Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-01
DIR. BOWIE CALLS FOR
RESPECT FOR DRY LAW
Continued from FRS, Page.)

'"si cannot nc prohibited; that pro-
hioition IL failure. because II has
taken from many people the personal
privileges they once possessed. They
contend that preachers who depart
from custom and cndeavo- to point
tne better way are fiippant. and are
rneddllng with things foreign TO the
prerogatreS which are theirs. Yet
he continued. there must be common
sense IN Christianity. If people.
knowing full well the meaning OF
laws. condone the breaking OF them
because they do not agree with their
personal preferences, they, too, are
breaking the laws. And no Chris
tian. with the true spirit Of Christ.
Will countenance this. II he seri-
ous!y communes with the spirit. and
does what any Christian should do.
Not Privileged TO break 1t.
'1f man thinks the law Is bad"
said DR.. Bowie. he is not privileged
10 break II. but he can use his in
huence toward Its annulmcnt or It's
amendment. Until that Is done, how
ever. he must. as a true citizen and
I true Christian. help In It's en-
forcement."
But. DR.. Bowie thinks. the prohi-
billion laws are not bad: neither arc
they Inconsistent with the best there
!s In Christianity.
II have recently been talking with
high official in one OF the big rail-
! road corporations" he said This
man said that In all the small towns
along his railroad the conditions.
| since the prohibition laws had become
effective. were better. Formerly the
local trains were filed every Satur-
day night with workmen going to
| the larger towns to spend their
| money In the saloons; now the same
tra!ne are filled with happy women
going to thu same larger towns
not for liquor. but for food and
clothing. and in some instances for
lu1uries that during the wet regime
were rarities. The Old Saturday
night used TO produce shootings and
cuttings, and heartbrcaks and mis-
cry.
NO one can say that prohibition
in this respect has not been good
thing. Some say that II they had
their old light wine and beer things
| might be more satisfactory But
things would, as a matter o! fact
be worse. for how would the per
centaEes be ascertained? How would
the officials be able to prevent tho
!awbrcakcr from selling straIgh,
liquor for wine and beer: Boot
Logging would increase. and lawicss-
ai,,h a
out the land.
Criticize the Minister.
Similar arguments arc being made
concerning Sunday ball games and
moving pictures. said DR.. Bowie. The
men who do not think it sinful or
unwise to allow w!de-open Sunday
| criticize the minister who breaches
against such desecrat!on and who
calls upon a strict enforcement OF
the law.
| mo good citizen. no matter what
his personal preferences" he said.
can use his influence and give his
aid, consistent with his Christian
| loyalty. to the disregard of laws.
| When laws are unbearable, they
should be changed. but not until that
| time can n Christian and law
abiding citizen serve as one OF those
! who disregard such laws. II Is his
duty TO help officials enforce the
! laws"
| The Gospel message is that of
morality and spirituality. DR.. Bowie
said he recently lad a talk with an
| official of the New York police de
! partmcnt, who stated that for the
first year after prohibition the COM
mon remark In the department was
| that half the men would lose their
! jobs. because there would be nothing
| for them to do. This has changed
a little, however. said Or. Bowie.
with the disappearance Of much OF
the private stock and the rise and
progress of the bootleggcr and his
atrocious stuff, crime has increased.
| STILL" he continued. cit Is far below
what it was in tho old days OF the
open saloon. This is true all over
the country. Prohibition has caused
a decrease In crime. There Is no
doubt OF that. as statistics and per-
sonal observation show"
Christian Gospel In heaven.
J THE Christian Gospel and the
Christian life prove n leaven upon
civilization. and that leaven should
be spread into every corner OF the
realities OF life"
| In summing up, DR.. Bowie declared
that 1t was the duty OF every Chris
tian to Judge this matter in the light
OF his religious position and his 10y
atty to God. No conclusion should
he reached until he had held COM
munion with God, and then he should
use his influence for the greatest
| good OF all mankind.