The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-11-21

ThsS temperance question II now be-
fore the people Of the State Of Ala
bama Though the subject IL one Of.
great Importance Its discussion has
raised an incidental question which II
hardly less important than the main
question Itself.
weRnots mat ~ to one or two
phases OF the tsmpsrance question
the ministers are taking an active
part. We note also that meetings are
being held in the church buildings of
the State In connection with at least
one ok these temperance movements.
We further note that 1T these gather
tngs held In the church buildings the
proceedings take to some extent the
form Of q party caucus or party meet
Ing. = Plans OF .. political campaign
are projected and party speeches are
made In connection with the move
ment Il has been proposed that
throughout the State collections shall
be taken In the c7urchcs on Sunday
for paying speakeh preparing and
distributing papers. defraying expens-
81 Of workers, and for pushing for
ward 3 political campaign. About q
year ago It was proposed In the
churches that at the primary election
then soon to occur the voters should
see that candidates OF certain frame
OF mind In reference TO temperance
legislation should be- nominated
All these things seem to mean that
an effort h. being made to put the
church into politics. Since the adj
3ournmsnt Of the first part OF the ses-
sion OF the present Legislature It APP
PEARS that, meetings have begun to be
held In the churches on Sundays with
3 view to the pushing of one phase OF
the temperance cause The local OPP
ton prohibition act adopted by the
present Legislature make 1t probable
that during the next year or two
there will be large amount OF vot-
Ing on one phase or another Of the
temperance question. Under the cir
csmstancss, therefore. Il IN proper that
we should consider at this time
whether the churches ~ churches
should take part in either OF these
political movements.
Rov hundreds OF years the Profess
tants have sndsavored ct least IN
their creeds and formulas, to separate
church from state. In this movement
of separation OF church ana state the
Hantisfs have claimed to be leaders.
ON this subject they grow enthusiast
tie They claim. II possible. to be I'm
advance Of any other denomination
along this line. But II their minis
ter; III their churches nominate can
oluAtes. "lAe ss.sas,' -,st,ng a. polifical
Isvor 9. 80 xai.a m sortributious
S...ss a. -srvfena for carnpafxn pur-
~ .sen ~ "a ofherr the use Of
gops% -ZN 80 |. Asocafsy,e other views
sna ~. wv. r ~ ~, Sant caY, Il Be elaine
a 10, 80 ~aasas tfat the church Is not
- 49,, ,,,sfter sasn. n politics?
- sss,s -.s.rs,as N, .srcs,se given FOR these,
ur0cAedlnxs in the churches 10 the
1900 -, fsnss. ,fbass 4ampaFnnce L. q. moral
s.,,ass,or' Ts,s contention that the,
ehrrcs sf,onIA iooik after moral ques-
ssnrss nav n former firnaa have been
sha General axcuss fsf are union OF
church ana state. Il was DOUBTLESS
shs excuse In the early centuries OF
fhs Ef.sristian era. ~ was aheS excuse
4, st,sa, middle axaa. ssinik contentious
hay. heen the EXCUSE lDf certain
churohes Cor their visws@and spracfice.
dawn 10 fhs present. time u But fs 1t
nroner that the church should 20 into