aiding, by negative process,
the worst enemy Of Christ the liquor
traffic is so utterly illogical that the
average man of the world must con-
clude either that the business is right,
or the Church insincere in her profess
sion. In either conclusion there is
vast damage to humanity in all the
lines of life, and the only way to pre-
vent that damage is for the Christian
voters of the land to act consistently,
and vindicate their profession by their
action in doing what is in their power,
by sweeping this awful curse from our
land.
''Close these gates, and God will own
the good work in gracious blessing up
on the Churches, while only Meroz
will he curse who came not up unto
the help of the Lord against the
mighty" Great is the privilege and
fearful the responsibility of the
Churches in this matter. Let the cry
go down the Christian lines in Ameri-
ca: CLOSE THE GATES"