The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-08

This weeks Christian Advocate
prints the following signed editorial
by Rev. j. II. Light D. d:
In an editorial in The Richmond
Ntrglnian, Of February 81, Just past
Ia quotation from the Peters ourR
Index Appeal in reference to Or. Can
mons visit to The war 'front.' In France,
The example CT the Methodist min
tstry has not inspired In him CDR
.Cannonl generous opinion concern
ing hls feiIowman.t
The primary passions ~ orr hui
man race are; Sex, drink. gold. These
passions intrench themselves in the
= ltgien, business and pleasures
Their tendency has always been &c
break over proper bounds and carry
~ith them = food OF shane, cviue
suffering. and degradation.
Their proper restraint. to keer
them within bounds and prevent the
inevitable disaster following unre-
strained indulgence. has always been
the problem of the n1oralist and pub
ltcist. to say nothing of the teacher
Of religion.
The first great disaster that over
took our race. the deluge, was the
concurrent result Of drunkenness and
RIGHTEOUSNESS. Every ancient religion
lived by the worship of drink and
sex. Groves were planted and enples
erected. with images and prlestesses
all to stimulate and develope tho erotic
affections and cultivate the appetite
for strong drink.
Around these passions has always
gathered r vast greed OF gold. The
making OF lewd images OF Diana had
becoma a trade in the ancient city
OF Ephesus--a trade threatened by
the preaching Of n new religion by the
Apostle Paul Hence the riot record
cd ia acts 10. 24-26
From ancient times gambling has
been ST. eas 80 ana popular method OF
money making T. is SO much more
easy and pleasant to win money by
the Law OF chance than ny the law OF
labor. Accordingly, from Monte
Carlo whore q whole government is
supported king and court by the pro-
ceeG4 OF yaI ing, down 10 my lady g
pariof where a pair OF elk stockin gs
is the prize gambling has always been
a profitable pasuN1e.
From the ancient saturnalia down
10 the modern cabaret. drink and sex
and gold have scue hand in hand
The saloon. TIE hrothel and the gam
bling den have beea SIDE partners In
the degradation oe tho people.
Green's history Of tho English
people. Of The period about 1740-l7sO
gives this dark picture a. the ha bits
and cuftons CT ctr mother COUNT
habits .nn1 customs reflected by her
children. the English colonists OF the
new World In tho higher circles
every ona laughs saic Noutesquieu
on his visit to England. # one tailZ;
% religion. or the prominent states
men OF the tiuoa the greeter PER,
were unbeltsyers IN sny form Of
Christianity, and distinguishes FOR this
grofsness and 4nmora,itp Of theiI
lives Drunkenness and foul TALK
were thought no dtscredt 10 Wal.
pole A gter prime minister. tn,
Dukei Of Grafton, was ir ths habit o
appearing with his mistress at tht
play Purity ard fidelity TO thu mar.
rage vow was 8neered out OF IL hton
and Lord Chesterfield ia his letter.
10 his aon. lnetructs aim in the ar
Of seduction as part or a polite educR
tion. At the other end OF the socia
scale lay the mssses OF the poor. They
were ignorant and brutal to a degr sc
which Ia hard to conceive lille TIA,
Introduction OF gin, gave new In
pulse TO drunkenness. In the street,
Oh LONDON Rin-SHops sHNltsu over j
pssser-by to gel drunk tor penny OF
dead drunk for twopence.
Into the midst of those conditions
both in England and the COLONIES
came the mated and despied Metho-
dist ministry under John Wesley in
the home country and Francis AS
bury in the colonies across the sea
And from that day to this, II has
beea the burden OF that same "Metho.
dist ministry" TO lead the century
long protect against the widel, pre-
valliag forms OF evil that grow out
of and express themselves through
the traffic In strong drink, the tram
in women ana tho business of gam.
bling. Not only do these evils ev-
press themselves through the or
ganized channels OF business and tr de
for the maning OF money--but they
express themselves in tho social habits
and customs Of the people for this
abnormal rtiaiulation of the primary
passions q drink, sex and naonsy-
Tha "Asthocixt ministry has ~.