Arizona republican., 1908-04-27
THE CHURCHES
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Following is the sermon of the Rev. Henry Martyr Campbell, delivered Sunday morning. April 26th:
 Our text this morning is taken from the first verse of the twentieth chapter of Proverbs: Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging. and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise"
 Those words are intended to serve as basis for our remarks this morn ing. We shall not discuss the text. We shall not confine ourselves to it. I dare say that I am speaking the truth when I say that the occasion de- mands the discourse. I need hardly say that there is one subject upon which the people of our community are thinking these days: one theme about which they are talking. You know what il is. And not only so; but on next Saturday in the providence of God, the citizens of this communi- ty will be given the opportunity to go to the polls and register their convic- tiOn as to whether the saloons of our county shall continue or be abolished. l do not suppose that I am speaking this morning to a single individual whose mind is not made up. l sup pose every man here this morning will go straight to the polls and say by his action that the saloon shall be discon- tinued; but I am quite sure that a re- view of some of the reasons for such action on our part as citizens will not only help us and be a stimulus to us. but perhaps what We may say may lead others to rally to the side of righteousness and of good. Let me say this morning that every word spoken shall be in a kindly spirit to- ward the man who differs from me. I am certain, dear friends. that I am not seeking and that you are not seek ing to destroy the men who are en- gagged in the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, but their busi- ness. We are not seeking to manifest our dissatisfaction and hatred for its own sake, but for the sake of our wives and our children. our homes and our happiness. I am speaking the truth when I say that, when the battle shall have been fought, and the victory won, and the smoke of the battle shall have been cleared away. every earnest temperance worker will be able to say
 
 hatred absolutely gone in the words of another at the closing of another battle, With malice toward none and with charity for all" I only wish in my heart that all the thousands of men who are engaged in the manufac- ture and sale of intoxicating liquors could know the great volume of prayer that is ascending to Gods throne for them that they may be enabled to see that the business in which they are engaged is evil and only evil continual ly and that they might, for the sake of themselves, for the sake of their families. for the sake Of the cOmmuni- ty, for the welfare and happiness of the whole race, be persuaded to give it up once and for all.
 Now. 1 may give as our theme this morning No Justification for the Sa loon" and I may spend the time. as trust profitably in considering. first, some of the arguments that are pre- sented in favor of the saloon: second. some arguments that in themselves should influence us to take a stand firmly, but kindly. against the saloon.
 First, then, let us notice some of the arguments that are given for the jus tification of the saloon in our midst. Here in our community. within the past few days we have seen and heard presented again and again that prohi- bition does not and cannot prohibit. It is the old song that has been sung for twenty years. I do not believe that any thinking man will be influenced by that argument any longer; but, in- asmuch as it is made and presented. it is at least true that there are those who believe that men will be influ- enced by that old idea that, i. seems to me, is altogether worn out. It is surely ridiculous to think of the posi- tion that the man has to take who, as liquor man. stands by that idea. crying out that prohibition can not prohibit and then going to bed late at night and rising early in the morning to defeat prohibition. Now. hold that the temperance people of this land be- lieve that prohibition will prohibit, and I hold that the people who are in favor of the saloon and who are work ing night and day for its existence are just as sure that it will prohibit
 Let us put it in a syllogistic form. Premise the first: Men generally be- lieve in doing that which is to their own interests and in seeking with all their hearts to carry out their pur- pose; premise the second: The tenn perance people of this land are seeking for the enactment of prohibitory laws;