The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-15
Organized Religion and Prohibition

IT cannot be altogether agreeable To even
| the sincere advocates Of Statewide pro
hibiton To sec the efforts that are going for
ward TO give the movement Il religious as
poet TO the impartial voters. the religious
coloring is only little less ominous than
is the attack on local self government for
the principle that the church an organi-
zatjon. has nothing whatever to do with the
state, is as firmly imbedded in American in
stitutions as is the theory that our land is;
pledged to maintain the right of men to gov
crn themselves.
The clcrgymcn and other church workers
who loud in their support of the enabling
act find themselves in the uncomfortable po-
sition of admitting that they must enlist
secular force to attain spiritual ends. Many
eminent divines have held chat Statewide
prohibition opens moro moral pitfalls than 1t
closes, but so many OF the rank and Tile OF
the ministry have taken the opposite view
that large number in this state and else
where must have uneasy scarchings Of con
science in order to justify themselves.
II will be freely admitted by all thinking
men that tho clergy should throw the weight
of their influence and voices in favor of all
movements for the public welfare. 1t is OK
pected that their learning and powers OF per-
suasion shall support every good cause But
it is neither expected nor desired that they
should give distinctly clerical aspect 10 any
matter that the voters are to decide. Neither
Virginia nor any other State is willing to he
governed by theocracy, and there not
a few church supporters who wish that all
cergymen would follow the example Of the
best of them and preach the gospel. If they
did preach revealed religion, they would not
be able to find any scriptural authority for
advocating total abstinence
Many devoutly religious persons are made
uneasy by the virtual admission by some OF
the pastors that preaching and moral suasion
have collapsed. and must be replaced by Il
queer sort OF alliance between church and
State, by confraternity between ministers
o. the gospel and some highly ma lodorous
politicians, who will back any movement that
promises TO do them any political good
We are speaking well within the facts whe
we say that the Statewide prohibition move
ment has a peculiarly religious cast The
secretary and leader of the Anti-Saioon
League uses the sufix reverend" and
so do many OF the leagues most ardent sup
porterS. SO long such an organization.
with the personnel 1t has. Strove to accom-
plish it; ends in the consecrated way--by an
peal to mems religious feelings and TO The
ethical sense OF mankind-all honest men
would applaud their efforts, and believe tn CIV
were doing their sacred duty. When how
ever, they seek to make people moral by ia X
| ing away from them the right to local self
government, we cannot but feel that these
clergymen are mistaken, and that thew arc
weakening rathen than strengthening the
cause OF true religion. and arc putting still
! further into the future the day when the
churches shall be filled with worshipcrs as
I they were in the days when ministers of re
| lSion preached religion.