Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-10-28
The Reformer-Part IL.
From The Jefersonian, by ]. L. LODGE,
d. D., Editor.


Strive with the half.starved lion for his prey !;
Lesser the risk than rouse the slumbering fire
or wild fanaticism.
In general, the law Is to be obeyed, and
its dignity upheld. But when the law ceases
to be deterrent from crime, or is itself in
collision with the criminal, manhood prop
erly visits outrage upon innocence with
fierce and speedy retribution. If oppressive
enactments cannot in any other way be
overthrown and equity restored, the God
given right OF man is revolution. Manly
instincts may always be relied upon when
aroused against legalized robbery, oppres-
sion and tyranny. If righteous resistance
fail, because of numerc weakness, the con-
science is sanctifled, the glory of the attempt
lett proud legacy to posterity, and the
provoking cause a crime none the less
damned through time and eternity. II Is
different with the question of morals as IT
affects the Individual. There, coercion is
wrong in principle and nugatory in practice.
A limited freedom is granted men in meas
ure sufficient TO fix responsibility, and make
the final judgment just and righteous. But
in all the Jurisdiction of Providence forced
adhesion to moral precepts is entirely un
known. Even limited freedom would there
by DO contradicted. When attempted by
misguided "relormers," who set their wis
dom above that which dwells in the heavens,
the result is increased vindctiveness against
good in the abstract, and aggravated trans
erosion. After the example in Eden, whose
very purpose was to show what is the nature
of man and his absolute dependence either for
preservation or recovery upon divine power,
any but hopeless fool would see that the
strength OF that temptation lay in the pro
hlbition, and that the ouly remedy for sin
full tendencies and wicked works, including
violation of just and benevolent law, is that
devised in eternity which anticipated and
antedated the fall. But the modern IRE
former" is nothing il not conceited and vain
glorious
Many minds act slowly; but it eventually
penetrates the stupidest intellect that ianati
cism is not religion. This explains the severe
reactions of history, every revulsion neces
sary, If blind, effort at advance In the direc
ton of truth. Fraud defeats itself, at length,
by creating anger and disgust in the breast
OF the deceived. Fanaticism is blind, I'M
reasoning, vlndictive, carnal. Religion Is
calm, rational, long suffering, spiritual. It's
methods are, e1 aeceSsitdte ret, gentle, winning,
self sacrificing, tolerant Fanaticlsm Is the
reverse, employing means cruel, unjust and
unchristian when needful to gain It's END.
Religion is tearfully persuasive; fanaticism
is savagelV denunciatory. The contrast Is
very painful yet none can fail 70 see that
in this present the vile force Is dominant,
Until very recently, all peoples, and nations,
and kindreds, and tongues branded the ln-
former as the vilest sneak that crawls the
earth. Poor Ireland, pitied for her chains,
forged by that villianous power which now
seeks alliance with the country 1t twice
strove to crush, has marred sweet sympathy
bal linz at mi
But now, by some, this character is ele-
waited to the seat OF god, and some tall
down before and worship him. o tenspord
o RlOres! Commentator for one who tempts
man to violate law that he may convict
him of violation of the law Jesus taught
his disciples To pray, "Our Father
lead Us not into temptation, but deliver US
from evil" "Be not partaker in other
mems sins II Tim 5:92. The name of the
tempter is devil. See James, and The New
Testament. Human law may justify and
utilize the actions OF such Performers; but
as there is still no law against personal taste
all men with rich blood in their veins, and
specially with Christ in their hearts, will
continue while time endures TO hate, and
despise, and loathe, and abhor, and aooml-
nate, and spit upon the betrayng spy
Everywhere in evidence is the prosecuting,
vengelul spirit of the modern "reiormer -
Your editor has been told number OF times
that he was no Christian because he refused
to vote the ticket dictated by his accusers.
| Think of 1t, forty years lecturing, preaching,
| praying, writing, practicing total abstinence
from intoxicants, TO be thus rebuked by re.
Gently reclaimed drunkardsl One OF these
Performers" declared in my hearing at a
public meeting of Good Templars that the
same hell that was made for the drunkard
was made for the user of tobacco. the
Lodge repudated the harangue, and asked
me to answer IL, which l subsequently did.
In point OF fact, hell was not made Tor man,
at all. See Matt. 25:41. But "reiormer"
of these times is not supposed TO know much
about the Bible. A rabid temperance
paper held up your editor to scorn because
he refused to permit the filthy sheet to enter
his home. A furious ranter exhorted large
audience TO treat with scorn and loathlng
any man who uses intoxicants To avoid his
contact as that Of filthy beast; To leave
him the whole walk and cross over 10 the
other side; TO make him feel that his vile
and children are outcasts; In this way 10
have society push him into the gutter, where
he belongs. Contrast this malevolence OF
church members with the pitliul tenderness
of our precious Saviour. He never said one
harsh word TO sinful, erring creature
bvpocrites. betrayers, tyrants, and every
species of pious scoundrels he withered with
the fierce Are of his flaming speech ianat.
iclsm will not see that many uniortunates
INDUCING in drink, at times, are perfect gen
tlemen, devoted husbands, kind fathers,
worthy citizens, staunchest friends. We'll
for the fanatic were he capable Of the sen
timent Of that great and good man who, on
seeing criminal drawn on hurdle 70 Iy-
burn, exclaimed, There goes Jonathan
Bradiord-but for the grace OF God J. In
stead OF reVillng and persecutlng such an
unfortunate, Jesus would have bowed In the
dust and prayed Tor and wept over him, and
80 would any Christian.
The spirit of evil is inherited. Ia grant.