Backbone., 1902-12-01
fin Embarrassing Issue.

fin Embarrassing lSSu6.
This call to arms Is from the Ep-
worth Herald, the able and influential
organ of the Epworth League. It does
not say where, in it's opinion, the enc
mics of the saloon should rally. But
that can and will be easily determined
when, as the Herald urges, the church
moves to do SOMETHING. It more
than hints, also, that while the church
hesitates and ponders or sleeps, it's
hands and those of it's members are
not free from the blood of the slain.
The Herald says:
'Many of the churches, ours in par
ucular, are in an exceedingly embar
RAISING attitude on this vital question.
In many church assemblies there have
been conscience enough and votes
enough to register positive, abstract
denunciation, not only of the business,
but of the policy of the government.
There have not been sufficient convic-
tion and unity to make these resolu-
uons count with any mentionable
force against this Jericho of sin. We
are in this self-contradictory condition
today. We are sadly embarrassed by
it. It is troublesome theme. AS a
result, there is a painful and sus-
picious silence in many quarters of
Zion. The strain becomes more tense.
The air is dense, and portentous with
fear and hope. God waits expectantly
to see what His church will do. The
fearless, radical minority cannot re-
treat, under penalty of betrayed con-
science and political treason.
'"The laggards, the apologetic, the
compromisers, apparently will not
throw themselves with holy abandon
into this fight. There are SO many
temptations to inaction. There are so
many apparent dangers in uncompro-
missing action. The battle is stayed
chiefly because Israel is divided,
worldly wise, hesitant. The Saviour
declared: "A house divided against
itself cannot stand Who can deny
the application of this saying to pres
ent emergencies? If the advance
guard marches steadily on to death in
advocacy of the abolition of the sa-
loon, and in the use of all legitimate
agencies for its suppression, while the
great body of all the churches camps
on the trail of progress, what must be
the result? There can be but one, and
that the rending of the churches as in
other days. This is painful sugges-
ton, an agonizing possibility; but,
writing from any viewpoint and as
a nOnpartisan, we declare this must
be the outcome, unless an early rem
edy is found.
1--WE plead with radical temperance
people for patience and consideration.
We plead with Methodists, old and
young, to awaken on their knees to
their duty and danger in this matter.
We plead with them to throw all their
powers with a royal conservation
against this Goliath of our country.
We beseech Epworthians everywhere
to awake from the deadly stupor that
Is creeping on us, and fling themselves
individually and collectively against
this emissary from the pit. We may
appoint weeks of prayer; we NAV ar
range forward movement programs:
we may tinker our machinery: we
may multiply special enterprises, good
in themselves; we may resort to all |
sorts of expedfents, but they will be |
Of little avail until we individually
and organically wash our hands, in |
deed and truth, of any completely with |
the liquor curse. If there is to be a |
better tomorrow for the church and |
the world, it must come through the |
young people and children, and those |
who are young in heart and purpose |
Hence these plain warnings! Hence
these danger signals! Hence this ap-
peal for fearless, united, militant |
church," J