Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-02-12
CHRISTIAN EHOEAvCR
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
ginning Feb. 10, 1918.

Topic.-Bulletias from the temperance
war.-Rev. xiii, is: xix. II, u. 10. 90. Ed
tied by Rev. Sherman II. Doyle. D. d.
The struggle between temperance and
intemperaBce may well be called a
war. 1t has been long aud constant
warfare. From the ancient efforts to
check this great evil by pledging mem
bers of certain religious orders to
sobriety down to the latest Politi-
cal movements against intemperance,
there have been many leaders. many
great battles. many victories. and alas!
also many defeats. But these defeats
have only been temporary setbacks.
There are more people and more in-
fiuences engaged on the side of tenn
perance today in this gigantic struggle
than ever before. Moreover, this war
will never be ended until it Is ended
right. God Is In the conflict on the
side Of those who are battling TO save
mankind from its greatest curse. and
: In His time ana way victory will
crown the efforts of the temperance
hosts.
The nations of the world as never be-
fore are arranged on the side of the
temperance cause. An international
prohibition confederation has been
formed recently which publishes the
strongest temperance arguments In
every language In the world. This
movement has spread throagh Europe.
India, Japan. Africa and many other
lands. In q number of European coun-
tries the rulers are deeply interested in
the cause of temperance, and when
those who exercise so much power be-
come aroused to the evils aud dangers
of this awful curse and are led to rec
ognize the necessity of some drastic &C.
ton a great advantage has indeed been
won for the cause.
In the United States undoubted prog
ress is being made. Over one-half of
the territory of our country is under
local option or state wide prohibition.
The adoption in many of our states of
the initiative and referendum will be-
You'd doubt be taken advantage of by
the temperance people to demand
vote upon the question until il is finally
settled right There is an ever in
creasing demand that the national con-
gress prohibit the importation Of spir-
itous liquors from non-prohibition
states into those which have prohibi-
ton. and sooner or later this demand
will be granted. The great political
leaders in the nation In increasing
numbers are taking the temperance
e41 xf he yy-frlfa Fsxtr ssarr
Bryan recently advocated state wide
prohibition for Nebraska. Congress-
man r. p Hobson is an ardent adyo-
cate of temperance and sproclaims his
views In congress and throughout the
land. In the not distant future one of
the great political parties of our ceun-
try will add prohibition plank to Its
platform. This is the more certain to
prove true If the third party becomes
a permanent factor In politics. Ex-
pediency, If nothing else. VIII lead one
of the three TO advocate national pro
hibition. One of the leading New York
dailies, in "a stirring editorial recently
demanded the prohibition of7the manu-
facture and sale of the worst alcoholic
liquors. such as whisky and gin, on the
ground that they .'are poisonous
drugs Tins from many standpoints
the signs of the times indicate prog
ress and should encourage all advo-
Gates Of temperance to renewed efforts
In their struggle against the greatest
curse Of our land and all other lands
Prohibition by law under present
conditions may not bring about abso-
lutte sobriety. But what Jaw does this?
We have Laws against murder. against
theft, against forgery. But are there
no murderers. no thieves and no for
ing away Of these laws because they
do not absolutely prevent crime? Why.
then. should there be such cry
against prohibition laws because they
are not entirely prohibitive? If it were
true that more liquor is drrfGk where
there are prohibitive laws. would the
liquor dealers be against prohibitioni
Prohibition does prohibit
A gentleman recently visited two
towns In Pennsylvania of about equal
population. spending about the same
time In each. One had local option,
the other licensed saloons. In the dry"
town be did not see person under the
fnfuence of liquor. In the other, on one
night. and that a Sabbath night. be
saw eight intoxicated men. three of
them staggering along the street The
next morning. Monday. he called on
friend at his business place and found
him short handed in men because of
DRINKS" as he lit They had taken
the Sabbath day to go on debauch
and were untitled for business. Who
can doubt that. in spite of all the OBJ
stacles In the way. prohibition has
a powerful influence in preventing
drunkenness?