The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-09
Tho Staffsxfde O1ieafinn.

From The Southern Churchman)
Mr., Editor; WIN you allow an older brother
20 urge uDon his brethren Of the CLERGY ~ the
Episcopal Church in virginia the Importance Of
/ taking an active part in the great moral issue
now before the people Of the State? The issue
lis Joined and must be settled way an
either. If the saloon, n recognized evil. Is to be
nauishea from the confines Of the state. NOW
is the time to do it. ANA Il be done with
comparative ease # al the soldiers and ser
wants Of Christ viii stand together,
The ministers Of Christ of all other Protestant
( bodies alive to their responsibilities in the
matter. Their conferences assemblies and as
/ sociations have spoken In uncertain terms.
Shall re be found indifferent or afraid to take
/ a decided stand in the matter? Shall allow
J them To car Ty OFF All the honor and The glory
Of the victory. which ] feel sure Will he won !?
1o win the fight however, c~noerted action is
needed.
am er1eved beyond measure that 80 many
ot our sta17yart Iaity are either indifferent TO
The issue or. which IS etill more distressing.
/ allied with tho whisk ey-selling interests IT
amezes mo thar who prominent IN
+ church work should argue about Personal
Liberty Local Self-Governnen business
Interest and the Ike things, when sueh All
ISSUE the abolition of the licensed saloon, one
Of the greatest enemies TO church and state
that has ever cursed the land. is before the
people, Can any Of these men defend the
saloon? Arc they willing for their sons TO
become barkeepers, or daughters barTnaids2 Do
they want saloons near their homes? is
there man Of them who would advocate
/ leGaltzing any other known evil? VII any or
them Write brief In defense If the saloon
We're they to undertake this latter I SIRE
thy would not find Justification for the ac-
cursed tftsng' IN the word Of God
As far as can discover from the words and
writings of those opposed To Statewide prohtbi-
ton, thare is no defense Of the saloon ttseif.
They are discussing matters entirely foreign 20
| the real issue and thus diyerting attention from
I the great evi1.
/ Ny dear brethren. fl see11s to me that now
/ IS the time for every Christian man more es-
pcgial1y every Christian minister. come to
The front and fight against this monster evil
/ In the pulpit. In the public press. on The street
I Tn the homes of our people should make
cursed thing"
7 claim the privilege az one OF tho oldest
etereTznen Of the Episcopal Church in Virginia.
having served In the ministry nearly forty years.
to exhoFt my brethren, more especially my
Younger brethren. In all seriousness | insist,
YOU cannot no neutral Your Influence VIII be
for or against the saloon. Some years ago
made tle fearful mistake oT taking part in
/ tire conflict IN Charlottesville and ! found that
an my influence WAS on the side ef the wfliskey
/ sellers. The saloon men commended me. while
/ many IF my Christian brethren, beng Erieved
( wondered The men before the har "a they
poured the fiery curse into their throats, an
+ proved my non-action ana smiled coInpIaceutly
The saloons won the night by one hundred and
fifty majority. When meditating upon the re-
su1t I realized the mistake Of my inactivity. No
Christian man can fan "a take part against
the saloon without becoming party to all the
evils the licensed saloon produces. There IS
no middle ground on which 10 stand.
Brethren Of the clergy, come mp 10 the help
of the Lord to Tho help Of the Lord againa,
Il p. LEE
Charlottesville va