The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-11-11
'DENOUNCE IMMORTALITY;
CONDEMN LAWLESSNESS
LATTER DAY EVILS SCORED
IN REPORT OF COMMITTEE
OF BETHEL ASSOCIATION.
SAYS SOBRIETY is INCREASING
Growth of Lax Conduct and Loose
Living Are Deplored, and Lack of
Discipline in Homes Is Held Re-
sponsible for Much Crime.

Living Are Deplored, and Lack OF
Discipline in Homes Is Held Re-
sponsible for Much Crime.
At the recent session of Bethel Bap-
fist Association the committee on So
cia service made report in which
sobriety was urged and lawlessness
and immortality denounced. The report
strikes boldly at the two latter evils,
which are said to be prevalent to an
unusual degree, and urges that officers
be more vigilant that jury commits
sioners purge the lists of those who
find mo bills" and return verdicts of
not guilty in cases of fragrant viola
tons of the statutes, and that the
courts be firm in the enforcement of
law.
Quotes the President.
In their report the committee speaks
of temperance, lawlessness and i'm
morality, and after urging upon the
membership of the churches of the as
sociation the "strictest sobriety, an
earnest reverence for law and up
Brightness OF conduct which shall pro-
claim to all the world that we are fol-
lowers of the Christ" says:
THE president of our nation, in a
recent address, said: The government
of a country never gets ahead Of its
religion 1t is we'll to remember this
when we are seeking for social re-
forms. Of course, we can help restrain
the vicious . by police control but
the reforms which society in these
DAYS is seeking will come as a result
of our religious convictions or they
will not come at ALL 1t is in recog-
milton of this truth that this report is
submitted. with the prayer that our
people will see the need of reform and
bv Divine grace will remedy our pres
ent conditions.
at is with great joy that we report
a better condition within our bounds
4 with each passing year as regards
strong drink. Just twenty years ago
your committee on temperance, Kew.
w. H. Norton, chairman, reported:
we believe the Lords people should
not only practice total abstinence IN
the use OF Intoxicating drinks, but be
very careful how they cast their votes
for any candidate who is not opposed
to this traffic In that day open bar
rooms were legal, but our Baptist toik
were fighting to overcome their de-
moralizing influence. Surely, when the
business is outlawed the membership
of our churches will stand tour-square
for the strictest sobriety.
Lack of Parental Discipline.
The report declares that the lack OF
parental discipline in homes is respon-
lsible for much of the lawlessness OF
the present day On the subject OF
1awlessness it says:
"The crime wave which followed on
the heels OF the world war seems to
have subsidized but it has LETT behind
it a disregard for law that is little
short of appalling The lack OF paren-
tai discipline which prevails in many
homes in spite of the teaching OF the
Word (see Exodus 20:12; Col. 3:20;
il Tim. 3:l2 etc) is bringing its true
fruitage OF lawlessness. Especially
!, would we call attention to the trlvol-
Gus manner in which many regard the
18th amendment to our constitution,
. and we would submit to the courts
and iuries that the destiny Of our ma
| tion is in their hands. If our laws are
. upheld and enforced a more blessed
civilization is ahead of us, but ii our
iuries are packed with men who LET
their personal appetites prejudice them
into releasing the lawbreaker, or our
Judges let the fee system under which
! the courts operate influence them into
giving fines of such size that they
, amount to little more than license to
the guilty, or our enforcement othcers
) wink at crimes committed by those
whose votes they covet, then anarchy
: and destruction is in the not distant
: future for our fair land. Your commit
= tee would recommend that our Bap--
tist people exercise their franchise and
vote oniv for such men as will enforce
, the law. and that jury commissioners
=, o,,r several counties be asked to
nprge the lists Of those would-be Ju-
rors who have Indicated their deterIni-
q nation to find no bill, or to render
: verdict of not guilty in cases OF
fragrant violations of the laws OF our
' land Most of all however, we would
: beg that in our churches and IN our
: homes there should be taught by pre-
, cent and example, from the pulpit and
in the pew, a reverence for the law.
Immoralities Are Alarming.
The committee finds that there IS
spirit of loose living abroad in the
land. On this subject the report says:
Surely this association should give
; some consideration to the loose living
practiced by many of our people, and
prescribe remedy The list OF sins
which separate between US and our
Heavenly Father may be found IN
Mark 7:21-22, Romans 1:29-3l, Colos-
SLAMS IS and elsewhere in the WORD.
Let us look at some of them. The des-
ecration of the Lords day is quite
prevalent. Profanity and lewdness OF
, speech is heard on every hand Songs
and pictures are often extremely sug-
/ eestive and vulgar Dishonesty IS
! common thing, and many do not at
, tempt to carry out their promises OF
paw their debts The gaming spirit
IS running high, and people should
know that whether it be playing the
market or betting on an election or