Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-13
DRY law TOO RIGID,
SAYS DR.. CONWELL
Declares Temperance People
Are to Blame for Present
Deplorable Conditions
"0WN PURPOSE DEFEATED"

The polstead act furnishes another
Example of righteousness carried tC
such an extreme that it defeats its owr
ends, the Rev. DR.. Russell II. Conwel
told congregation Of 1000 persons Ia
the Baptist Temple, Broad and Berks
streets, yesterday.
He said that liquors were never SO
easy to get as now, and attributed the
state of affairs to overenthusiasm for
prohibition.
"In my journeying this summer.
he said. II have been impressed by
the indications. visible In mems faces,
mat there never was time when men
5 could get whisky and brandy so easily
rs they do now. Why Is that the case
Because OF those extremists who de
feoted the purpose OF prohibition by
seeking TO carry IL too far; because OF
the temperance people themselves.
when the country was given pro =
hibitlon great victory for righteous =
ness was won. We should have stopped
right there. But when the Nolstead act
was passed. those who we're enthusiastic
for prohibition went too far. They
clamped down the lid too tight. They
sought to make prohibition to rigid
and thus defeated their own cause.
During the war President Wilson
preached self determination. and now
the state Of New Jersey declares that
II is wet state. and. by right of self
determination, it Is determined TO re-
main wet state.
II am not opposing prohibition. I
am vice president of the Anti Saloon
League. which holds a great convention
In Washington next week. | am for
prohibition, and yet ] do not see how
Il can be enforced with the Nolstead
act. / do not see how our hospitals
can get along without alcohol, which is
used in many ways to heal the sick.
These poisons are useful and should be
used in their place. Why do away with
all alcohol? Why take it out Of all
It's chemical and medical uses? We are
righteous overmuch.
"One of my first impressions. upon
returning to this city. was the great
array of hard cider that has been opened
within the past few months. | re-
member the ravages of hard cider
drinking, in my youth. and what a de
plorabls effect it had. Now we are
going to have thouA-.nds, and tens of
thousands OF these hard cider joints
all over the land. We are going to
have the stuff in almost every home.
Here again we have the effect of being
righteous overmuch.'
Doctor conwei. said tnat many per
sons were righteous overmuch" in
regard to Sabbath observance and
that there is suca thing as being
over -Ssbbatic.
II can remember the time when |
prayed for forgiveness because | opened
a Sunday newspaper. he said. but
/ always look into the Sun
day newspaper to find out what the
world Is doing and TO obtain an addi-
tional idea. perhaps. that might help
some one in my sermon.
The case Of the lord mayor Of Cork.
who is near to death, after fast OF
more than 700 hours. was cited by Dor.
tor Conwen. The clergyman did not
criticize the lord mayor for his action.
but said that IL he dies there will be a
division of opinion as to whether he
committed suicide or was martyr"
IF the lord mayor of Cork has con
tnued his fast owing TO a high and
noble conviction that his cause is just
one. mankind will regard him as
martyr, but II he is doing II merely for
political effect mems verdict will be
that he deliberately committed sui.
eide. Doctor Conwell said.
And when he dies. II he does die.
there will be a great difference Of opiu-
ion as to whether his action was mar
tyrdom or deliberate self murder"
The Bolshevists were cited by Doctor
Conwell as men who We're carrying
righteousness to an extreme. THE Bol-
sheyists are right in principle" Doctor
Conwell declared. and when Lcninc,
in his book, declares that every child.
upon being born. is entitled TO it's share
Of the worlds goods, he is uttering n
fundamental Christian truth.
But while the principle is correct.
the Gospel does not teach men to seek to
bring about this ideal condition by any
such extreme method as that adopted by
Lenine. Trotzky and the Bolshevists.
God does not want men to resort to
extremes. He wants them 10 exercise
common sense. BE not righteous over
much.
Doctor Conwrll spent tho last two
months on his farm In South Worth
ington, Mass.