Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26

fic In our own land. The sad faces of
drunkards' wives and the piteous eyes Of
their little children are an oft-told tale.
We shudder, and help when we can, and
sigh over the awful curse of rum in our
fair land, but what can we do? We turn
our attention to sending the blessed gospel
of freedom and salvation to other countries
where Jesus is unknown, and we gather in
eager thousands to hear reports from the
money and precious lives of missionaries
we have sacrificed to send the news to the
heather. We count over the numbers OF
the saved ones eagerly, and sometimes won
der why they are not more. Is it all be-
cause no more money is given to missions?
Are the missionaries at fault, or does God
delay the coming of Christs kingdom for
some reason of His own? Surely we have
done all we can. But perhaps If we will
look into the matter we shall yet find we
have some responsibility left for the failure
In some ways of missions to convert the
world at once. Have we done everything
we could to make our own country Chris
tan country SO that missionaries going
out with the precious gospel shall seem
consistent as a nation with the doctrine
they profess and teach?
FOR instance, when a native Philippine
goes into one of our mission churches and
hears sermon teaching the purity of God
and the necessity for holiness in those who
are His professed followers and then goes
out among our American soldiers, who are
the official representa- tfves of this Christian
land. and finds licensed impurity and in
temperance, regulated and sanctioned by
our government, what can he think but that
our religion is as rotten at heart as is his
own? Study the daily papers and you will
often find reference to the amount of liquor
that Is being sent into the newly acquired
countries by Christian nations. Some years
ago England hurt her missions in the same
way tn Africa, and we are following suit.
Wherever we go with our American refine
ments and Christianity. there follow the
sleuth-hounds-our country's curses-intem-
rerance and fmpurity. When we study the
q nd hnn fIax rf<y-, Il AnIJ
what constant hindrances they meet with
from Just these things, 1t Is enough to make
ones blood boil. Satan saw that Christian
missions were fast bringing the whole world
to know Jesus Christ. He set himself
straightway to work to counterfeit this. He
said he would foil the missionaries so he
tried to hinder with lack OF money. but
God opened the hearts of His own to give
literally and the money poured rapidly into
the treasures. Then Satan had to try
anew and when he saw that governments
were becoming favorable to missionaries
and the doors were open wide for them to
go In and spread the gospel he set to work
to send in also all the evil of the Christians.
And SO the good that we are sending Is
you, Christians, that the money you are
sacrificing to save, that the precious lives
OF your sons and your daughters that you
have given In conservation to Christ. are
being spent over there in vain in some
cases just because some other men. neigh
bors Of yours, for gain to themselves and
laclT pdIllcSs are Scuuiuk over Kegs OF
wine and beer and whisky, and are setting
the seal of our beloved nation upon them?
The sanction Of the government upon the
liquor traffic Is in a way your sanction.
You are a part Of this government Some
thing must be done to stop 1t, II you would
save the work you are doing for the weak
brother for whom Christ died. Tell me
truly. could you not. would you not, at least
try to do something II you realized the Inn
portance of this to its fullest extent?
You think perhaps there is nothing to do.
Send to the officials OF the national reform
formation they are printing monthly and
almost daily sometimes. concerning the
work they are trying to do along these
Ines and how you can help. Listen to Dr.
Wilbur F.. Crafts some time when he comes
| to your nefghborhood. as be tells of the
petitions sent to Congress and the good
they have done. Stir up your immediate
friends and keep things going. Protest and
protest against this great liquor curse first
for our own land. and always everywhere
that 1t Is possible for the lands to which
our gospel goes.
DIR. Crafts says: "Shau we not ourselves
overcome this personal and national foe by
total abstinence and prohibition, the only
weapon with which 1t has ever been over
COME anywherB? In this matter the orient
has been wiser than the occident. Ancient
india and Arabia were greatly cursed by
drunkenness, but the religious leaders did
not make the deadly blunder made by
Europe ana America. for ages relying upon
mOderattou and license as cures for this
curse. The leaders in church and state In
India said, In the name of religion and gov