Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-08-10
A BURNING QUESTION.

Inc church has between tive and six
million voters in the United States,
says the California Voice, and ought
to influence nearly as many more. It
could in single year sweep the IL
quor curse from the land Why
doesn't it do it, in heavens name?
Are old party ties stronger than the
cries of millions of helpless women
and children? Is the blight of pow
erty that the saloon brings to four
millions of our homes less potent
than an old whiskey-soaked party
that sinks to the lowest level for votes?
Is rot the liquor curse the greatest
enemy of the church? What can the
world think of an organization that
refuses to put away the greatest enc
my of God and man? And what does
God think of Backbone.
y II
The saloon is headquarters for all
sorts of criminals. It is the breeding
place of murderers and thieves. The
saloonist has neither principle nor
conscience. He is in league with
thuggery. Yet his den of infamy is
as legal as any other business in town
made so by the consent of our Chris
tian voters. Is it not amazing, more
amazing, most amazing, that this
center of diabolism is permitted to
live an hour?- r?-Epworth Herald.
y 4
1.-The Light paper published in
the interest of the Purity movement of
| the Northwest, has come to us full of
facts and statistics gathered by care
full workers in the cause of Social
Purity. The most nefarious, wide
spread and degrading evil that threat
ems this country at the present time is
Social Impurity, which is always
linked closely with the liquor traffic.
Without the liquor traffic it could not
exist as it does to-day. It has been
stated by Mrs. Charlton Edhelm, Sec
retary of the department of Purity of
the National W. G. T. e., that if the
liquor traffic was abolished, three
fourths of this social evil would be
swept away with it. The Crusaders,
twenty-four years ago, began their
efforts against intemperance, chiefly
with the idea of reformation, but they
soon began to be aware of the fact
that formation was more important
than reformation, and out of this
thought has grown the 40 departments
of work in the National W. c.. T. q.
The Purity department also began
with the idea of reformation, but as
the work progressed and causes of
lmpurity were understood, it was seen
that in order to do lasting work peo-
pie must be educated along these lines.
The Purity department has been di-
vided into seven divisions, viz: Re-
form Legislation, Florence Critten-
ton Missions, General Rescue Work,
White Cross Societies. White Shield
Societies, Mothers Meetings, Child
culture circles.
To aid the work in this department
the New Crusade, little monthly
magazine. has been founded. It is
Is cents a year. Send to the W. T.
P. A., the Temple, Chicago, Ill. It's
chief object is the instruction of par
ents in the problems of child training.
This glance over the work of the Ma
tional W. G. T. 9. shows that it Gov
ers limitless field. It touches every
phase of human experience and ap-
peals to the best interest of every
| human heart. It needs the truest SYM
pathy and heartiest cooperation of
every lover of justice and humanity.
There was man, it was said one time,
Who went astray in his youthful prime.
Can the brain keepcoo and the heart keep
quiet,
When the blood is river that's running
riot:
And boys will be boys, the old folks say,
And man is better who's had his day.
| A sinner reformed and tie preacher told
OF the prodigal son who came back to the
fold,
And Christian people threw open the door,
With a warmer welcome than ever before;
Wealth and honor were his to command.
And spotless woman gave him her hand.
And the world strewed their pathway with
flowers abloom,
Crying. God bless lady, and God bless
groom!
There was maiden who went astray
In the golden dawn of her life's young day.
She had more passion and heart than head.
And she followed blindly where fond love
led.
And love unchecked is dangerous guide,
To wander at will by fair girls side.
The womac repented and turned from sin.
But no door opened to let her in;
The preacher prayed that she might be for
given
And told her to look for place-in heaven.
For this is the law of the earth, we know,
That the woman is stoned while the man
may go. :-' >.@ .-- -.
A brave man welded her after all.
But the world said frOWning I'VE shall