The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-07-27
Can Man be n Christian and Not be u
Prohibition
BEL AIR, MD, July Goth.

| BEL. AIR, Md, July 10Th.
| Mr.. EDITOR: In your issue of this date
| you give my recent editorial Except several
| important Omissons) 'Can a Man be Chris
| ton and Not be Prohibtiunist ~ also a letter
| from Rev. w. +. Brand in which he takes ex-
ception to my conclusions. My first thought
| on reading it was to reply through the col
| umns of The WumiHdfOr, but on reflection
| have concluded that his letter is worthy of
| earlier consideration and trust You will al
! low Inc space for reply.
| Rec. ". +. BruIid
| DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: Since you have
! shown much of the spirit of the Master in
your criticism of my recent editorial, you will
| trust, permit me in the same spirit of humil
ity to point out wherin | believe you to be
mistaken. In the first place do not claim to
have arrived at ''that state of perfection i'll
which forgiveness is not needed" am one of
those who do not believe this possible in this
wicked world and | would not dare to go to
rest without first asking forgiveness from Him
whose law had violated in some degree dur
ing the day; neither do | think my Judgment
1nfallible, but as an humble follower of Him
who was meek and lowly do claim to be
willing to discuss any question relating to my
conduct as man, citizen, or 4 Christian and
l rejoice to see Willingness on your part to
do the same, as am firmly convinced that it
Is only through discussion of all such ques
tlons that correct conclusions can be arrived
at. Iron shaTpeneth iron; so Il man shar
peneth the countenance of his friend"
Let me remind you that 'conscience' is not
safe guide. st. Paul said 81 have lived in
all good conscience before God until this day."
and Yet that conscience allowed him to perse-
cute Christians, for he said 81 verify thought
l was doing God service.''
Jesus said If thy brother trespass against
thee rebuke him, if he repent forgive him."
Now sir in rebuking you and the great body
OF the community in which we live have not
nf sal as fhnra
Is yet room for repentance and forgiveness
though you have sinned many times against
me III the person of my boy in voting to per-
petuate the liquor traffic that is sending year
ly In this country alone one hundred thousand
souls to a drunkard's hell, according to the
statistics of the government that your vote
has helped to perpetuate.
This traffic could not exist without boys
anu II my boy does not fall victim, remen-
Der, yes, remember that some other boy or
girl equally precious in Gods sight will be the
victim and you will not be gultless if YOU
fail to protest at the ballot box, from your
pulpit and in every other way that you can
make yourintiuence felt against this ubiquitous
business.
You are ''willing and ready to be Prohibit
zionist as soon as you can perceive that God
is such" Have you ever studied the ten COM
mandments carefully? and if so, did you not
see prohibition there in all its perfection2
bear false witness, and yet people have never
ceased to break these laws. Did He make
mistake and had he not better enact high
license law and because people will violate
His laws) derive revenue from vice?
God never ''made it impossible for men to
violate His law' else Adam had never sinned
and man would not have been free agent.
sit must needs be that offences come, but woe
to that man by whom the offence cometh."
did not say that there has always existed
a necessity for Prohibition party las you will
see by one of the paragraphs omitted) but, if
this government under which we live, is to ell
dure, it is the imperative demand to-day.
Finally, if this is good cause" as you ad-
init, pray you that you will not allow the sin
discreet zeal' of one or many of its advocates to
prevent you from entering'it, and be assured
that ''the right hand of fellowship will not
be withheld and remember, that while man
may condemn, God alone is your final judge
and your actions alone shall determine your
final reward or punishment, and for your final
salvation | shall never cease to pray.
Hurably your brother,
PHINEAs F. BALL.