Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-23
A LESSON OF THE TIMES:

LESSON OF THE TIMES.
The lesson that we had last Sunday
was one that could be used two or three
times, and then nOt.b be exhausted. When
you read over your lesson, and the notes.
do you close your book and ask your
self this question, What is there for me
in these verses of scripture, what les
son of help, of faith, of uplift is right
here for me?"
If we get our own minds open to the
truth as applied to our own hearts and
lives we have more power to help 9TH
ers, TO be able to comfort some one in
a hard place.
Just now the enemies of good govern
ment seem to be making as determined
and as bitter a fight as the armies of
Germany and the allies. In Nashville
Tenn, and in Huntsville, Ala, men have
met death bravely fighting for the well
fare OF the nation. Yes, for the well
fare of the nation is not too strong a
way to say il, for intemperance, the
grim monster is almost cornered in this
corner of the land that prides itself on
being called by it's sons and daughters
, Gods country So sure was tho
martyr in Nashville that the enemy
would fight to kill that he made his will
and left ten thousand dollars to help de-
fend the right and carry on the struggle
against lawbreaking. That was look
ing death squarely in the face and con-
tinuing the good work in the face of all
threats.
The murder of the judge in Huntsville
shows again the big force that is behind
the liquor interests.
And when her masters saw that the
hope of their gains were gone, they laid
hold on Paul and Silas and dragged
them into the market place before the
rulers, and when they had brought them
unto the magistrate they said, these
men being Jews. do exceedingly trouble
our city
Do you notice how careful they are
to say, "our city and not mention their
own interests? 1t was the same plausi-
BILE way that was used when the BUSH
ness of making idols was threatened in
Athens Demetrius called all of the sill
Versmiths together and told them how
far-reaching this new religion was, and
that their business even throughout
Asia was threatened and the city was
filled with confusion. Read the Acts
of the Apostles No more thrilling book
can be found and not one that can throw
a clearer light on the sophistries Of
evil. The people of Girard have prob
lem before them even today, bigger
than the one confronted the silversmiths
who made shrines for Diana. There is
a great deal of talk aoout this being
free country and the takers forget that
freedom does not mean special privi-
leges for a few and sorrow for many.
The whisky men try to scare the un-
thinking by telling them of high taxes,
of the money they pay the state in
licenses and taxes. The unthinking get
sort of hypnotized and get in the same
sort of panic that the people of Athens
did when Demetrius scared them. They
forget to ask the whisky men where
they get their money to pay into the
states treasury. The whisky men. if
truthful, would answer, "out of your
own pockets and while kindly paying
money into the treasury they might
also say, and tell the whole truth for
once. I'VE take your money and send
your sons to drunkards grave; we
rob your helpless children of father
and mother; we break up the happy
home and make a place of sorrow, of
poverty and dishonor.
1--WE rob wives of husbands, and hus-
bands of wives and their good name.
1--WE ruin the character of boys and
girls and put them in haunts of sin and
shame.
I'VE fill prisons and hospitals with
the wrecks of what could have been the
finest and best in the land, and only
God can tell for He alone hears the
agonized prayers, the sobs and en-
treaties of the stricken parents"
This is the answer that the men who
killed Judge Lawler might truthfully
say. This is also what might be said
would be the result of that whisky found
in Girard
When the question is put to you, be
man or woman enough to say mo, thank
you, ! will be more able to pay the
higher tax and there will be more
workers to push the car of progress and
less money needed to feed prisoners and
guard iails. More people will be clear
eyeda strong EARNED and clean-minded TO
carry on the sort of work that is needed
to lift our land out of the mire of muir
ders, lynchings, assassinations and de-
hatchery" Such gold and silver as is
made through i'll dealing is rusted with
the blood of innocent victims. Woe II
me-" will one day cry the man who now
is acting the part of the tempter; for
God will not always let the blood OF
little children. of helpless women and
murdered heroes go unheard-it crteth
unto Him day and night
Be patient therefore, for until the har-
vest is ripe ii is not wisdom to try tn
extract the tares. Behold, the hus-
bandman waiteth for the precious fruit
of the earth. being patient over it, until
it receive the early and latter rain. Re
We also patient"
Is this a sermon? 1 hope that you
may let this be a help to you in fight
ing the enemy that can assume so
many forms and yet in the end biteth
like a serpent and stingeth like an adj
der. That enemy whose service means
death here and hereafter.
Faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.
Tuscumbia, Ala