Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-04-19

those who are responsible for the en-.
forcing Of that law, that it seemed
lifting that I should state just where
I do stand in the matter. AS Chris.
tian minister it is my duty to show all
Christian charity to all men, regardless
of what they are doing, or may be per.
sonally. In showing this Christian char.
ity I have tried to see the man or the
woman that may be, and not always
the man or woman that actually is
Iy treating all people in this way l
have made it possible for less chart.
table people to criticize me. Their ar.
gument seems to be, eff he is friendly
with man who drinks, he must en-.
dorse such things" Reasoning on this
ground I have been put down as one
who desires the "bling-pigging" stage
to continue. I want to say that this
reasoning is incorrect. "Blind-pig-
ging'' has never been encouraged by
me, at any time. What is more, I have
never by word or look encouraged any
citizen Of this city in allowing such a
nuisance to exist in our midst. Vice,
and iawbreaking have never been en-
couraged knowingly by any word or &C.
ton Of mine. It is not my place TO
judge and condemn individual sinners
and law-breakers; that is the work of
our courts and God. In order that
may exert any influence for good
among the whole population of our city
I have maintained an attitude Of
friendliness toward all. But that at
titude of friendliness should not be
construed as being an approval of all
that the people in the city do. It IS
a disgrace to any city or town in pro-
hibition state that liquor is sold, but
it does no good to blame few for the
fault of the many. If the people Of
Devils Lake as whole wanted to be
rid of "booze' and the "booze ele-
ment," it could be gotten rid of quick
~. The better men must lead in the
fight; they must refrain from the
" stuff and strongly discourage its
presence in the city, thus setting the
example for the others. If any one
drinks liquor in the city, the others
will assert their right to do the same
If the law is to be enforced so that the
cannot get his drink, then the
law should be enforced so that the re-
spectacle citizen cannot get his. The
poor man who sells liquor illegally
(and anyone who sells it in North Da-
kota sells it Illegally should not be
treated with any more severity than
the so-called respectable man who sells
it. Any one who assists in any way to
sell liquor in the state of North Da-
kota is not worthy of citizenship in
the United States, by so doing he sets
himself off as an undesirable citizen.
If my conduct and preaching, since
have resided in your midst have led
anyone to believe that I held opinions
other than what is written above, then
I am afraid that I have proved the ex-
ception the rule "example is bet.
ter than precept." Ny great fault has
been in trying to act as our Master
acted while on earth: to show love to-
ward all and try to help all. When in
dividuals hear the Gospel it is for
them to apply t to their own lives.
When sinners confess to me can ap-
ply a proper penance, but when they
do not confess to me I am unable to
guide them in their inner life or out
ward conduct No man in this commun-
ity is responsible to me for his actions
or words, therefore it has been my aim
to go along without calling anyone to
book, trusting that my own life might
be such that it would have its effect in
due time. Perhaps I have been too
sympathetic with irdividuais, trusting
some too implicitly. I am sure that
never from my pulpit have I uttered a
word that could in any wise be con-
strued as being in favor, ever so slight
ly, with contempt Of law and order.
But as I have never SO upblicly put
myself on record as being in favor Of
law enforcement, perhaps your readers
will pardon me for writing at so great
length. I live in a community that
can be one of the best in North Dako.
ia. It is not too much to say that ]
am hoping and praying daily that il
may become so in Gods good time. Tc
be such it needs people who will per
sonally obey all the laws. When it has
tn; class Of people within its borders
it will have no need Of comparing in
dividuals with individuals. The curse
OF any community is accentuated by
that spirit that prompts individuals t.
compare themselves with other individ
uals: "the better than thou" spirit
Christ taught us that lesson we'll in tn
story Of the Pharisee and the Hypo
critic. If all the people in any give1
community will not voluntarily ODE.
the laws of the community, the ofic
isls existing for that purpose must en-
force the la wimpartially. It is tn
fault of the community at large tina
the officials do not do their duty i
this respect. The majority of the cit
zens of this community seem to desir
conditions as they are. If it were no
so, they would be changed quickly
] When Won consider that the majority q