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Liquor Traffic and Prohibition
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protest against it as a deadly poison; but in vain have they sought
to protect their lands from its ravages. By civilized peoples, to-
bacco, liquor, and opium are forced upon the heathen nations. The
ungoverned passions of the savage, stimulated by drink, drag him
down to degradation before unknown, and it becomes an almost
hopeless undertaking to send missionaries to these lands.
Through their contact with peoples who should have given them
a knowledge of God, the heathen are led into vices which are proving
the destruction of whole tribes and races. And in the dark places of
the earth the men of civilized nations are hated because of this.
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The Responsibility of the Church
The liquor interest is a power in the world. It has on its side
the combined strength of money, habit, appetite. Its power is felt
even in the church. Men whose money has been made, directly
or indirectly, in the liquor traffic, are members of churches, “in
good and regular standing.” Many of them give liberally to popular
charities. Their contributions help to support the enterprises of the
church and to sustain its ministers. They command the consideration
shown to the money power. Churches that accept such members are
virtually sustaining the liquor traffic. Too often the minister has not
the courage to stand for the right. He does not declare to his people
what God has said concerning the work of the liquor seller. To speak
plainly would mean the offending of his congregation, the sacrifice
of his popularity, the loss of his salary.
But above the tribunal of the church is the tribunal of God. He
who declared to the first murderer, “The voice of thy brother’s blood
crieth unto Me from the ground” (
Genesis 4:10
), will not accept for
His altar the gifts of the liquor dealer. His anger is kindled against
those who attempt to cover their guilt with a cloak of liberality. Their
money is stained with blood. A curse is upon it.
“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto
death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou
sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pon-
dereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy
soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to