The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-05
Uphold
Prohibition, Says
Lincoln Minister
Rev. Paul Matuschka Declares
Denomination in Favor of
Act Since it Became
Law of Land.

The following statement was made
yesterday by the Rev. Paul Ma
tuschka OF Lincoln:
From statements made by some
prominent Lutheran pastors in Chi
cago and published n the press July
/, an erroneous impression has been
created regarding the stand OF the
Lutherans on prohibition
In the first place, prohibition has
at all times been regarded by the
Lutheran church as a question of
policy or expediency which the cit
liens may decide in any way they
please in order that the greatest
amount of good accrues to the cit-
zenship of the commonwealth.
"The use of liquor in itself is no
SIM any more than the use OF coffee
or tea.
The Savior, for instance, used wine
for a beverage at the wedding at
Cana. and has used wine in the
eucharist. The Lord neither forbids
nor commands the use of it, if used
moderately. 1ntemperance. drunk
enness, are under the ban of the
word of God. But the moderate
use is left by the Almighty to the
freedom and discretion OF man.
Saloonkeepers Barred.
When the prohibition question was
put to vote of the people a ma
jority of the Lutheran people, per-
haps, voted for prohibition because
they never approved of the liquor
traffic by the saloon. A keeper of
a saloon could not, for instance, be
a member in good standing of
congregation OF the Missouri synod.
In its periodicals the question:
whether Christian could with good
conscience sign a bond for a keeper
of saloon was answered in the
All OF which goes to show that
while the Missouri synod, of which
the pastors quoted in the article re-
ferred to are prominent members,
has at no time approved the vicious
liquor traffic, yet at the same time it
held that the moderate use of intoxi-
cants is an open question, a QUESTION
which every Christian could decide
for himself as he liked And since
this was so, the church could con-
sistently take no stand on prohibition
other than to say that it was a mat
ter Of policy or expediency, subject
to the decision Of the majority of the
people.
Teaches Law Obedience.
However, at this time, after pro-
hibtion has been enacted into law in
of a constitutional
the status is an entirely
liferent one. The Lutheran church
caches its members to obey all laws
1F the state as long as they do not
a distinct command of
God. The church, therefore insists
hat all its members must obey the !
laws as we'll as any other
avs of the state, and warns its nem-
oers not to violate the law for Gods !
sake and for the sake of their con-
science. according to Romans 1875, |
which reads: Wherefore We must |
leeds be subject not only for wrath |
out also for conscience sake"
All of which goes to show that the
Lutheran church, before prohibition
vas enacted into law, considered the
Using of intoxicants in moderate
way question of policy or expedi-
,ncy. Since prohibition has become
| law of the land the church teaches
md admonishes its members not to
-iolate the same for their conscience /
AXE and in obedience to the Word
If God enjoining upon all Christians
O submit themselves to every ordi-
lance of man for the Lords sake.
Peter 2:13.