The sun., 1916-12-18
BY FORCE MAJEURE.
A New Scheme Of salvation and Re.
form for Free Men.

! A New Scheme Of Salvation and Re.
form for Free Men.
To THE EDIToR or THE SUN-Sf: Two
things have happened this week which
constitute a curious commentary on the
temperament OF the American public.
one is the incorporation Of a man for
the purpose Of saving souls. the other
is the favorable report Of the Senate
committee on the bill for nationwide pro-
hibition. Taking these remarkable incl
dents together the plan appears TO be TO
impose upon us the Sunday and Bryan
type OF Christianity by means Of force
ma teurc.
In the name OF the gentlest and most
tolerant OF all men We are to be
harangucd in language unnt for use
among clean people on the horror await
ing US II we do not subscribe to the
doctrine OF the incorporated evangelist
In the name OF the Nazarene. SO poor
that lie had no place to lay His head. we
are asked to contribute to the building
Of a tabernacle large enough to hold
huge multitude. each one Of which will
In turn be expected to help line the al
ready swollen pockets OF the rich soul
saver. surely. paying Tor the privilege
OF nearing yourself cursed OF listening
10 Shiny. flthy oniirgations. appears 70
be bit OF un~arranted extravaganza
IN these days. AZ time when II COSTS
so much to live I scarcely feel justified
In paying any one for telling me how
much it will cost me 10 die. II I don't
die according to the constitution ana by
laws or the Incorporated evangelist Ana
don't feel as though l Wanted 10 90
anything ike mat.
fortunately there 10 escape from the
malcdictions or Mr.. sunday. doht
nave TO 20 10 his tabernacle. not yet
But from the other feature or the latter
day scheme OF salvation. should II be
pnt into effect. there IL no getting away.
That unique personality known. ] think
as the Demon Rum. who according to
no less impeccable authority than the
Hon. Richmond j.. llobson. Stays yearly
more victims than succumb 10 all wars,
cpidemics. accidents and natural deaths.
] believe it's something like that. is to
he Knocked on the head and forever put
out OF his horrid game. TINS Is the
thing balk at. quite unavailingly. l
know. yet ] balk why? Because ] am
so wretchedly dcprared that ! drink as
much as cocktail or glass or wine
or bottle OF beer two or three times
week at dinner.
And the worst OF II Is. I enjoy 1t.
don't care hoot for the opinion OF
such scientific experts as Professors
Bryan. Sunday. Hobson. sheppard and
the rest. I'm willing to admit that they
know all there is to be known on the
subject or prohibition and that they
want TO make this country dry only for
NY good and the good OF my fellow un-
regenera'es. but I'd rather stay bad. IL
indulgence In my unnatural appetite ulti-
mately lands me- in the place Mr.. sun
day pictures In classic language and
with vivid picturesoueness. ] know I'll
be In the company OF bad lot OF folk.
mostly the worldly men and women VINO
have done nothing better than give US
books to read. philosophy to study.
science to harness the forces ~ nature.
sculpture and paintings and music and
poetry to stir our sinful emotions, medi-
cine TO cure our ills. all damnabie things
which the Incorporated soul saver says
nre only fit for hell but I'm not scared.
I'd rather he In the company OF those
lost ones than in Sundays or Bryan's.
Honest to goodness ] would. Id rather
spend year with John F!skc or
Mark Twain or Jim Riley or Raphael
or Dr. Murphy or Heinrich Heine on
the ragged edges Of dead world than
fifteen minutes with all the profes ss,onal