The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-05-07
The GOLD LEAF.
THURSDAY, MAY Z, 1908.
A Bad Practice.
Greensboro Record

Greensboro Record
The Record has never had any
doubt about the success OfState pro
hibition in the election to be held
May % but if some of the brethren
are not held down rather tightly the
result may be very different. Moth
inc so hurts Il moral question as in
tolerancp-a deter minatiOn to drive
men. We clip this from one OF our
religious papers of the State;
a brother writing the editor from
one of the western counties intlmates
that there will be much opposition
to the prohibition bill in this section,
even among members of Methodist
Church, South We have been won
dering what sort OF Methodists these
can be. They must inhabit the dark
corners. We have expected oppOsi-
ton. but not among MethOdists, and
we are ashamed OF any Methodist
who is brazen enough to oppose this
bill and still claim his place in the
church. 1t is too late i'll the centuries
to tolerate any man in the church
who will throw his influence and cast
his vote on the side of liquor. 1t is
said that these men, some OF them,
pray in public and think they have
rligIOn.
eve would suggest that the whole
community is in Il bad way ii these
men can get n chance to lead IN
prayer"
Open all along the line with this
kind OF tactics and something will
happen. 4 man of sense can some
times bepersuaded, but never driven;
try it on him and he will hurt you.
How different is the above from
this from Rev Richard McIlwaine, OF
Richmond, in the Central Presbyteri-
IN:
IAN article in the Central Presby-
terrain OF February Goth, last, by Rev.
W. p. Corkle, of Martinsville, Va,
on Are Not re Anti-salOon People
Going Too Far? has set me to think
ing afresh on Il subject to which |
have given much thought through
out life As the result, | have reached
the conclusion that what may be
called drastic prohibition of the
sale OF spurious liquors so that they
can not be obtained for necess iry
Uses, finds no support in GOd's word
Orin common sense. Experience shows
that the welfare of society demands
strict governmental supervision and
control OF the sale of these cOmmOd-
tiles; that what is known as the sa-
loon or barroOm ought as far practi-
ticable, to be put out OF business,
and, where allowed at all, to be I'M
der strict police surveillance and reg
nlatiOn. This, however is a ques
ton for the civil government to deal
with and to which every upright cit
Zen-Christian and nOn-ChriStian-
ought to give attention and support.
No such drastic regulations, however,
ought to be made rs will interfere
with the welfare and best interests of
individuals and communities. What
| call Bible Temperance is something
far different from this and appeals to
the conscientious conviction of every
one who accepts the sacred Scriptures
us his guide Here, certainly, there
is no drastic prohibition OF the use
Ofspiritus liquors, but each individual
Christian is left to decide what is
best and his duty amid his surround
ings''
Happily all church members are
not 3like. Rev. Mr.. McIlwaine has
sense as we'll as respect for the opin-
ion of others. Ones zeal often runs
away with his Judgment. Our ad-
vice to our prohibition friends is to
use more molasses and less vinegar;
they have an abundance of facts to
Use which they have never been able
to get hold of in any previous cam
paign, the greatest of which is that
prohibition does not iniure business;
it is great because when you hit a
mans pOcketboOk you hit his heart