The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-06-17
w. C. T. U. COLUMN.
CONDUCTED BY MRS. NJ. l.. HOBBS.
Why Should a Church Member Belong TO
the w. c. T. IT,?

~ llOl til' iNFtioi 49, -
church work sufficiently include
work for temperance? Why should
a busy church member belong to
the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union?" We answer, we be
long,
1. Because we believe that the
saloon and its allies are the greatest
obstacles which lie in the way OF the
triumph Of Christ aud His church
in the world. The open saloon is
blockading the highways along
which must come the King in His
beauty, and His trumphal reign
car not be ushered in until the
dramshop is cleared away, and in
stitutions for mans elevation are
substitu ed. The altars OF our
church are pitiably devoid OF young
men, and the pitfalls of vice in our
large cities are crowded with them.
Thus they are drawn farther and
farther away from purity, the IN
huence of mothers prayers, and
the restraining and helpful ordi-
nances of the church.
2. We belong because there Is q
stultifying lethargy on the part OF
the average church member regard
ing the evils of the saloon, and a
disposition to evade responsibility.
Consequently, the aroused and con
lsecrated worker for souls must or
ganze, agitate and cry aloud in be-
half Of "the slain of the daughters
of my people" 1t is not enough
that we offer a prayer occasionally
for the downfall of the drink traffic !;
not enough that we have quarterly
Temperance Sunday-school lessons,
and once or twice a year good
Temperance sermon; not enough
that the church periodically pass
strong resolutions against the sale
of intoxicating liquors. All these
are good, but radical evils must
have radical remedies, and the rank
and file Of cur churches are con
Iseryative and slow to adopt any
such measures.
| 3. We belong because, while the
levil of the saloon is almost univer-
sally acknowled by the churches,
vet there are weapons which must
be welded against the saloon be-
fore it is abolished which now can
not be freely advocated under the
auspices OF the church without dis
Isension, which would be deplorable
to many, even of our own white
ribboners. The church has not
washed its hands from completely
with the saloon, and while declaring
"that the liquor traffic cannot be
Ilegalized without sin" majority
of the voting membership sanction
Its perpetuation by their ballots
thereby insuring to the traihc the
protectionof government. In johns
second epstle we read "He thai
biddeth him godspeed is partaker O
Ibis evil deeds." Does not govern
ment license bid godspeed to the
! saloon? 1t is clear to us that the
a LIQUOR traffic must be oullawed by
the vote of the church, but these
subjects cannot be freely dlscusset
under her auspices without pitifu
outcry of political preaching, re-
striction Of mans personal liberty
etc.
4. We belong because the w
C. L. u. wipes out denominations
lines in Christian work against th'
common foe to all, and realizes th'
! Savior's prayer that "they may al
!. be one. I" This blending Of womeI
! at the mercy seat has brought t
them such a revelation Of the Hol,
: Spirits power, such depths of low
and peace and Joy, that they arr
leoncious that His favor crowns thei
-iwork and that "He will finally sub
due all enemies under His feet. +"
!, 5. We belong because the mis-
sionarv work Of all our churche
t is handicapped in foreign countrie
}. by the rum sent out from this am
other so-called Christian lands, {
the natives whom our missionarie
are making every sacrifice to reac
and save. Contracts are mad
with citizens of this country to sen
Thousands Of gallons If rum per da
Ito the Free States Of Congo, tha
gain may come into the unsanctitie
Golfers Of the rum trade. Mr'
Mary Clement Leavitt, our fir'
round -the-world missionary, foun
whole villages drunk with rum ser
from Christian England and ii
United States, when she arrive
with her message of gospel purit
and love. God have pity, for Il
blood OF these natives is yet upo
'orr rmapfo