The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-22
EVILS OF THE LIQUOR TRADE Pointed Out by Dr. Neal
 L. Anderson. LEFT TO PERSONAL CONSCIENCE Presbyterian Church, While Re- cognizing Evil, Takes No Stand.
 -----s----- rreaeher Declare. rroAasaasa wni sseD Maay Abuses of wAisksy, Evea
 rAeash Not ssepsins
 Iss Sale,

oAa4Ax IMQEMMEs the N88k0rs If. N0at T.. Anderson, spoke to q large congre-l gatfon on the moral issues involved In the efforts to secure prohibition in Montgomery county.
 or Anderson took his text, Habak - kuk ii:ls. and after a brief intro- ducfion showing that while the text was not perhaps used by the prophet directly applicable to the issue Of the hour. yet it was based upon a con- seriousness of the evils of the sale of intoxicanfs that made It's indirect ap- plfcatior the stronger. the speaker stated that he wished to speak directly of the issues pending in thfs county and ef the relation of the church thereto.
 He stated that the Presbyterian Church had always stood for the riehts of the individual eonscience in ques-
 tons where thee was no direct com mand of God. There was ih this issue
 wide liberty for diff :erences of opin-
 ion among good men As to the best
 method of handling one of the most
 complex and difficult problems of the
 age. No Presbyterian Church could
 disfellowship any member. or bring any.
 censure to bear upon any member
 whose conscience might lead him to
 vote against prohibition. The final and
 true solution of the liquor problem Is
 to be found only In the power of the
 grace of God over the individual con- science and life.
 Preeb yierianism. however. Is net in- different to the great moral issues in- volved in a civic question of this sort --it is not indifferent to the character of the environment in which the youth of the land are to be reared. or yo the importance of safeguarding life -and making the city of righteousness. While the church has never surren- dered the great Protestant principle of liberty of conscience from the dominion of prieatcraft. and consequently the church as church has never allowed itself to be dragged into such issues, Presbyterians as citizens have as rule been found on the right side of ell the great que5fions of civic life. The speaker then cited the action of the last Synod of Alabama with refer
 ence to the Anti-Saloon League in which the synod had said:
 I've express our sympathy with the I work Of the Anti-Saioon League and 1 bid 1t Gods speed in it's efforts to re- deem the State from the evils of the l traffic in intoxicating liquors. and that l our preachers be urged to preach on the subject aa occasion may require.H Such an occasion had, in the judg- ment of the minister, arisen fin this l city He felt he stated that he could T. passiou, as only within the past year ! had he been led to accept prohibition | as Q partial solution of the liquor ! problem He could sympathixe with | the other man, and accord him the | right to differ with him because he he'd l recently been using the very argu-
 ments used by the other man, and with all sincerity.
 Personally he should have preferred l that Montgomery enter upon prohibi- l ton after either very high license or inc dispensary, but the Issue in this city had been drawn by the saloon men, who had voted down in the City Council so recently the efforts of the 1 Mayor Co secure q high license. and now the question was not between prohibition and high license or the dis pensary but between prohibition and the open saloon. The issue had been clearly drawn and all arguments for either high license or diepensary were academic and lodged the clean. clear cut issue raised irN this community
 There was room for diffsrence of
 opinion as to prohibition. bux he said. that the testimony on this issbe of any
 one directly or indirectly interested in
 the sale of liquor must be heard In the | light of that fact, citing as an illus
 tration the testimony of a defendant tn
 q law suit who may be heard in his
 own defence, but the Court charges
 the jury that it must weigh his evil
 dence.
 It is a good thing to ask the man
 who is opposed to prohibition if he is
 directly or indirectly interested in the
 sale of whiskey In Montgomery, and if
 he says he is consider his testimony in
 the light of that fact.
 The minister then sounded solemn
 warning to those who might be op- posed to prohibition that they examine their own consciences in the sight of God, and see If they are unbiased In
 their views, if they are governed by regard for the highest moral interests of the community or State or by per
 sonaI selfishness.
 The speaker then replied to the two
 stock arguments made against prohi- bition-
 Do4s Prohibition Prohibit Tt is said that prohibition does not prohibit. This is a very subtle argu-