The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-07-25
"CHRIST AT THE POLLS VS.. CHRIST Al
THE MARRIAGE FEAST.

"CHRIsT AT THE POLLS VS.. CHRIST AT
THE MARRIAGE FEAST.
A few weeks ago there ap-
peared in the Christian Advocate
an article on prohibition which
was replied to by Dr.. L. w. Net
tles of Foreston. The Advo-
Gates article has become mis-
placed, but we herewith give our
readers Doctor Nettles' article
from The Advocate:
Mr.. EDITOR: In The Advocate
of the 9TH inst, an appeal is
made to Christians to vote for
"prohibition" as against "anti-
prohibition" under the headline,
"Christ at the Polls" " After
several imaginative and senti-
mental utterances, the writer de-
cides unequivocally that Christ
would vote for prohibition, and
on his assumed conclusion ex-
horts all Christians to go and do
likewise.
I take occasion to say just here
that I am a reader of The Advo-
cate, and that it is my desire
and "highest aspiration" to do
right as well as vote right; that
I am for temperance first, last
and all the time; but as for "pro-
hibition," as voiced by the arti.
Gle referred to, is concerned, !
am left to be guided as to my ac-
ton in the matter either by my
surmises, Or allow my judgment
to be controlled by an infamed
sentiment, wrought up, not by
the results Of legitimate use, but
by the effects of the abuse of al
cohol.
Imagination is a fine field for
Isentiment and spiritual revelry;
but when we are dealing with
stubborn, disagreeable and un-
compromising realities, it is far
better to confne ourselves to the
realm Of sense.
If we really wish to act Christ.
like, we can unquestionably for
lmulate better rules for our guild
ance by considering what he &C
tually did while living in Pales-
tine than by trying to imagine
what he would do sat the polls.
The article referred to makes
"Prohibition" and "Anti-Prohi'
bition" the "real issues at the
lnext election.
I take it that prohibition
Imeans Gf it means anything more
than the dispensary}, the prohi,
bition of the manufacture, sale
land use of vine and alcoholic
liquors in toto, and "anti-prohi.
bition," so-called, means the re.
|striction of the same That is tc
Isay, the ''real issues" at the next
election, where Christians are
lcalled on to vote like Christ, will
be "prohibition'' on the one side,
and restriction" on the other.
The question then is, and I ask
it reverently, would Christ vote
for prohibition" or 'trestric'
tion?:"
| Let his record in Palestine an
swer the question.
Christ changes not as to his
|moral, social or political opin.
ions. What he considered right
when he lived in Palestine is
fright today, and what he adjudg.
ed wrong then is wrong now. II
he did right then to render unto
Caesar the things that were Cas-
ar's, and pay his poll tax, he
would do the same today. If his
decision, that the Sabbath was
|made for man and not man fo1
| the Sabbath was correct then, il
lis correct still. If he did right
and violated no law when he
made wine for the marriage
| feast, it is not wrong now; and
who would dare to say that
iChrist would not do now what he
did then, thereby admitting that
what he did then was wrong.
St. Luke, chapter p, verse II
records this fact: ''And he took
the cup and gave thanks, and
said, Take this and divide il
among yourselves" !" Now, I ask
in all sincerity, if Christ was sc
profoundly impressed with the
great Importance of ''prohibi
tion," as Christians are called
upon to imagine, why did he al
low it to be on the table where
he partook Of his last, sad sup
per: If he considered the use
of vine so detrimental to the
success "of his redeeming ano
saving work." could he not-yea.
would he not = have selected
some other liquid (the abuse Of
which was not so easy) with
which Christians should com
memorate his meritorious suffer
ings and death until he comes
again?
If Christ was such a great pro
hibitionist, why was the first
great public exhibition of his
miraculous power shown in max
ing wine, and almost with his
expiring breath, recommending
its use to future generations.
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