Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-17
eneroaehment Of mans greatest evil NJ
Is In sympathy with all houorahla ,,o,.s
reform Efforts" a'"'~s
OCCASION OF Tttv cas-.

reform Efforts" a''' a'oeAs
OCCASION OF THE CALF
what Is the special occasion and .,s-
ntficance OF their call for s,sss- -
on the part OF the mentioned aSens,ss,
viii answer you with nIaas,re
the question Is certainly A IeRtt,r,a,. -.
We tnousnt that our own ora., -
others somewhat embraced In or. .,.s
were not receiving the activa sy,,,s.,ss
and support In the community ,hss .,s.,,a
naturally be expected. Again. We oor.,S
ered that more thorough arousement
OF the public 10 the Importance of sIr,s
embraced In our mission. no le,s ,ns~
those OF other agencies Of moral Reform
wouid De conducive to the general wei.
fare, even Independent Or the con.t,-.,
tion that very many might be inS,,cs', a.
actively identify themselves v,,,n ~.
own or some other organized agencv a..
the premises. Hence. we concluSoS =.
suggest preliminary conferences on ,ss
part or representatives from the sevc,at
organizations referred 20. the chpr,hss
and OF even those n sympathy with fh.
objects sought to be attained who ~
be unidentified with any organiysd ss,o.,
respecting the matter. The Immediate a..
ject OF the conference Is to consider ,h.
advisability OF holding several nuhl,c
mass-meetings with thee ends IN view
or course II Is quite possible this con-
ference may eventuate In the formation
OF some form OF permanent alliance or
cooperation"
TOO MUCH INrEMPERANcr.
What particular grievances. II that tern,
may be used, had the committee IN mind,
or. II II Is fair question. vas any public
or official act or condition aimed ats
THE question Is thoroughly lesltimate,
Indeed. we have nothing 10 conceal r,
answer you categorically would nor h.
definite, however. No special puNl.c or
official act was aimed at. nor public ON.
claL Public condition Is A very com.
prehensive term. but take Il YOU maar
any social wrong-dolng. laxlty in tho on.
forcement OF the laws. sc. W-hus n,
particular or specific condition WA 5is.
cussed at the time, II il our opinion that
there Is too much intemperance herr. an5
that IL Is not sufficiently condemned.
That laws are eNaded and violated A,
sufficiently proved by your police-court
records. Take the Sunday.lquor law. If
there are as many violations as our court
records show. surely there must be others
undetected. I might mention other Mo-
| latlons OF law. Now. Just 10 the extent
| public opinion Is kept in sympathy with
| a law or In antagonlsn TO Its evasion.
| will there be respect for the law and itt
| enforcement, When the public IA tho
roughly determined 10 see laws executed
| there will be less violation OF them. and
| there Will be n better surveillance on ths
| part OF the officials, and quite naturally
so. IL l were an officer l would prefer
healthy public opinion behind every law
had to see enforced. IL wouii. Il an
| pears TO me. greatly aid me. Any official
In sympathy with the violators OF the
law should resign or ho severely deal,
with. Such "A case would 10 a mockery
OF Justice"
POSITION OF THE CHURCHES.
Now will you explain this polnt1 YOU
call on the churches e. be represented al
| your conference. Are they not supposed
10 be the highest agencies for the accom-.
plshment OF all you have expressed az
| desirable?
II am glad you mentioned that. You
give me an opportunity to strike nj a
palpable error. We put the Church above
all other agencies for mans betterment.
We so state in the call But there u the
greatest harmony between the duty OF a
Christian I'm the peculiar spiritual realm
and his duty as a citizen. The Church
| mission TO save souls and % propagate
the principles Of Christianity brings an
efforts at moral reform and social purity
clearly within the sphere OF Christian
duty. BY giving aid to all honorable ef-
forts to reform society and maintain A
state OF normal public health the Chris,
tan Is performing "A duty. clear and un-
mistakable. Many soul has been saved
by such service, for not infrcQuently such
efforts. and especially such organization,
as the Templars. are the stepping-stOnes
1 tHat Ian fnf 40
ulous hue and cry 8bout a union Of
Church and State" when the churches
condemned licensed crime. Is fast be-
coming n back number Those who origi
mated 1t have probably concluded thai
their fallacles tended 20 a union OF Satal
and society,""
GREAT GOOD IS EXPECTED.
Finally. what do you think will be N,
probable success Of your efforts In IN,
conference matter?
II have no hesitancy In saying thinl
great good will be accomplished. Th'
most powerful ally 20 RUNS Rulnou
| Reign has been the passlyeness of -
many people naturally supposed TO be op
| posed 10 such an evil. But there Is ever
indication Of an awakening on the par
OF these people 10 the direful consequence
OF the liquor cure. The same may b
said regarding other immortality. oh
prejudlces as TO methods and old yagarie
are giving away before the genera
arousement 20 the sact that II Is con
dtion and not n theory that Is confront
ing u.s. and those who have been denomi
mated cranks and fanatics will generalll
be recognized as citizens loyal 20 th
highest interests OF the State. society
and the home circle"
The conference meets al the Younl
, Mems Christian Association board-ro0n
| on March 2lst at O'Clock y. NJ.