Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1893-01-13
7he I9aden.
THE CHURCH AND SALOON.
A Vigorous Question Raised byla Saloon
Keeper In Meeting.
TRANSLATED FROM NORWEGIAN BY J. =. HoL-

TRANSLATED FROM NORWEGIAN BY j. E. HoL-
Newman's Methodist congregation is
the largest in the City of Blovmsbarr, as
it counts over 800 members.
There was business meeting Of the
congregation at the church. and lively
discussion ensued over the secession OF
81 church members.
The eloquent Pastor Williamson said:
81 confess, that 81 is of a small signifi-
canoe in congregation Of more than 500
mem bers, but let US see who these n are,
and we will find that they are just the
ones who are leaders at our prayer meet:
ings and in the main concern themselves
with the care of ecclesiastical affairs Of a
church. It's true, they do not consist OF
the wealthy part of the congregation, but
neither can ecclesiastical matters progress
by money work alone. "
Hon. Charles Smith, member of the
last legislature, got the floor and began
with a swell: Brother Williamson!
vii! say, let them go; we can help our
selves far better without them. They
have become semi-crazy over the prohibi-
tion party, and right here at our prayer
meetings some of them have been so
crankyas as to maintain that whomsoever
did not vote with their party is support
ing the liquor traffic. Now. claim to be
u good prohibitionist upon the ground.
that had the honor to vote for the law
that provides Cor our present high license
system; it has done more for temperance
than the prohibition party ever at any
time will be able to do"
County Judge Grant here dropped into
the discussion and said: Gentlemen!
This discussion about the church being
the bulwark of the saloon is downright
blesphemy in such to accuse the true fol-
lowers Of Christ Of supporting the liquor
traffic, the greatest curse upon the earth.
/ sustain Brother Smith and say. let these
prohibition cranks co.. then will our con-
gregation beable to combine its work in
peace. (Applause.)
Pastor Williamson continued: ''We
must Of course give them their secession
papers, for we cannot find any fault with
their christian character; but,w we have no
one to take their. places at public prayer
meetings. This shows us how dangerous
it is to mingle politics with religion-they
cannot be united. The grand old repub-
lican party is a good enough party for me
and though it is not just up to the point
on the temperance questionthat would
like to see it, yet will not throw away
my vote for party that has not spark
of show to elect its candidates. (Ap-
plause.)
Il do not understand what the fanatic
prohibitionists want" continued Chas
Smith, "our Congregation has rs a congre-
CATION declared that the license traffic can
not be legalized without sin, and what
more can those fanatics demand? No
congregation can make a more determined
and powerful pronunciation in the case.
The man that makes the whisky trade
his livelihood is worse than. a
just at this moment was heard sharp
knock at the door.
''Come in!' thundered the base voice OF
Pastor Williamson.
The door opened and The prominen nj
figure of the saloon keeper across the
street became visible at the door. He in
terrupted the silence by saying:
''Gentlemen! AS knew you We're
holding you regular business meeting to-
night, and | determined to come over and
tell you that myself and family have re-
solved to join your congregation and help
you in the work for the good cause"
The speech was received with surprise.
Pastor Williamson finally asked: "Hast
thou quit the saloon business?"
mo sir answered the saloonkeeper.
"Intendeth thou to quit soon p
mo sir, run a respectable saloon bust.
ness, and dc not see why should quit
it.:
WE'LL, continued the pastor swowly,
tstl,e laws and rules of our congregation
forbid us to take in whlskey dealers, and
from that fact must we refuse admis-
sion.'
500" said the saloonkeeper, and his
face became yet more rudish as he con-
tinued: II did not know that your rules
prohibited my admission Upon what
ground is it that your congregation ex-
cludes saloon hosts?"
upon the ground that they runeth a
business which sendeth the souls of men
to hell, answered the pastor. '"The bible
teacheth us that drunkard shall not in
herit the kingdom of heaven, and there
fore canst not the manufactured of drunk
ards come there either. Furthermore,
our bishops have in meeting resolved,
that the liquor traffic cannot be legalized
without sin"
The saloonkecper became highly sur
priscd and in damper tone of wrath
said: s'Do You know that some OF your