The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-09-15
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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
churches of Ohio in local option dis
tricts, by Rev. Frederick N. McMil-
Ian, chairman of the committee on
evangelical work of the synod Of
Ohio, shows suggestive increase du-
during the past two years in the num-
Der OF communicates, says United
Presbyterian. From this report it ap-
pears that the decrease in the num-
Der OF saloons is followed by a ,.ota-
bic Increase in the membership of the
churches. The reasons assigned are
tnat 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
lgion 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: L haven't the heart to
go to church when my husband is
drinking; he doesn't want us to go to
church, and l will not go because my
children and myself cannot dress as
we'll as others"
Ills 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
of drunkard, has kept many a wife
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 tbs whole association
of the saloon is to deepen and inten-
sify opposition to religion and purity
of life. When God plants a church
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, IL
he can. He must lay his fiery skew
ers to burn the feet of the children.
If he can.
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 drinker and the
church. Its destruction means saner
moments for the drinker, when he can
think more of the things of the king
dom of God, and the things. too, that
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 doubt
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 IL he
spent his money at home and for his
home. A reformed husband and faith
er means sunshine to the home, and
the grateful family will have an espe-
cial reason for expression of gratitude
to God by public profession of his
name. Every argument that supports
the saloon opposes the church