The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1928-11-01

ards were made by the thousands Homes were
wrecked on every hand. This became a moral and
social issue The ministers began TO talk about these
things. The churches first cleanSed themselves.
Liquor dealers told 10 quit the saloon business
get out Of the churches The preachers asked for
laws that would restrict somewhat the evils of the
saloon. They were laughed at Tor their pains.
Then a Congregational minister, by the name Of
Howard II. Russell came along and told The church.
how To combine against the liquor business Since
then the ministers have led the churches ia a sue
ceSsfu fight, with the result that the saloons are
gone.
This overthrow of 177,000 saloons caused
mighty shift Of business. Some three billions of
dollars year were turned into other channels Of
expenditure. You can not outlaw market that
paid over two hundred and fifty millions a month
without at the same time upsetting good many
lines of business allied to that trade. One Of the
most profitable associations with the city haS.
The saloon politician was fashy figure in those
days. Easy money flowed into his pocket. That is
all changed now. The politicians blame the preach
ers for this change. So, the wet press and eX-Sa-
oonSts are out 10 convince the people That preach
should return to the pure gospel whatever that
is, and let politics alone.
Let me tell the politicians how they can keep the
preachers out OF politics. When the politicians get
honest and efficient and contine themselves to the
arts of government in q thoroughly businesS-like
fashion, when the politicians give this country
clean administration and good law enforcement, the
preachers will stay out of politics But not till then
II was the preachers and the free churches they
served that brought about the first amendment to
Federal Constitution. Ten amendments were
made at the time, December IS, 1891, one hun
dred and thirty years ago. This first amend
ment provided three big things: Separation Of
Church and State; freedom OF speech and Of the
press and the right TO peaceably assemble and pc
titon the government for redress of grievances.
Don't forget it the free churches that brought
all this about During these than hundred
and thirty years the churches have continued their
interest in the Constitution and all the amendments
thereto, especially the Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Amendments
Every moral issue will find utterance IN the pull
pits of the free churches in America. Those who
champion the moral questions will have pulpit sup
port and those who oppose the moral issues will
have outSpoken opposition from the pulpitS.
No ISLANDERS of political partiSans or threats Of
financial boycott will silence the pupitS. From the
first the world the flesh and the devil have tried to
silence the prophets of God.
Political l0ud-SpeakeTs from New York Maryland
and New Jersey barking at the heels of S0-caled
political preachers The effort - scare off the
preachers will fail Opposition to truth but makes
the truth more clear and winS\ for it many more
champions. Verify, He maketh the wrath Of men
to praise Him" AS Henry Ford said The vets
making sure the continued progress and final vic
tory of prohibition in America
Can men mock God? Are His prophets driven
away? No, moi You may kill the prophet, but he
speaks on. Not eternal snow but bleeding cross
crowns the highest spot on earth,