Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1910-12-23
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CHURCHES AND THE SALOON
Decrease in Number of Ohio Dram
Shops Followed by Increase in
Church Members.

An analysis of the Presbyterian
tricts, by Rev. Frederick n. McMil-
IAN, chairman of the committee on
evangelical work of the synod of
Ohio, shows a suggestive increase du-
curing the past two years in the num-
her of communicates, says United
Presbyterian. From this report it APP
Tears that the decrease in the num-
Ter of saloons is followed by a nota-
He increase in tho membership of the
hurcheS. The reasons assigned are
chat when men are drinking they
have no money to sufficiently clothe
their wives and children that they
may attend church with any degree
of self-respect. The families of drink
ing men are discouraged and lack
heart to appear in places of religious
concourse. Mr.. Mcmillan says: Re
ligion and whisky will not mix Drink
ing men keep women and children
away from church through shame,
fear, poverty and want of heart. Many
woman says: I haven't the heart to
w
drinking; he doesn't want us to go to
church, and l will not go because my
children and myself cannot dress as
well as others"
This want of heart is one of the
most depressing conditions that can
befall any one. The sense of disgrace,
on account of being the companion
nf q If.ltn1 or.J boc ,yif
! shut up in her solitary home, nursing
the vultures that are eating out her
very heart. The consultations of the
gospel would give her hope, but oh,
the humility of it; the human nature
of it! The dread of appearing where
her very presence would be an adver-
tisement of her own humiliation no
doubt accounts for many sorrowful
wives failing to identify themselves
with any church.
1t requires no argument to show
that the average drinking man will
not go to church. He takes no inter
est in such things. His companions
are not there. There is little in com.
mon between him and those who wor-
ship God. He is at the extreme anti
podes of society. His moral sense is
benumbed, and the whole association
Of the saloon is to deepen and inten
sify opposition to religion and purity
of life. When God plants a church
F., the devil comes to plant a saloon
nearby if he can. He must hold his
own converts, if he can. He must win
over some of the church members, II
he can. He must lay MS fiery skew
ers to burn the feet of the children
II he can.
dh The way to destroy the influence Of
the devil over the lives of men and
women, is to destroy the works of the
devil. The saloon system is the great
barrier between the drnker and the
church. It's destruction means sanel
moments for the drinker, when he car
think more of the things of the king
dom of God, and the things, too, tha
will promote the betterment of his
home, 1t gives his family an oppor
tunity to take heart, to regain hope
and to look upon life with some de
gree of joyfulness. There is no doub
but there would be greater disposi
ton on the part of the drinkers fam
lily, and the drinker himself, to at
tend the public worship of God If h,
spent his money at home and for hi
home. A reformed husband and faith
er means sunshine to the home, ant
the grateful family will have an espe
cial reason for expression of gratitud,
to God by public profession of hi
name. Every argument that supports
the saloon opposes the church.