The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-03
The Duty of the ChristIan Church.

| II cnrlStlanlzed Christianity could
extirpate alcohol, and those things
which go along with 1t, and share its
tate, there would be little left to be
done this side Of the millennium. This
is the mighty Apollyon who now holds
the ground between US and that hal
cyon time, between us and the better
land. The battle Is on, and SO far the
enemy seems to have the best of 1t, but
the end is not yet. The labors Of the
past SO far developed the situation that
the whole Christian world Is coming
clearly to sec that alcohol is the great
concrete thing to be destroyed, and
that the future Of the temperance re-
form involves the fate Of Christian civ
ilization; for 1t is obvious to the dull
est comprehension that whether or not
humanity can be saved in spite Of all
opposing agencies. that consumma-
ton Is impossible unless alcohol be de-
stroyed. l think that any student of
our history will admit that among Or
ganized bodies Of men. the pulpit has
been the pioneer and principal pro-
motor of the great steps taken by our
nation in civil, social, and moral re-
form. It is the business, as well as
the inclination, OF the American pull
pit to be right, and to be aggressive.
The pulpit was the real leader Of the
people up to and through the revolu-
tionary war. Giving due credit to all
other men. organizations and agencies,
ever since the revolutionary war. and
today, the pulpit has been and now Is
the real leader of the American peo-
pie. whenever they are led toward
higher and better life. The pulpit
largely inspires and controls the plat
form, the press and all other agencies
for good. With this power goes CORE
spending responsibility. II, In the fu-
ture, the temperance reform Is to be
more fortunate than in the past, there
must be more general. united and sf-
ficient action for its promotion by the
pulpit than there has been in the past.
True, that the pulpit has been the
champion and sheet anchor Of the
cause from the beginning. But very
much more might be done hereafter.
Il the clergy. regardless of denomina-
.ional distinctions. would unite for the
promotion CT this great cause, and
would make 1t part Of their primary
work, support 1t by regular presenta-
Ion to their congregations calling for |
to its support, until they
anne to be as much a part Of Christian
voluntary taxation to be enforced by |
sense Of duty, as Is the case with
and Bible societies and |
'ther general causes, the support Of
Which is recognized to be obligatory
lpon all who claim to live a practical
christian life. the future OF the tenn
'erance movement would be as sure
s the triumph Of the gospel by the
anne eternal word of God. Surely, II
harity begins at home, the gospel
ught to start there. 1t is impossible
0 support this cause without regular
contributions OF money. No regular
ncome adequate to so great a work
an be maintained which Is not paid
rom a sense of duty, and unless there
9 an organized body Of men who shall
preach the truth as 1t 10
the gospel Of temperance as an in
sgral part Of the gospel of Christ, this
ense Of duty will never be established
their minds, the money will rever
Q collected, and the whole business
lust either fail utterly or live on at
he poor dying rate of the past, in
hich 1t has been give and take" be-
veen God and the devil. The past has
cen full Of emotion and discussion. 1
Whether the future shall be but a repe-
ton OF the past depends upon an
Their question-to-wit, whether the {
importance reform can be put upon a !
usiness basis-like the missionary
nd educational institution of the ]
Signal. II