The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-22
RIO VIRGINIA OF
LIQUOR TRAFFIC /


MEMBERS TO VOTE AGAINST
THE SALOONS.
Rev John w. Shackford, pastor of
broad Street Methodist church, preach
hg Sunday in behalf of prohibit
Ion, urged his members to help rid
he state OF the liquor evil. Follow
ng is what he said in part:
Jesus Christ came to emancipate a
World that was in bondage to sin.
rho slaves of sin are countless. and
here are many kinds OF servitude II.
which sin has bound them There are
|Iaves who are such through their
WIN passions, appetites. desires. ideals.
there are innocent slaves bound by
he sins OF others. Wives, mothers.
nttle children. who because of the sins
bf others are in the thralldom of
lear and want. in the clutches of
isease and under the doom brought on
hem by those whose first holy duty
/ was to protect and defend them.
Then there is a bondage of society.
dominated. as 1t often is by false and
elfsh ideals, controlled too often by
nen who are themselves not free from
he servitude of their master sin.
There Is bondage in this State to
liquor and to the liquor interests
which is as truly a bondage OF sin
10 any form of slavery in to which sin
has ever cast humanity. This evil has
letters stronger than brass or steel
{ has bound the strongest and the
most distinguished families. and from
he humblest homes. II has bound
he sons of the rich and the sons OF
he poor and dragged them remorsaiy
o their doom. 1t Is servitude IN
which there is no pity. and no relent-
ng. And thousands are bound hope
essly. But they take UP tho words
* the Jews to Jesus: we have never
ret been in bondage to any man" pro-
csting that they are free men, and
alking about personal liberty. Poor
Fellows they are whistling to keep up
heir courage. for Jesus says to them
Whosoever sins is the servant of
Pin,' and they must be judged by
heir Allegiance TO their master.
THE new conscience OF Virginia ,s
lshamed of the further alliance with
] traffic that has done only injury to
he people of the Commonwealth. In
he cellar light OF science and of con-
c1ence the traffic has been proven be-
bond ali controversy to be a wrong
Ind only a wrong and an outrage upon
humanity and the Cod fearing and
tistice owing citEens OF this State can
10 nothing else but In the name Of
Fesus Christ tshe great enlightener
Ind emancspator. Join this fight to free
his State from partnership and re-
5sponsibility fer this wrong against
humanity.
ut was said OF n certain congress
|nan who had served in tho house fer
InAny years. that he had the unique
distinction OF having invariably voted
,n the wrong side OF every question.
Fhere are a. class OF such people in
his world. and even though some of
|siem are good people in their intea-
Hon. they are continually getting
INTO the wrong place. How I am not
willing to say that all the people who
IRE opposed to Statewide prohibition
Ire bad people, bu, / do say that the
GOOD people on that side have got sad
HI mixed up as to where they be-
long
Having thus made allowance for
home who have become unfortunately
tangled in their Alignment. / say
Without hesitation that the present
light is one of the forces of righteous
hess against the forces OF evil, and
BAY Il without the assumption OF any
self-righteousness and without any
Heaire 70 abuse the opposition. o ut
because OF the facts. I profoundly
believe that Ire present fight against
Ehe saloon has ben inspired first of
hil by Jesus Christ.
NOW the fight against the saloon
originated with the Christian people
hnd II was inspired by the Christian
conscience, and 1t has from the be-
- AxT - 81 Tn v
|church. The Anti Saloon league Is
sinply the church united IN solid front.
irrespective of UNCONVENTIONAL lines, 10
|hght this great evil. a man may be
IA member OF the church and vote for
the saloon. bat in doing 50 he goes
against the spirit of his church and
the spirit OF the churches as declared
over and over again. a spirit that I
believe has been inspired
by Jesus Christ. And, therefore,
feel equally sure that any man who
votes for the saloon Is opposing the
spirit and purpose of Jesus Christ TO
make this better world.
snow the Statewide prohibition
night is only step In this continued
hight that has had one purpose from
the beginning. the destruction of the
liquor traffic. Step by step the for
k1nCatI0n OF tne enemy nave Dteu taken
through the successive legislative en-
nctments and the local fights. Now
the time has come TO advance along
the whole line. Some may honestly
have questioned whether the time for
This advance has come, but when the
majority of those who are fighting
against this common enemy are OF
this opinion. he who really warts to
hestroy this enemy will be ready to
fall into line when the word is given
and rest Of the army move forward.
I cannot understand how. in crisis
like this he who sincerely wants to
see the saloon go can quibbie over
the method OF attack, nor can I. by
any possible means get myself to
imagine how he persuades himself that
he ought to join the enemy's forces
In order to save the church and her
s'sa,i-s from doing herself and the state
through a premature victory.
~The present fight IL fight OF the
church .of Jesus Christ against an
age long tyrant and enemy of the
race. It Is the Tight of Virginia for
The freedom OF her sons and daugh-
ters It Is the fight of Christian men
and women for sweeter and safer
atmosphere in which their children and