The Portland daily press., 1899-12-02
IN EVENING WITH THE CIVIC
LEAGUE.
To the Editor Of the Press:

To the Editor Of the Press:
Not long ago the writer had the privil-
egs of listening to an eloquent address
from the Agent Of TIE Maine Civic
the religious people of the StAts. The
address was received with marked ap.
prevail. In its opening sentences 1t
showed that something has broadened the
outlook and method Of the league. The
great fault was not found. as formerly, to
be the official reluctance to enforce the
Prohibitory law. but failure, equally
conspicuous. to enforce othsr laws of
similar nature: such as, O. x. those
against Sabbath breaking, gamb bling,
and such like. Official remissnsss and
public apathy were arraigned In vehsment
words of truth. The facts are beyond
dispute, and they are damnatory. And
the Assem- bly, set their seal to the arraiga-
ment with cheers.
There was no dispos.tion to question
the statements, the gravity Oh the sltua-
ton end the need of remedy. But to
the quiet listener the atmosphere was
full Of questions. What Is the cause CT
this condition of the public conscience!
May the fault be with the Law-makersS
And do not the people make the lawss
Have they placed laws on their statute
book they really do not care to exeoutes
May we not find low state OF private
and public morality as the cause OF the
deplorabls condition? Has the moral
conditioS improved during recent years
Does past experience assure us that law
has a tendency to improve moral condi-
lions? Or does 1t not suggest rather
that moral virtue needs to be supplied
from some other source, to sustain ana
give vitality to the law And whence
shall the needful supply conner Can we
reasonably expect 1t from the officers and
Judges and courts? Or shall we look TO
another, and higher sourceY Should the
engineer, fearing himself on the wrong
track, put on more steam, or slow up,
and examine the sitlationy
Lost In the multitude of questions, the
listener fell into a rsvery. No doubt Of
the facts; ana that our Lawmakers end
awbTeakers have too sod an under =
standing; ana that the foundations of
morality are not laid deep enough in the
DEGfta VI our pbbDiSs h1u .lAo ktN paC .
like officers" But who are thu gathered
here, enjoying the luxury Of such an &C
dress? What this Impressive casting of
ourselves upon ths laws OF the State as
the principal dependence fer a-Preat
moral uplift?-Yes these are the minister S
and reII ntati,es of rel'glon.- ID d, then
Jesus Christ call and endow dis min is-
tiers, and found His church to formulas
and enforce statute law DO we net
read that the laws Of the new dispense =
ton are no 10 ore TO be written on oItward
tables, but in the willing, loving, loyal
hearts of meDp Who. then, shall act as
His Instruments in writing them there
Some che must. Ana the strange conceit
suggested itself. that since the minister 5
had taken hold of the execution OF law
with such absorbing energy, their place
should be supplied by others; and the
lawyers ana judges would have TO take
the pulpit end Tesry and communion
table. Somebody mus be doing the
Christly work of laying the foundations
Of religion and morality in the hearts of
the people. For that is the great wan
the ge n uiRe objective In "a common wealth
where the people make the laws. MS well
as keep them.
just here. as with dreams, long for
gotten story drifted IN. A father had
three fine boys. He was q man of means
and of positive ideas, They shall have
an education. John shall be q mini ster, Z"
he liked mlnistsrs-' u, mas shall be a
lawyer; and Luke shall be a physician. f"
He didn't care fog bent and inclination;
they were his boys, and he knew what TO
do with them. Well, he put them into
the profes ions and paid the money to
set them up. In the course Of this I'M
certain life he WAS taken Sex. And feel
ing that his end WE S near, ms desired to
have his 'atterd family about bin. The
three sor 5 came. With difficulty he muir.
L.. a
them, and wislsd to have them near him.
Ismediatly the minister tenderlv sug-
gs sied II he had made his will? The
lawyer 1 naturally took the cid man $
hand 90 feel his pulls. While the doctor
mi'dlv and trussfully spoke of the future
and the one thing nssdful, ami proposed
to BON In prayer. This medley was toe