The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-17
1872 Seventh Avenue,

[ | Birmingham, Ala, Sept. 1b, 1909.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 When I wrote you on the subject Of prohibition, I was not caretui enough to explain myself. I wrote in haste but now will inform those who may read that l am Primitive Baptist ana have been identified with that people since 1880, and have also been engaged in ministerial work that length of time, and a church of that faith and order Was organized In Montgomery In the spring of 1887, and have been It's humble pastor ever since, for tWen- ty-three years, and all the time have not entered into bar room, have new CT been drunk, nor have in any sense favored drunkenness, and when my en- emies thus class me because oppose the insane measures adopted by them, Is an unjust act and they only do II to further their own doubtful cause This Is putting 1t in mild form may have to express myself stronger before the fight ends I am not In the fight as a politician, but as citizen of my country, endeavoring to save the country from such unreasonable measures. I will explain why l take such a stand is because l see what # involves and to which 1t is fast tend ing, the union of church and state ara the downfall of our liberty and free dom for which our forefathers foush' and shed their blood. Years ago when temperance was all the rage, some charged on the temperance men that they would soon appeal to the law. They raised their hands in holy horror and said no. never; but they have not only appealed to the law but nave our ragged reason and made laws 10 thai effect and now wish to ruin the best Constitution the State ever had. and if the safe and sane element do not unite and rise up as one man, 1t Is ID great danger.
 stands. and may the good citizens Of Alabama stand fast in their liberty and defend their sacred principles The Scriptures as we know do not teace any such unmitigated principles, and 1t would be a islander on the sacred word to so represent 1t, People who are ignorant of the Scriptures may Tor a while be made to believe It, but when they get sober and enlightened enough they will clearly see they are far from 1t. God forbids in His law. but He does not prohibit, it is assumption and pre- sumptive.
 heather born and originated in Turkey under a false prophet in far country a long way from the land or the free and the home of the brave-our beau tiful American country, of which we are all proud--and how those profess ing the blessed, all-prevailing name Of Jesus could embrace and nourish such a heather babe l can't see, unless tney when the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch. He further said.
 'Ye strain at gnat and swallow camel /" It Is fact that many pea ole do not know that the Bible teaches a drunkenness but not on wine; but ~e- iIgious fanaticism and corrupted poll tics produces the most dangerous ana incurable drunkenness known In nls- tory. We should be doubly on our guard to escape such saloons and par rooms where that is dealt out, under the pretensions of a sanctimonious re- ligion, and which often results In the worst and most dangerous and rulnouS effects causing bloodshed and destruc' tion to life and property in It's wake. I would exhort and entreat ana coa< every true citizen of our state 10 watcn and beware lest some over zealous blind guide lead him astray. Quit you like men. be strong and stand fast anu firm against such innovattonSk pc not entangled in such designed mSs -;es Y" entrap and ensnare you. IL VIII De too late after your hands are tied. When our lady friends are from any cause brought to forsake their homes ana go out on the streets to help such cause, treat them with poiiteness, nut do your duty and don't allow such 10 cause you to swerve from your post of duty. If they know what 1t meant they would be far from TorrYe sHe9 them they know not what they do.
 We don't need an inferior line Of carpet-baggers to lead us and tell us clean up his own State first before he goes abroad Charity begins at home But the golden cup held out leads some. bright gold and silver and bank billS are moving powers and 1t makes some thing else go besides the notorious mare. When men are elected on local option and then becA'pe full hedged pronibitionists contrary to the voice of their constituents what are we to think of them? Have they kept the trust or confidence? Whenever I a ac- knowledge that the Gospel and the grace and Spirit of God has failed. and I resort to the law. you may Know ] have receded and gone back, and such seems to me have fallen from grace gone down, declined from the high to the low. If this was not a partly re- 1igious contest, I would not have oc- ca sinn make snch -allnalonR. but