The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-10-18
The Ministers Of Iowa and Governor
ship From the Viewpoint Of An
Avowed Agnostic.

Denison, Iowa.-To the Editor: Up
on the very threshold of this much
mooted question, we take it for grant
ed that every minister, no matter
what his theological doctrine may be
is prohibitionist. For any man who
has consecrated his life to the task
of uplifting and lettering the condi.
ton of his fellowmen, and is not a
prohihitionist should be unfrocked and
relegated to the crapheap for the very
good reason that he is totally unfit
to be a teacher Of men, and 1t Is much
to be regretted that the poverty of the
English language prevents us from
peAning a suitable Indictment of him.
Having expressed our views as to
what the ministers attitude is, or at
least what 1t should be, towards the
liquor traffic, the question arises, has
he the right and is it his duty to as.
sert himself upon the moral side Of
this question? 2 Or shall he through
fear of being charged with stepping
outside of his ministerial dignity sit
supinely by and see the representa-.
tiyes Of the liquor interests elect their
candidate for governor Of the great
state of Iowa? In my opinion it is not
only. his privilege but he is ,derelict
in his duty to his flock, to which In
certain sense he is the moral custodi.
an, at least as friend and advisor
and unless he has the confidence OF his
people to the extent that they are will.
ing to advise with and trust him in q
moment of indecision where "a great
moral question hangs trembling in the
balance, his ministry Is a failure, and
he had far better seek field more
to his talents. More than
this, he is derelict In his duty to a
great mass of humanity. A great ma.
ton or people cannot stand sstill.
They are either ,adyancing<or they are
The great Anglo Saxon
race to whom has been entrusted the
conquest and the civilization of the
western empire, is not slipping back
ward; they are strenu0usly' seeking
greater heights. Yon, ministers and
teachers of the people, have assumed
q great obligation, which. you cannot
shirk and remain steadfast to the
great uplifting principles Of which you
are advocates.
In my opinion you belong not in the
ranks of this army that is fighting
the battle for better beings, better
things for ourselves, better things for
our wives, mothers and our children
and incidentally better things FOR all
wives, mothers and children. AS said
before, you do not belong in the ranks
in this battle. but your place Is In the
forefront, as leaders and guides hew.
ing the way ints the ranks of the enc.
my. You are false tO-your VOWS, you
are false to your own people, you are
false to the best interests of humanity
and civilization if you fail to do your
duty and lead this battle for the right
with all your might and power. Let
Abraham and Noses and Elijah and
the prophets rest. in peace until after
election. They have been sleeping
for 40 many centuries that few days
more or less will not make any mate
rial difference to them. Let St. Paul
and John the Revelator continue their
meanderings up and down the streets
of Antioch, and in and out of the
jungles of the isle of ,Patmos without
your assistance. They are travelling
in circle. They are not blazing any
new trails. You can find them going
up and down the same old beaten path.
way after the votes are counted.
But in all seriousness, my friends:
and l assume you are my friends,
know that I am your friend and we'll
wisher. 1 believe that it is the duty
Of every minister to divest himself as
far as possible of every vestige OF po-
litical partisanship. 1t is then his
duty to search the record of every
aspirant for legislative, executive or
judicial office, especially a judicial OF.
flee. If this mans moral and official
record is not clean and pure Mr.. Min.
lister if you fail to oppose this mans
election with all of your might and pow
er you have signally failed in your
duty to yourself, to your high calling
to your, immediate flock and to the
great moving, surging public. BY fol.
lowing the methods which have sug-
gested you would at once become q
great living. moral, virile and moving
force, ever present and all powerful in
the upbuilding and establishing Of high
ideals, a;boon to humanity and a bless.
ing to the present and future genera
lions will truthfully say the ministers
did not live and die in vain for their
teachings and aggressive leadership
for the right has helped us to climb
little farther out of the depths, and the
cycle of time which has been marked
by our generation has placed civiliza-
ton little nearer its goal.
... A.. J. GARY.
METHODS OF PROTECTION