The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-23

candid lookers-on its members are
not true to their profession. In its
prayer meetings this inconsistency
crops out in the accents and tones of
voice. It's symbols send out the reso-
nance of brass, not gold, and seekers
after truth are not to be caught by
any such fraud.
Let the Gospel be presented
thoughtfully and in all sincerity
under any denominational name and
it will gain converts. Thus it was
with Fenelon, Luther, Wesley,
Murray, Beecher and Brooks. Nail a
creed even to the cross and not ear
nestly live up to it, and if need be
ready to die for it, and it will soon be
a dead thing.
Now, the saloon, crime, and pauper-
ism are not necessary evils. AS fast as
the kingdom of heaven is ushered in
these are removed. Experience be-
yond a question has absolutely
proved this so. Accordingly, it be-
comes Christians to discover the why
and wherefore of evils, and deal
death blows at their roots. AS the
saloon is the parent of the greater
share, it becomes evident at once
why it should be destroyed.
How absurd in the extreme that
the church should build magnificent
alms-houses and let the saloon alone,
and thereby be forced constantly to
be enlarging and building anew
poor-houses. Christianity tends to
make it easy for the weak to do right
and hard to do wrong. The noblest
charity work ever done, has been
done in aiding the sinful and impov-
erished to reform and help them
selves to be good and do good.
The Divine Teacher was never
given to committing sins of omission
or commission. In high and low
places he battled the wrong. How
is it possible for any to be his dis
ciples without doing likewise7
Not only must evils be removed
but virtues put in their place. The
influential saloon usually presents
attractions other than the sale of in
toxicants. 1t proffers warmth in the
winter and GOODNESS in the summer.
1t lis painted with tasse and supplied
with inviting conveniences. 1t fur
nishes tables, chairs and papers for
social enjoyments.
These last are good of themselves
and are demanded, to meet absolute
wants, showing that the church must
adopt them and others in order that
the young may realize as they come
in contact with the church that she
is broad, generous and bound to fur
nish all helps essential to developing
the perfect Christian, therefore, look
ing out for reading and recreation
rooms and general social culture.
The church must hold out stronger
attractions to the young than does
the saloon,-I mean natural and in
nocent attractions,-or else it will fail
to secure them.
Whenever and wherever this has
been done in connection with earnest
spiritual work, it has been a grand
success. Many illustrations might
be instanced to show the truthful
ness of this statement. Should all
the churches work with as much en-
ergy in dethroning the wrong as do
the saloons in making sales of strong
drink, the latter would soon be
driven to the wall, for the right is
mightier than the wrong.
The church cannot afford to hold
truce with the saloon. 1t must fight
this enemy of Christianity and civil
ization early and late until the fiend
is destroyed. Doing the right always
pays in the long run. Failing to full
fill duty is certain to be followed by
a just retribution. Let the church
take the lead in the warfare against
the liquor traffic and its ministry will
tell for God and not Satan, and will
be certain, though unconsciously, to
hasten the kingdom of heaven.
1t is said that when Thorwaldsen,
the Danish sculptor, returned from
Rome with his immortal sculptures
to his native city, he had them packed
in straw. On their arrival at Copen-
hagen as the treasures were taken
from the boxes, the straw was scat
tered about and trodden under foot.
The following season the friends of
the great sculptor were not only
cheered with the exquisite works of
their admired artist which had been
fashioned in the city of Tiber, but
beautiful flowers transplanted un-
awares from the banks of the flowing
river.
TL,,, Al .o,,,o.J of Al fo:kLf..l :.