The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-22
THE cHuRcH AND LIauOR EvIL.
DIR. J. o. A. Cook Indorses the Anti
Darroom Diil.

Durroom Dill.
Rev. J. o. A. Cook delivered a strong
sermon at Trinity church last night upon
/ the subject Of temperance. Mr.. Cook
sermon was a discussion Of the position
Of the church In its relation to the drink
ing evil. He based hts discussion upon
a portion OF the tenth chapter Of Levitt
icus. where the priests were strictly en-
Joined not TO drink wine or strong drink
when about to go up into the temple TO
perform their duties there.
DR.. Cook said that coming Immediately
in connection with the account OF the
punishment Of the two sons Of Aaron
for PROCLAMATION Of the altar Of the Lord
In using unclean fire, il was a natural
deduction that the sons Of Aaron were
intoxicated when they committed their
grievous sin, and that strong drink had
proved their ruin. From this Injunction
10 the priests he commented upon the
fact that the same thing practically ap-
piles 10 the ministers Of to-day. No con-
gregation, he said, would tolerate drunk
en- man as pastor. II is not only while
In the actual performance Of hts duties in
the pulpit, he said. but at all other times
that the pastor is required TO conduct him
self In becoming and dignificd manner
DR.. Cook held that this Injunction was
equally applicable to all members Of the
church as well as 70 the ministry; that
what is required Of the paster
is equally required Of the lay
men. II strong drink disqualified
the minister from making right distiuc-
lions, It would disqualFy the lawmaker.
the lawyer, the physician, and the business
man. They have no more right to stultify
their brains with strong drink and UNIT
Themselves for their duties than has the
pastor of the church 20 do the same thing.
One standard for the pulpit and another
for the pew was not authorized by the
word OF God, he said.
He went further and declared that the
obligations TO right living are equally
binding upon the non-church man as the
churehman. The ungOdly man outside OF
the church would suffer equally as much
for his failure TO comply with Gods ordi-
nances, he said as the church member
who proved unfaithful TO his obligations.
DR.. Cook held that It was the duty Of the
churches to make an active fight upon the
liquor traffic and TO bring every force
within their power to bear against 1t. The
Methodist church, he said, has taken
strong grounds against the liquor trafhc.
1t not only condemns drunkenness, but
directly prohibits the use Of intoxicating
liquors by a member OF the church. Its
members are also prohibited from engas-
ing in its manufacture. They are pro-
hibited from renting their property to
be used for the sale of liquor. and Il is
against the rules OF the church for them
to sign petition for license to be granted
to another party 70 sell liquor.
DR.. Cook said that if Christ had sane
toned the use Of wine by creating wine
for the marriage feast at Cana, he would
not have sanctioned the use of wine and
strong drink as they are used to-day.
The saloons did not exist then, he said,
and the wines used were Of different
character. Christ would never sanction
the social custom OF wine drinking as
il exists in Savannah to-day, he said.
Three-fourths of the counties of Geor-
gia and six-sevenths of its population
are under prohibition to-day. he said.
and such being the case. he argued that
the minority had no right to stand in the
way of the majority. and TO prevent the
enactment Of a prohibition law for the
whole state. He concluded with an in
dorsement Of the anti barroom bill which
will come before the next legislature.