The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1920-01-17
OF Local Interest
AN EX-SMOKER'S TESTIMONY
&C. B. WY

The following is an extract from letter
received from Zion member in Minnesota
Il have just completed reading the article
in the Theocrat entitled, "Zion's War on
Tobacco" and I cannot resist the temptation
of saying few words on this subject my
self.
"There is nothing on this earth so dis
gust1ng as to see young men or old men, for
that matter, with cigars, pipes, or cigarettes
stuck in their mouths.
''It is also disgusting to me to hear people
talking about their booze and tobacco. One
would think that their very lives depended
upon those things
Il know some fellows who spend as high
as ten dollars month for cigarettes and, at
that rate, it costs them one hundred twenty
dollars per year, which amount is literally
wasted.
No matter where go in this town, all I
hear is, Where can | get an eye opener !?
Il have known men to run down to
Minneapolis and Kansas City after booze
while their families were living off charity
II am not slow in denouncing tobacco and
booze. I tell the men that it is low and de-
grading and that I have no use for it and
that I will not associate with men and
women who are so low as to use and tolerate
the stuff
"The article in the Theocrat speaks of the
low and degrading movies.
There was one Sunday during the fuel
shortage when there was not anything open
in this town, except the cafes; and the poor
people actually had to 60 to Church or stay
at home I say that if it would shut down
the movies, pool halls, and other places of
the Devils amusements there should be a
coal shortage all the time for such people
Recently friend (?) of mine asked me
for match to light cigarette. [ told him
that [ had no matches for cigarettes Well,
he has not spoken to me since and am glad
of it.
"Another friend (?) of mine wanted me
to go to movie told him that I would
not be guilty of going into the Devils play
house-that all shows and movies were low
and degrading, and that those connected
with such places should get out and work
"The manager of theater here offered
me twenty-five dollars week to be janitor
of the theater-the Devils Church.
opened up OH HlIIl anu HcltncI Ile IlOI
his wife have spoken to me since. am put
ting my trust in the Lord and He will keep
me- I do not have to work for the Devil
"I used to be an inveterate smoker
smoked only three times a day-from break
fast until dinner, from dinner until supper,
and from supper until bedtime. But God
delivered me from the filthy tobacco habit
"The Methodists here commenced to have
movies in their church CD week ago last
Sunday. Just think of it!
81 am willing to wager that all the deacons
and pastors in this town are so only in name
and that not one of them would know how
to offer prayer for healing or any other
availing prayer, for that matter.
"The worse they use me and the more
they persecute me the stronger becomes my
faith in God and love for Zion, the more
firm become and the more determined to
remain true to God.
"God only knows how tired and disgusted
I am with the outside world and how happy
I will be to get back to Zion in the Spring.
Brothers and sisters in Zion City, you do
not realize the Heaven that you have on
earth.