The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-05
LETTERS TO EDITOR
The Bible and Prohibition

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 During the amendment campaign I sent you a contribution entitled "The Question
 at Issue; Is the Bible Or Human Reason
 the Standard of Right and Wrong?" call ing attention to the extraordinary atti-
 tude of the prohibition party towards the Word of God. You declined to publish 1 it and returned the manuscript, which
 some months later placed in the hands
 of a delegate to the general assembly
 of the Southern Presbyterian church, to
 be used in the Sinnott case. which was
 up before that body. From his hands the article passed to the Presbyterian Stand erd of Charlotte, N. C., which published
 it. The first intimation of its being in
 print came to me when subscriber placed 8 copy of the paper in my hands. A later mail brought me another sur prise in the shape of some circulars, five or six of them. sent out by the National Model License league-whatever that may be-in which my article Is reproduced. as you see from the circular which I enclose. fin support of their contention l that prohibition is contrary to the Bible. and to the example and teachings Of Jesus. The cause of true temperance can 1 be advanced by precept and example. but I it cannot be helped by force. Proper reg uation of the sale of alcoholic beverages is necessary to prevent abuse and we l are advocating" etc, etc.
 1 Mr. Editor, that wasn't funny. There was my article in big print, and my name and address in full leading the van, so to speak, of the National Model License league an organization of which I was and am absolutely ignorant, except as 10 the information given in this circular l am informed they had 10000 copies struck off and sent-heaven knows where! My article was not written In the in- terests of the liquor traffic. but in con demnation of the singular attitude of people who demand it's suppression to- wards the Word of God A copy of The Pilgrim Teacher (Boston Congregations all. was sent me by a prominent Sunday school worker in Birmingham. The cool way in which that editor set aside tho Bible as authority on sundry questions. among others. notably liquor" and poygamy. aroused my righteous indig- Dation.' My reply was undoubtedly tart. Possibly you declined 1t on account of it's acidity. Doubtless the league enjoyed it! And as they have unexpectedly given me such a widespread introduction to the general public by publishing 1t in their circulars, may l ask the privilige of ex- blaming to your readers why l am not now prOnlDltlonlSt.
 I say now because I am one of the charter members. so to speak. and worked might and main, to secure the closing of the saloons in this county in one of the first prohibition campaigns in the state.
 Trained up in the Sunday school, a minister's daughter. assigned class as soon as I was old enough to conduct one; an active worker in the Sunday school. where for many years I had charge of the infant class; having or- ganized two Sunday schools and officated as superintendent of one. 1t goes with out saying that I am foe to anything iEfmical to the Word of God. The Bible condemns drunkenness unsparingly, de- nounces 1t from Genesis to Revelation. But the Scriptures nowhere impart the sin of the inebriate to the dealer in spirits; nor do we hold the druggist re- 7 sponslb1e for the suicide which occurs, because he sold the victim the deadly drug. Nor is the manufacturer of explo- sves held responsible for the thousands of deaths, the desolated homes and be- reaved families of the sufferers whom there is an explosion, such as occur Tn the mines; and dealy carnage on the battlefield.
 Wine Is given as a blessing by God: and is withheld as a curse. Read Joel and Hosea 9. Respectfully,
 SALLTE LYLE MCORKLE.
 Taladega, September 3O 1914