The Topeka state journal., 1902-02-03
APPEAL To MAYOR
Ministerial Union Adopts Ad-
dress to City Officers.
Ask For Suppression of "JOints"
For Sale of Liquor.

Charles NJ. Sheldon, ]. T. Mcfarland
and A. NJ. Reynolds. members of the
committee on public morals of the To-
peka Ministerial Union, this morning
presented the following statement of
facts to the members of the organiza-
tion for their approval before submit
ting a copy to each of the councilmen
and city officers:
ITO the Honorable, the Mayor and Com
mon Council of Topeka
"Sirs: 1t is a matter of common
knowledge that a condition exists in
this city today which calls for prompt
and honest effort on the part of every
official who has sworn to support the
constitution and laws of this state.
illegal places known as joints where
Intoxicating drink is sold contrary to
our law, are being established in large
numbers. The Ministerial Union of this
city represents over 900 church mem
bers and many more thousands of peo-
pie who are in sympathy with Christian
teaching and practice.
These people, together with ourselves,
are not fanatics or bigots, but citizens
who have the business, social and moral
welfare of this city at heart Our
homes are here. We believe in the fu-
ture of this city. We believe in the wis
dom and justice of the prohibitory law
and we know 1t can be enforced If the
officers In authority honestly wish to
enforce it. There is no reason why
joints should exist in this city. 1t rests
with those in authority to say whether
these places shall exist in contempt of
the peoples wish.
This is not an appeal to you. Mr..
Mayor and the members of the city
council. Why should any body Of citi-
ZenS appeal to officers to do their duty
when they have sworn to perform it
1t is simply statement offacts. Neither
is it threat. 1t simply expresses our
knowledge of the fact that thousands
of people connected in one way and
another with our churches have right
to expect that the law of this state
shall be enforced and our children and
our homes be protected from a curse
which by the common consent of the
civilized world, is greater danger to
business, society and the individual than
any other form of lawlessness. We be-
lieve we have the right to call the at
tention of those in municipal authority
to the present condition of our city and
throw upon them the burden of enforc-
ing our existing laws. We make this
statement to you in the name of the
business prosperity, the social purity,
love-"
The document received the unanimous
approval of the members of the Minis
teriaI Union.
The paper read by Rev. H. A. OFT on
the topic. How May We Best Promote
Reliable Christian Character called
forth no little discussion and revealed
a diversity of opinion to the honesty
and morals of the colored people in
their business and social life
His paper touched upon the religious
excitement among the colored peo-
pie and their belief that unless accom-
panied by excitement their religious du-
ties were of no avail
His declarations that in business the
colored people were not honest met
with the disapproval of many of the
ministers who took part in the discus
sion that followed the reading of the
paper.
The next meeting will be held Feb
ruary II, and Rev A NJ. Reynolds will
read a paper on Justification by