Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-06-12

SoNc tuuCc CHcClS lOi yOu DSlOf0 W0
started up here" The doctors face
turned white His wife gazed in be-
wilderment The children crouched be-
hind their mother in fright at such
looking bloats The doctors mind was
quickly at work. He was possessed with
great self possession, positiveness and
earnestness, which had something to do
with his popularity.
He arose firm and straight, with de-
termined look in his eyes,
But he did not give them temper
ance lecture or q TRADE Of words against
the men and their business. He knew
that would be of no avail.
IT cannot participate in your parade,
and if that is the only object of your er-
rand you may take your leave"
That was all he said, but he said it
in manner that they understood, and
they did not attempt to argue the case
with him. The doctor closed the door.
Tom was the first to speak.
"Well, Bill, thought you was such
brave fellow. Don't laugh at me any
more about being afraid of preacher.
Why didn't you talk to him like you
did to me? But say, Bill, didn't them
eyes gleam like demons? By heaven,
that man can look clean through fell
low. Don't tell me that he is our friend
He would wipe us ont of existence if he
could, and 1 believe he could come tar
nal near doing it"
"Come off,, remarked Bill gruff1y.
whats the matter with you? Are you
getting religion? The doctor is more of a
cussed fool than I took him for"
"But, Bill, we may as well acknowl-
edge that the saloon business is bad
one. You could not defend it before the
doctor. You was meek as lamb. He
looked daggers, and you made for the
door,
But he votes with u.s. muttered
Bill.
Let us take look at the scene that is
being enacted ON the inside DIR. Sitruc
speaks:
'Wife, has it come to this? Forgive
me, and God forgive me- l see my error
now Thought l was doing God service.
excused myself for voting with party
that licenses saloons on the ground that
we could not prohibit them, and we
should therefore license them and then
enforce the law They consider me their
friend. ] help to make the business ap-
pear respectable They have even dared
to cheer my actions, and now make bold
to invite me to participate in their
parade, riding ON beer keg beside the
serpent, representing the business that
degrades men, impoverishes our citizens,
brings sorrow and degradation into
homes and eternally damns more souls
than any other agency ON earth. God
helping me, it will never again be said
of me that am the friend of the saloon.
My congregation will know tomorrow of
this decision / have made, and the re-
mainder of my days will be spent in
fighting the accursed drink traffic. God
forgive me and help me-"
The doctor seemed to be addressing
his wife and at the same time praying
for forgiveness and strength.
The next day DIR. Sitruc took his place
in the pulpit with rather a drawn face
and sober countenance. His somber
mood had its effect upon the congrega-
ton, and they were unusually quite and
devout.
The opening exercises were slow and
solemn.
1t was noticed by few that Bill
Bourbon and Tom Soak sat in back
pew.
my text will be found in Habbak-
kuk, the second chapter and twelfth
verse, Woe unto him that buildeth a
town with blood and establisheth city
by iniquity, and my subject is the IL
censed saloon.''
The doctor preached such a sermon as
was never heard in our city before His
words seemed to be clothed with fire,
and every ear was bent forward to catch
each sentence. He first acknowledged
his own mistake and sin in voting to IL
cense the liquor traffic, told them of his
experience the day before, which had
led him to see where he really stood,
and then, with the fearlessness Of a
Paul, he not only denounced the saloon,
but showed how he and his church
members were responsible for it SO long
as they voted with a party and for men
they knew would license it. His words
carried conviction.
1--WE are guilty, brethren" he said,
s'of all the crimes forbidden in the dec
alogue. 1t is true that our own hands
have not committed these crimes but
for paltry sum of money we have con-
| sautad unto them We have accented