The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-02
The Presbyterian Church and Prohibition.

It 20 the writer that the position of
church political deltverances' Is rnisun-
derstood and the principle misappled. AS far
as the church is concerned. slavery and intern-
perance fall into two different classes; the first
was permitted by New Testament scriptures,
the latter denounced going to the root
Of salvation itself While smarting under the
unscr plural condemnation of the Northern
church about he time OF the Civil War,
Southern Presbyterian church took its position
political deiverances. which has been con-
strued by many to mean that whenever any
matter gets into State, the national legis-
lature. 1t becomes political and must be
left severely alone by the church.
This has not been the rule Of conduct of the
Presbyterian church in Scotland and in the
Netherlands the church battled at the head OF
actual armies for proper laws; and the Revolu-
tionary referred to. in the house OF
commons. in Its beginning a Presbyterian
rebellion. And suppose that the pope's ne
temere Decree which has already been accepted
in some countries as the law of the land should
be offered in our legislatures, declaring that no
marriage ever has taken place or even can take
place without the sanction of a Romish priest
that all people married by Protestant ministers
are living N concubinage, and that their chill
dren are bastards can il he contended that the
Protestant church, with all the power Of its or
ganization. should not oppose such "A law?
But even II objection be made 20 such in
stances and granting that the only work Of the
church il the salvation of souls sti II
that the correct application Of the principle TO
temperance must require the church to use all
it's influence for preventive legislation. The mere
fact that the legislature will pass ques-
ton does not disqualify Il. Some things are by
nature spiritual and yet become civil, and If
they are vital to salvation, IN any case. the
church does not lose control of them.
The good shepherd does not only lead the
ock into green pastures and beside still waters.
David. the good shepherd. not only took the
~ ba hut he killed
lion Christ himself tells that when the wolf
attacks the lock it is the hirelng that fees.
but the good shepherd fights for his sheep,
to the death. And shall oar pastors see
the ravening wolf tearing their flock and not
give battle using every means to save the souls
in their keeping?
1t is not merely because intemperance de-
stroys the happiness and prosperity Of thou
sands Of homes. because it incites to muir
der and crime and fills our jails and iunatic
asyums-these might properly be regarded as
civil matters for the State government alone
but when the solemn assurance Is given that no
drunlard shall inherit the kingdom of God.
does 1t not become vital to salvation itself? And
when the church sees that intemperance, a
crime against the civil government. is also de-
structve of spirituality. undermining Christian
character and hlottng out Christian life, lead
ing 1t to hopeless doom, should not the church
as a church. strike with all its power Of It's or
But it is said Preach temperance. but med
die not with the passage of laws to enforce it"
This is being theoretical without being practical
and those who advocate 1t are like the good
but weak King Joash who condemned for
not striking more than three times lie stopped
short of thorough work. And so will our church
fall under like condemnation If after preaching
temperance it fails to garner the practical
fruits Of its preaching
II IS rot because We misappiy the principle of
political deveranees" that our church today
is divided than any of sister churches
IN the living issues and that 1t Is quite the
thing 70 good Presbyterian elder making
Wet speeches. first against local option when
that was the issue, and now against prohibition
Is it not high time that our Presbyterian
church sounded the trumpet with no uncertain
sound ana led its hosts against this great en-
envy or salvation which the inspired word itself
tells is keeping the souls men out OF heaven
Samuel b. Woods, In Presbyterian Of the
South