Prohibition And Christianity -- A German American View

Prohibitionists generally see on their side God and on the other side nothing but the devil. For a Christian the Holy Scriptures must be the only criterion.
I can neither in the Old or New Testament find a sumptuary law like prohibition. According to this law, whoever makes wine or eider is a criminal. Wine therefore, made in the county, where prohibition rules, cannot be used for sacramental purposes. If fermented, the minister who distributes such wine, is a criminal unless be drinks it all himself. According to prohibition Christ is a criminal. He made wine at the marriage of Cana. Prohibitionists maintain that said wine contained no alcohol. But in John 2, 10, the governor of the feast said to the bridegroom: "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse, but thou hast kept the go d wine until now." What a wicked man St. Paul was for he advised the youthful Timothy: "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake." But Christ has not only made wine but he also drank it, not imported wine, for in Judea wine making was not prohibited. Many people made an honest living by this industry. Neither did Christ drink in secret but publicly with publicans and sinners. To the Pharisees, who held more of outward appearances then of the inner strength of godliness this was very offensive. According to Math., 11, 19, they pointed their fingers at him and said: "behold a man, gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners." The pharisees and scribes, like our prohibitionists, endeavored to redeem man by all kinds of outward laws; Christ on the contrary invited mankind to his kingdom by his humiliation and the kindest invitations wherefore he mingled with the lowest and the deeply fallen, while the pharisees, in proud self-righteousness and sanctimoniousness, under which often the worst vices like avarice were hidden, coldly passed by such low characters. However, in order to get the people down under their rule, they devised all kinds of laws and traditions. from which they made salvation dependent. Therefore the Lord addresses them in Luke 11, 46, thus: "Woe unto you also ye lawyers; for ye lade men with burdens, grievious to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers." Concerning the extermination of the bad or evil, may it appear in the open saloon or otherwise, the Bible shows the correct way. It would be easier for preachers and reformers to reach their aim of eradication of the bad through prohibitory laws, but then it would not have been necessary for the Redeemer to suffer and die on the cross, for the sinful human race. He could have exterminated sin by an act of his power. Prohibition is easier than humility, patience, obedience and faithful love, which Christ demands, of his disciples to overcome the bad. It is also easier to preach prohibition and politics and much more popular than to proclaim the crucified Christ. Math. 13. 28. 30. Christ lets the householder say to the servants who wished to exterminate the tares "let both grow together until the harvest &c." St. Paul who was permitted like few to look into the depths of the the counsels of God can therefore 1 Cor. 1, 25, write with definiteness to the philosophically inclined Greeks. "The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Again how can a follower of Christ vote for a law, which robes man of his property? Were there one spark of religion or only of humanity in this prohibition law, it would provide valuation of the property of brewers and saloon men and restore their losses to those who, under a license, carried on a legitimated business, Prohibition therefore cannot stand measurement by the Standard of the Holy Bible, consequently its fruits cannot be good and wholesome for mankind. It will promote hypocricy. In place of the light, thirst-quenching drinks it will make miserable beastifying free whiskey our national drink. Moderation is scriptural, intemperance is unscriptural. How earnestly does Christ warn us in view of the judgement day: "Take heed to yourselves lest at anytime your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life and so that day comes upon you unawares."
The state has a right and it is its duty to promote temperance by restrictive laws. Also in Germany the whiskey pestilence is restricted. In many places a list of all persons declared as drunkards is handed to each seller of spiritous liquors. Whoever offers or gives or causes to be given spiritous drinks to such persons, forfeits his license.
Let every Christian and good citizen do what he can to promote temperance. Let those who feel called and are able to keep it, practice total abstinence and persuade others to do so.
But concerning prohibition we must, from the standpoint of the Bible vote against it and from the standpoint of civilization and political economy for sumptuary laws from all experience we have, are abridgements of liberty and cannot be executed. We must object to prohibition for it means free whiskey.