The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-06-03

Rev. Arthur w. Highly, rector OF 81
Paul's Episcopal church, in his sermon
Sunday night on The Problem OF
Drunkenness" scathingly denounced the
Anti-Saloon League and its methods,
branding prohibitionists as liars and
falsifers and declaring that the league
seeks only to create prejudice against
the saloons and not to improve condl-
tions. He said:
1T is evident that st. Paul saw some
other sins than drunkenness; yet it is
just as evident the apostle put drunk
enness among these terrible sins of the
flesh which destroy a mans soul, and
which range from adultery to murder.
Yet. nowhere does st. Paul urge total
abstinence as a duty resting upon all,
and neither does he or any other writ
er of the scripture enjoin an enforced
abstinence as agreeable to the will of
God.
prof. Dickie, in one of his debates
with Mayor Rose, said that the scrip
tural teaching of the nations is pro-
hibition, and for individuals-total alb
stinence. Prof. Dickie cannot sub
stantiate either one of these state
ments. Neither of them is true. In
the words of the governor of Kansas,
they are silly, pitiful lie.
Let me quote from book entitled
"True Temperance in the Light Of
Gods Word" which may be obtained
of the Lutheran Book Concern of Co.
Iumbus, Ohio. 1t is written by Luth-
eran minister. On page nine the writ
er says:
What the Bible Teaches.
"What does the word of God de-
mand of the Christian in regard to
drinking, that he may be truly tenn
perate? Here it is necessary for us
to explain what is the meaning of
temperance and intemperance.
Christians are temperant when
they rightfully use and do not abuse
those things which are the good gifts
of God, meats, drinks, etc.-when they
rightfully make use of that liberty
which God has given them.
Intemperance is the abuse of Gods
gifts; men are imtemperant when they
eat or drink too much. Again many
run to the extreme and say that
Christian dare not drink at all.
"'Such persons are intemperant in
their demand. They make law which
Gods word condemns; they make a
law where God has given freedom,
and in this way act in direct opposi-
ton to the words Of ST. Paul, (Col.
2:16) Let no man judge you in meat
Or drink Man has no right to lord
over the conscience of others. God
alone can lord over conscience. When
ever God binds by his word, we say
amen, but not so when man would
bind where God has given liberty
Now the so-caIled temperance peo-
pie say that a Christian must totally
abstain in order to be temperant. But
Gods word makes no such demand.
Does the word of God say that a
Christian must totally abstain to be
temperant. From Genesis to Reyela-
tion no such command is given, and
no such doctrine is inculcated.
"On page thirteen of this same work
is an injunction that think is worth
quoting to you. The writer is dis
cussiDg the total abstinence teaching
that we should abstain lest we we
give offense to our brothers. He says:
There is yet another form of offense
which is often taken when it becomes
the duty of the Christian to make
use of the liberty in drinking.
at is an offense which is taken
by the fanatic who is stubborn, stiff
necked Pharisee. Such will come and
tell us that we dare not drink any or
we will be damned; such even make
it a matter of salvation; such will not
listen to the instruction, and persist
in remaining under the ceremonial
law. We should drink before such In
order that, we may bear testimony
against their false delusion, and that
we may perchance, deliver them from
the yoke of bondage under which they
have placed themselves
Novel Argument.
"Now that is rather a novel way to
meet the arguments Of the total abb
stainers: go and take a drink in or
der to bear testimony against their
false teaching. Remember, that is
the authors injunction, not mine. But
let me add, that if you follow it, cour-
tcsy demands that you ask your pro-
hibition antagonist to join you. 1t
may possibly be a good way in which
tc meet their fanatical teaching. Stop
the argument and go and take drink;
on the whole | do not know but that
II might be better oftentimes 80 Ia do.
my contention Is that the enforced
total abstinence Is not taught in
Gods word; further, drunkenness is
the thing that is here condemned;
furthermore, statistics show that pro-
hibition has not resulted In less drunk
enness than prevailed under the H.
eense system; therefore the Anti-Sa-
loon league, the prohlbitionists, are
working not for temperance, but
against true temperance; they are
working not In accordance with Gods
word, but In opposition to that word /;
they are working not to reduce drunk
enness, but TO satisfy the prejudice
against the saloons. II you are Inter
ested In the sacred cause Of temper
ance, don't work for prohibition; II
49,. x,,iah 20 do sanaathiao fa nad,anS