Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-01

SCSS. "A near as L Tan Tell nN the laying
on Of the hands Of the Lord Almighty this
continent has been ordained for that work
This is the only country in the world
where all religions are on the same plat
form. and the people have free selection
for themselves without any dctrimcnt
When we present to the other continents
this assortment of religions and give them
unhindered choice, we have no doubt of
their selecting this religion of mercy and
Kindness and good will and temporal and
eternal rescue. Hear it'll America Is to
lake this world for Godl
On the map which we will put on the
cradle on the new century we must have
very soon railroad bridge across Boring
strait, those So miles of water not deep,
and they arr spotted with Islands capable
of holding the piers of n great bridge. And
what with America and Asia thus con
nectcd, and Siberian railway, and a rail
road now projected for the length of Afri-
ca. and Palestine and Persia and India
and China and Burma intersccted with
railroad tracks, all of which will be dore
before the new century is grown up, tho
way will be open to the quick civilization
and cvangolization OF the whole world
The old map we used to study in our boy
hood days is dusty and on the top shelf or
amid the rubbish of the garnet, and so will
the present map of the world, however
gildcd and beautifully bound, be treated.
and an entirely new map will I've put into
the infantilc hand of the coming century
Gospel Widespread.
The work Of this century has been to
get ready. All the earth is now free TO tho
gospel except two little spots, one in Asia
and one in Africa, while at the beginning
Of the century them stood the Chinese
wall and there famed the fires and there
glittered the swords that forbade entrance
tn many islands and large reaches of con-
tincnt. Borncsian crucltics and Fiji is
land cannibalism have given way, and
all the gates of all the continents are
swung open with n clang that has been n
positive and glorious invitation for Chris
tianity to enter. Telegraph, telephone
and monograph are to be consccrated to
gospel dissemination, and, instead of the
voice tina; gains the attention of few
hundred or few thousand PEOPLE within
the church walls, the telegraph will thrill
the glad tidings and the telephone will
utter them TO many millions oh, the in.
finite advantage that the twentieth cen
fury has over what the nineteenth century
had nc the starting,
In preparation for this coming century
we have time in the intervening years TO
give soiGc decisive strokes ut tho seven or
eight great evils that curse the world 1t
would IL an assault and battery upon the
coming century by this century If we al
lowed the fun blow of present evils to fall
upon the future We ought somehow to
cripple or minify some of these abomina.
tionS Alcoholism is today triumphant,
and m, we To let the all deyouring mon
ster that has throttled this century seize
upon the next without first having filled
his accurSei hide with singing arrows
enough tn weaken aud starEer him! We
have wasted about ~ years How
81. While We have been waiting for the
law OF the land to prohibit intoxicants we
have done little to quench the thirst OF
appetite in the palate and tongue of n
whole generation. Where are the public
and enthusiastic meetings that used To be
held 80 years ago for the one purpose of
persuading the young and middle aged
and old that strong drink is poisonous and
damnings When will we learn that we
must educate public opinion up to n pro-
hihitory law or such a law will not he
passed OF IL passed will not be executed.
God grant that all state and national leg.
islatures may build up against this evil "A
wall which will be an impossible wall
shutting out the alcoholic denomination
But while we wait for that let us. in our
homes, in our schools and our churches
and on our platforms and in our newsya-
pcrs, persuade the people TO stop taking
alcoholic stiniulant unless prescribed by
physicians, and then persuade physicians
not tn prescribe ii ii in all the dominions
of therapeutics there may be found some
other remedy.
Seven or eight years ago on the annivcr-
sary platform of the National Temperance
society, in New York, deplored the fact
that we had left politics TO do that which
moral suasicn only could do and said on
that occasion. If some poor drunkari,
wandering along this street tonight, should
see the lights kindled by this brilliant as
semblage and should come in and, finding
the character of the meeting, should ask
for temperance pledge, that he might
sign ii and h~gin n new career, l do not
believe there is in all this house a temper
ance pledge, and you would have to take
out IA torn le''"r envelope OF "A loose scrap
of paper for the inehriaIe's signature"
found out af'erwari that there was one
such temperance pledge in the audience,
but only one that could hear of. DO not
leave 10 Politics that which can be done
Row in 10000 reformatory meetings all
over the country, The two great political
parties, Repu Alican and Democrats, will
put prohibitOry plank In the platform
the same day that satan joins the church
and turns perIilion into a camp meeting
Both parties want the votes of the trs.itick'
ers in liquid death, and If you wait for the
ballot box To do the work, first YOU will
have local option. and then you will hav,
high license, and then a first rate law
passed, 10 bc revoked by the next legisla
ture,
Redeem the Nation.
Oh, save the young man OF today and
greet the coming century with a tidal
wave Of national redemption, Do not pul
upon the cradle Of the twentieth century
a mountain of demijOhns and lseer barrel,
and rum jugs and put To it's infant liz.
wretchedn-ss, disease, murder and aban
comment in solution, Ave, reform tina,
army of inehriatcs. All" you say, ii,
cannot he done"' That shows that you
will he Of no Use in the work. 20 We Of
little faith," Away hack in early time.
President Davies OF Princeton college on,
day found a man in utter despair becaus,
Of the thrall or strong drink. The presi
dent said to him; Sir, be of good cheer
You can be saved Sign the pledge
All" said the despairing victim, Il hav
often signed the pledge, hut have alway
broken my pledge" But" said the pres
lcant, Il will he your strength TO kee
the pledge, will he your friend and wit
n loving arm around you will hold yo
up, When your appetite burns and yo
feel that you must crafty il, come to IN