The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-03-01
Asbury NJ. +. Church.

Asbury Nj. f. Church.
Rev. j. K. Somers preached Sun
day morning from the text, Habak-
kuk ii, 5,"Woe Unto him That Civ
eth his Neighbor Drink"
The pastor said in part:
Gods woe Is not only upon him
engaged in such business, but also
on ell who by Indifference and neg
lect make the licensed saloon a pos
sibility.
<"Over confidence and indifference
are the things that make possible
the return of the saloon in a num-
Der of counties. Local option is not
only the cause of the religious move
ment, but is being espoused by all
real lovers of increased business, en-
larged bank accounts, better clad
and fed children, and more thor
oughly protected boyhood.
You will also find in the rank,
wide-awake business men, OCCASION
al drinkers, many more than occa-
sional drinkers, a great many who
have changed ranks, being convinc-
ed local option is better than licens-
ed saloons.
Notwithstanding, local option
does not prohibit, yet regardless of
blind piggers. bottle drunkards
whiskey drinkers, drunk records at
tempted to be made small under wet
and large under dry system, there
is very large margin in favor of So
briefly and decency under local op-
ton"
Statistics and charts were pre-!
sented to show the improved condi-
ton under dry as compared with
wet
The dreadful and undesirable con-
dition that had come with return of
the saloon was pointed out.
All this is sufficient cause to do
our best to keep the saloon out of
the county.
About $40 was pledged to support
the cause, and more is to follow.
Rev. Hanks Talk
What is your life? Just what you
please to make 1t. You can make IL
a fountain of Joy or burden Of woe,
a blessing or curse. You can choose
your own standard. You are free but
you must abide by the result. Life Is
an existence of moral worth, an is
sue Of useful work and capacity for
the divine Hife. Surely we must OPP
pose anything that would in any way
tend toward the destruction of.the
worth, usefulness and capacity of
human life. Herein is found the Sc
cret of our opposition to the open
saloon. 1t threatens life. Listen to
the words of DR.. J. Lloyd Jones: THE
practices and indulgences fostered
by the saloon under any conditions
have made, and still make, for the
ruin of the individual, the defeat OF
the school the disgrace of the church
and the burden Of the state. l sub
nit that the saloon, as social CEN
ter, is not worthy of our respect or
our tolerance so long as it is place
iuIO WIhCH a man hColIdtCo w tdhO
his wife, or where he would be sorry
to see his boys go. so long as 1t is a
place where such vices as PROFANITY,
vulgar speech, vicious politics, gam
bling and unblushing cultivation OF
the lewd imagery and vibald tongue
that lead to the degradation Of wo-
men and the defamation of the home,
lind shelter there" 1t is our simple
duty to make the way OF life, for our
fellow men, as safe as possible.
Rev. Hanks then spoke of local
relating to the saloon evil
and the benefits accruing under local
option, which while not wholly effec-
live makes conditions infinitely bet
Ter than under the old license system
He made reference to several illus
.rations bearing on this, one being
he fact that while for Ave years rs
had served as county agent for the
state association of conviction and
charities which called him into many
homes under distressing conditions
out the effect Of local option has les
;enei his work seventy-five per cent.
Contributions reaching nearly
800 we're made, and considerably
more Is expected to aid the present
to retain local option