Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-04-29
SOCIAL
PROBLEMS
DISCUSSED
Temperance. Divorce. and
Social Dancing Handled
by a Minister

AAeAfHf
The remedy for the great and glar.
ing evils Of drunkenness is not TO be
found in maintaining false principles
and intemperately dcnouucinr those
who cannot in conscience admit them,
but in steadily avoiding the great sin
upon which the Bible places its awful
brand
The temperance reformcrs become
a little Incorporate themselves in de-
uouncing all the products Of fermeuta,
ton and distillatiou as poison and
nothing else, in opposition to the opin-
ions of chemists and physicians
Learned English authority shows that
stimulants Of any kind are hurtful
when the system is in a normal condi.
tion, but when the system is prostrat'
ed below the normal then stimulants,
such as brandy. whisky or wine, are
tonics and helpful when administered
in small quantities.
II is for this reason that physicians
use them as they do some virulent poi |
sons, such as arsenic and strychnine in
small doses. / consider il unreasonable |
and Incorporate 10 rush to the opposite
extreme and denounce everything OF
the kind rs always poisonous and hurt
ful and never anything else.
/ hold that it is the duty of every
minister 10 advocate temperance In a
scriptural and temperate way. As re-
CARDS saloons | believe that, while not
good word can be spoken Of them
or that anything too severe can be
said about them, prohibition is out of
the question in California. Prohibit
tion does not prohibit anyway, except
where public sentiment prohibited
practically without any law on the sub
ject.
Another social question of the first
n magnitude with which ministers are
: concerned is that Of marriage and di'
n vorcc.
. The marriage relation lies at the
! very foundation of a Christian and civ
- ilized community. Human aud moral
a not 20 say spiritual progress are al
n most coincidcnt with the sacredness at
a tached to the marriage bend. There
are but two scrptural causes for di-
70 vorce. one Of the two being descrtion
of 50 long and obstinate character
as to prohibit any hope Of reconcilia'
Z tion.
g No minister should ever marry the
guilty party again, and no divorced
= person should rcmarry within less than
a year.
The divorce laws of California and
many other states are 50 lax as 20 be
the disgrace OF the country and Of the
civilization u the age. The underly
a ing error lies in the fact that the
[. marriage relation is regarded merely
AS a civil contract which could be made
. and annulled by the civil power for
variety Of reasons Marriage Is more
than civil contract. II Is essentially
religious institution, though not
70 sacrament. II was AZ the very foun
10 dation OF orderly civilized society II
'r is the natural aud diyinely appointed
state Of human beings aud should b'
between man and woman for life,
Polygamy among the Mormons Is az
immoral violation Of the laws Of th'
land and a disgrace 90 the civilization
e' of a Christian country. II Is not ee
10 septial to the Mormon religion, for d
ne had existed and still exists withou
y polyeamy. Consequently there need h
no hesitation IN furnishing Il ~
. crime
Polygamy should be pat down VII
\ strong hand, and ministers shonl
use All their influence 20 preserve an
protect the purity Of marriage Ia ever
way.
As regards the social question
card playing, theatergoing' dane'n
and other reereationa which are
source Of much concern 20 pastors
bslieye tho exactions must not be %
rigid. FOR il is az natural FOR the youn
10 desire some form Of relaxation al
amusement as il Il for birds 20 aia
or lambs 10 skip and play. The haFa
II any. Is 10 excess see GO mof'
evil 10 handling few pieces of pas'
board called cards simply for anus
meat, but when for money, e'eA
small sums, il becomes sinful and d
moraliEing.
do not consider Il wrong
move" the feet Ia harmony va
the music In dansing Whea al =
III parties are acquainted aad mes'
sally there eaa b 10 hsrn ia dansin
Tbs line Il 20 b. drawn, howeFef,