The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-11-11
w. c. U. COLUMN.
CONDUCTED BY MRS. NJ. L. HOBBS.

Written by Mrs. M. l.. Hobbs
and read before the Indiana Synod
of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Chuich.
To THE TEMPERANCE COMMITTEE.
AS member Of the G.. p. church,
| am praying God that you will as
our ministers and leaders put your
self upon record at this meeting for
Temperance. l have waited long
and patient for this, and Oh how
sad it makes my heart to see the
silence of my beloved church upon
this subject. My dear brothers!
" hat is the mission of the church?
Is it not to save souls? Is il not to
save sinners? Are we doing that
brothers? What is the greatest
eonrce of sin and suffering? Then
why keep silent? Are we not COM
manded to cry aloud and spare
not? Has il not been declared that
to license is sin? Does not our
bible teach us that a sinner cannot
enter heaven? If we commit sin
are we not sinners? 0 how often
do we pray God that we be not led
into temptation and o my dear
brothers how many Of so-called
Ichristian voters are tempted and
even enticed to sin by helping to
legalize the sin Of Intemperance and
helping to perpetuate the worst foe
to humanity. Now brethren earn.
estly pray that our brothers will let
the world know how and where We
stand. But one says, 80 we can
not tell our minister how to vote"
Why not brethren? If we see any
one going or doing wrong, is it not
our christian duty at least to stand
up for God and right? / am SO
very much in favor of a campaign
of information. Yes brothers that
is what we need, and where are we
to expect it to come from if not
from our ministers? Where are we
to get aid in this work if not from
them? Who Of you but what
raised your voices in protest con-
cerning the sinking of the Maine?
That was all right for them todo so,
but why should they stop there.
What was that when compared with
the curse OF intemperance. Does it
not send more souls to hell every
day than was lost by the sinking of
that one vessel, to say nothing of
mothers and helpless children, and
then, my brothers, how often do we
hear wordf from our pulpits against
this, the worst of crimes. The So
called christians of our land are held
responsible to-day for the curse of
intemperance. If the church men,
bers would stand up for right, they
have the power to wipe this crime
from our land. Therefore my dear
friends we as christian nation
stand responsible. We so often
hear the cry, 90 we must not
bring politics into the church." I"
That my friends is the devils plea,
God never told anyone that, and
another thing, politics that is too
corrupt, or not fit to take into the
house of God, is not fit for a chris
tian people to perpetuate. Now my
brothers do believe, as much as |
do that am here to- day, that God
has called the women of our nation
to this work. / feel that it is but
little that can do, but there is one
consoling thought, where but little is
given, little is required. | have
been striving ever since l Joined
this the church Of my choice to do
what | could. have tried to work
in every place could.
tried many years to work in
this missionary work, which is
grand and glorious work; but l feel
that God has called me to cast my
lot in with the temperance host, and
| feel that have been wonderfully
blest in this work, and with Gods
help expect to fight intemperance
% long as He spares me, and wh,n
/ am called home hope to not 90
empty handed. But brothers. we
do want your help. We do not ask
for resolutions, we care not for what
goes on paper only to show to the
world, but we want it to come from
the heart. We want your help in
this fight. We want YOU To sneak
yes we want you to speak out. You
have the power to stop this evil If
YOU will. God does not hold us
responsible for what we cannot do,
but he surely does for what we can
and do not do.