The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-09-24
PRAYER URGED
FOR DAVIS LAW.

Next Sunday, September 26th, has
been set apart by the Anti-Saloon
League of Florida as a day of prayer
in the churches for the success of the
Davis package law, which permits
the sale of liquor in wet counties on
ly in sealed packages of not less than
one-half pint.
The ministers are not only request
ed to pray for the enforcement Of
this law, but are asked to preach SER
mons on the general topic of law en-
50 forcement, with the view of creating
a strong public sentiment not only for
this, but for all laws.
There has been no official form Of
prayer promulgated by the League,
but each minister is expected to couch
his appeal in language which he may
think best calculated to secure Om-
niscient aid.
The News, which has thought much
upon the effect the action of the tenn
perance forces of Florida in espous-
ing this law will have on the only
practical liquor legislation ever ad-
vanced, i. e., complete prohibition of
the manufacture, sale and importa
ton of alcoholic liquor for beverage
purposes, has the temerity to offer
the following prayer suggestion as be-
ing appropriate for the day:
Our Father, God, we humbly be-
seech Thy powerful aid in behalf Of
our beloved Florida. Our beautiful
peninsular State, blessed with
climate so conducive to health and
happiness; with a soil that yields
abundantly in response to the labor
of the husbandman; state blessed
with schools and churches and a
people who acknowledge their de-
pendence upon Thee, is cursed with
the demon drink. Under the sane
ton of law, O Lord, several of our
counties and some of the larger mu-
inequalities have been dealing out
this soul and body destroying drink
in small potions which custom has
declared a standard drink. Bar
rooms have been open at all hours
and made attractive with those ac-
cessories that please the sense and
cause patrons to linger long at the
cup which, "at the last, biteth like
a serpent and stingeth like an ad-
der" The result has been that ma
ny of our youth have been tempted
from the paths of virtue and estab-
lished in a course that leads down
to He'll. Through the activity of
godly men, having the welfare of
the State at heart, we have in a
measure been enabled to correct this
system by one less Mluring and
which our wise and patriotic legis-
lators have enacted into law. I'm
der this law these bar rooms
will be closed and this death deal
ing liquor will be sold only in seal
ed packages of not less than half
pint, and which under the law can
not be drank on the premises, but
must be consumed in the alley-way,
the barn, the garage or the home.
We pray Thee 0 God, that Thou
wilt strengthen the arm of Thy
servants, the sheriffs and constabu
larry to whom the enforcement of
this law is entrusted; give them
the disposition and moral courage
to enforce its every provision and to
see that the drinker who would for
merly slake his thirst with a stan
dard drink, bit who, - order to in
dulge his base appetite must now
buy several, is not permitted to
take them in the presence of him
who sold. We would also ask thy
blessing on the author of this law;
to him alone was it given to see
the utter falacy of an attempt to
outlaw this wicked business of IL
quor selling and to urge this sub
stitute which legalzes its sale in
more generous quantities; bless the
Anti-Saloon League of Florida
which upheld him, and make it a
power in Thy hands for the creation
of a sentiment which can see help
for a drink cursed people in q law
which legalzes the larger sale and
heavier indulgence hut which strips
that indulgence of its glamour, and
requires the drink. if taken at all,
to be taken for the drinks sake and
not at the beheSt Of a false social
custom. Amen.