Prohibition And Christianity. How A German American Looks At It

Prohlbltlooliti mnerally sec ou thelr side God and on the other side the devil l'ni' a Christian tlie Holy Scriptures must be the only criterion. I ca neither in the old nor in the new Testament lind i asumtpuary law like prohibition. According to thll law, wlio ever makes wine, is a criminal. Wine thcrefore, mude In the county wliere prohibition rules, cannot be iiaed for sacramental purposes. All tlie partiikers of such sacramental wlne, if fermented, become crimináis, also the ministers bccausc of the provisión of this law. Accordincr to prohibition Christ is a criminal. Be mude wine at tlie marriage at Cana. Prohibitionists maiutaln, that said wine contained no alcohol. But in John 2, 10, the arovernor of thefeast said to the bridegroom: "Everyman at the boginning doth set forth good wine anci wbeu men have well drunk, than that wblota is worse; but thou hat kept the good wine until now." What a wicked man St. Paal was, for he ailviscd the y outhf ul Timothy : " Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for tby stomach's sake.'' But Chrlsthas not only made wine, but he also drank it- not Importad wine, for la Judea wine maka was not probiblted. Many people made an lionest livelihood by this industry. Neither did Christ drink in secret, but publicly with the publicans anl sinners. To the Pharisi-es, who held more of ontward appearances, than of the inner strength of godliness, thls was very ollensive. According to Matth. 11, 19, they pointed with tingers at him and said: "Behohl a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sintiera." The Pharisees and Seribes like our proliibitionists endeavored to reder m man by all kinds of outward laws. Christ on the coutrary Invited mankind to lus kin;;dom by hls bumlllatlou and the kindest lovltatloDS. Theiefore he mingled with the lowest and the deeply fallen, while the Pharisees, in proud selfrightousness and .sanctiomonlousness, under which often the worst vice, like avarice were hulden, cokly passed such lowcharacters. However, in order to get the people down under their rule he devised all kinds of laws and traditions, from which which they made salvallon dependent. Therefor the Lord addresses thein in Luc. 11, 40, tlius: " Woe unto you also, ye avyer! for ye lade men with burdent grit vious to be borne, and ye yourseves tuucli not tlie buniens with one of your fingen. Conoernlng tlie pxtermiiiatlon of the bad or evil, may it appear in the open luloona or olberwlse, the bilile shows the correct wiy. It wou ld be easier for prHCbn .iikI rcfonuer.-i to reach their lim of oveioominx of tiie bad through prohlbltory laws. Uut then it would imvf Dot been neoeuary for the Redeemer U Kufier and die on the cross for tlie sinful human race. He coukl have exterminateil sin by an act of His power. Prohibition is easier than humility, p&tience, obedience and faltbful love, whicli C;iirst demanda of his disciples, to overeóme the bad. It is also easier to preacb prohibition and politics, and mueh inore popular than to proclaimthe cruciflml (Jnri.it. Matth. í, 28, 30, Clirist Íets the householder say to the seivants, who wlshed to extermínate the tares: "Let both grow together until the liarvest, etc." St. Paul who was permitted like few to look uto the deptli of the comiséis of God can therefore, 1 Cor. 1, 25, write uith dctiiiiteness to the philosophically inclined Qreekt: "The foolishness of God is wlaer than men; and the weaknesi of God is stronger than men." Again, how can a follower of Christ vote for a luw, which robs man of his property! Were tlieie one spark of religión, or oaly of uumanity Ín prohibition law it would provide valuation of the property of breven and saloon men and restore to tliem their loste, who umler a licen.-e carried on a legitimated business. Probibitiou therefore cannot stand iiiia-iueinent by the Standard of the holy writings. Couseqnently its fruits cannot be gond and wholesouie for mankind. It will proimtí hypocrisy. In place of the light, thirst-quenching drinks it will ni'ike miserable beastifyinff free whisky our nationnl drink. Moderation is scrlptural, iutemperance is unscriptural. How earnestly does Christ wam us in view of the Jndgment day: " Take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearta be overcharged with eurfeiting and druiikenness', anil caresof thislife, and so that day coma upon you unawares." The state has a right and" it is its duty to promote temperanee by restrictivo laws. Also In Germany the whisky pestilence restricted. In many places a list of all persons, declared as diunkards, Is handcd toeach seller of spirituous liquors. Wli ¦- soevcr offers or gives, or causes to be fiiven spirituous drinks to such persons forfeits hls Méense. Let every CUrlstian and good citizen do what lie can to promote temperance. Let those who feel called, and are able to keep it, praotioe total abstinencc and persuade otliers to do so. liutconceriiing prohibition wc must, frorn the standpoiut of the bible, vote against t, and from the standpoint of civilizutiou, for sumptuury laws trom al! ezperienoe we have are abridgements of llberty and OAiiDOt b executed, we must object to prohlbitio, for it means free