The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-20

Curtis. pastor of the Perry Street Meth odist Church, in his sermsn yesterday, gave reasons of his opposition to the expediency of submitting the amend ment 10 the people. While he will vote for It.. he said, because of the is- sue of prohibition. which has been made. he thinks the submission unwiss and unnecessary.
 By forging ahead to constitutional prohibition" he said. Christians have deprived themselves of the incentive which was so necessary to make them saving power of wondrous signifi- canoe in society.
 Had they rested content with State- wide prohibition. the door would have been opened for their guiding hand in every law that effected the welfare of the State.
 T am afraid that the advocates of the submission of the amendment deemed 1t expedient to make instan- taneous rush to victory. It's something like the revival season in our churches For week or two we make a desper. ate effort to save souls, and then take 1t easy the remaining eleven and one- half months of the year. Are we pre- pairing to leave the firing line. and seek the more congenial tent? An open door was placed before us. We shut It."
 Mr. Curtis undertook the sermon, as he said. in explanation of his position. He mentioned preachers as leaders in politics. saying that 1t was not their place.
 T do not find anything in the ex- ample of my Master that encourages the minister of the gospel in entering the political arena as an active leader In campaign that is calculated to leave him useless in his ministry save among those who entertain his views"
 He said that Christians houid take part in politics, though a firm believer in the doctrine of the separation of church and state. In his opinion as to the inexpediency of the submission of the amendment. he said that he was uninfuenced by the many arguments of politics, nugatory qualities of the amendment. etc, that have been used but that his ideas were drawn from other sources.
 For education and regeneration he pleaded. more than for legislation. No matter how drastic the law, he said it can be evaded He showed how, in spite Of the advance of prohibition. drunkenness and excessive drinking has increased.
 This maladjustment during the past fifty years is fearful to contemplate" e." said MT. Curtis. Crime has increas saa In proportion to population, five fold: insanity, three-fold suicide and paup erism have multiplied. Rape is a ne " thing under the sun. and the tramp Is a fixture Intemperance is now recog- nized as a disease. The consumption oi liquor has more than doubled in twen- ty-five years. The number of total ab- stainers have increased and prohibition has gained ground with wondrous ra- pidity; but more people drink thar ever before, and they drink more ex- cessively."
 The sermon in full. is:
 '"The most momentous question be- fore the people of our beloved state today Is whether or not an amend ment that forever forbids the manufac ture or sale of Intoxicating liquors shall be incorporated in the Constitu- ton.
 T am a firm believer in the doctrine that declares for separat, m of church and State; but do not adhere to the spurious doctrines that Christians should take no part in politics. How ever, I do not find anything in the example of my master that encourages the minister of the gospel in entering in a campaign that is calculated to leave him useless in his ministry, save among those who entertain his views
 Until recently, I have entertained no desire or intention of furthering my views on the question of the hour from the pulpit or in any other public manner: but have been satisfied to exercise that personal privilege which