Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-07-07
VIC. I. U. COLUMN.
The Pulpit rIust Carry Temperance 10
Victory.

From speech By TX Senator II ". Blair
1t is matter of national Interes
that, OK Senator, Blair is a candidate il
New Hampshire for the United STATE
senate, where for two terms he was The
leader of all moral and social reforms
Below may be seen II sample of his true
slatemauship. Now that Elijah \
Morse and Nelson Diugley are dead
such as reinforcement of mental force il
Cong~s, is imperatiyely nceeed.
w. T. Crafts,
If organized Christianity co:ld eX
tirpate alcohol. and those things which
go along with il, ind share its fate
there would be little left 10 be done Til,
side of the millennium.
This is mighty Appolyon who now
+ holds The ground between rs and that
/ halcyon time, between us and that
better land. The battle is on, and 50
far the enemy seems TO have the best OF
il, hut the end is not yet.
The labors of the past have so far de-
veloped the situation that the whole
Christian world is coming clearly TO see
that alcohol is the great concrete thing
to be destroyed, snd the future of the
temperance reform involves the fate of
Christian civilization; for it is obvious
to the dullest comprehension that
whether or not humanity can be saved
in spite of all opposing agencies, that
consummatlon is impossible unless
alcohol be destroyed.
Now, there must be something
wrong in all this, and unless we would
waste the next century, and perhaps
lose our civilization, it is necessary
that the great minds who give them.
selves to the work, especially those
who direct the power Of the church,
which is our main reliance, should stop
and think it over.
tLink that any student Of our his
tory will admit that among organized
bodies OF men, the pulpit has been the
pioneer and principal promoter of the
great steps taken by our nation in
civil, social and moral reform.
1t is the business, as well as the in
clination, Of the American pulpit, 10 be
right, and to be aggressive. The pull
PIT WAS the real leader Of the people |
up to and through the Revolutionary
War.
Giving due credit to all the men.
and agencies, ever since
he Revolutionary War, and to-day the
pulpit has been and now is the real
eader of the American people, when
.ver they are led toward higher and
,etter life.
The pulpit largely inspires and con-
rolls the platform, the press, and all
'ther agencies for good. With this
,oes corresponding responsibility,
If, in the future, the reform is to be
more fortunate than in the past, there
must be more general, united and eff
lent action for its promotion by the
pulpit than there has been in the past.
True that the pulpit has been the
hampton and sheet anchor of the cause
rom the beginning. But very much
more might be done hereafter.
If the pulpit, regardless of denom-
national distinctions, would unite for
he promotion of this great canse, and
would make it part of their primary
york, support it by regular presenta-
ion to their congregation calling for
to its support, until they
ONE to be as much part of Christian
taxation to be inforced by
,nse of duty, as in the case with mis-
onary and Bible societies and other
eneral causes, the support of which
recognized TO be obligatory upon all
no claim to live practical Christian
fe, the future of the temperance move
ent would be as sure as the triumph s
the gospel by the same eternpl word
God.
And why, since the eradication of the
flunce of alcohol is condition pre-.
'dent to the triumph of Christianity
by, ask, is not the first duty of the
ilpit to organize for temperance re- :
rmY
True that the clergy are nearly all in
J favor, and at work for its success,
1t it is not looked upon generally as
cause for which they are as much re-
onsible as for the regular preaching
the Gospel-it is good thing, but not ]
.actly part of the Gospel and of Cos 6
i work d