“Moral” Reform by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 14, 1897

“Moral” Reform

By Editor

In the Parkhurstian methods of reform, practiced in Los Angeles recently, the reporter of the court proceedings in the Los Angeles Times relates that in order to convict a saloon-keeper, a minister and young theological student “entered the Olive Saloon about three minutes before 12 o’clock at night, and remained there until five minutes after the closing hour. In that time they purchased drinks, Rev. Mr. Ball taking beer, and Ryder a glass of blackberry cordial. Before leaving, Rev. Mr. Ball bought a bottle of whisky, which they carried away with them.” The cross-examination elicited the fact that when these men entered the saloon, the saloon-keeper “had already taken off his apron and put on his coat and hat, preparatory to closing the place for the night. Their first request was to be admitted to the toilet. There they remained not less than five minutes, so that when they came back to the bar it was after midnight. When they called for drinks, Rev. Mr. Ball took beer, and Ryder called for port wine.” He changed this at the suggestion of the saloon-keeper, who thought him ill, to blackberry cordial. “They stood over the bar sipping their drinks for at least two minutes, then Rev. Mr. Ball bought a bottle of whisky to take away with them.” What a travesty this is on the work of the Christian minister! We have no sympathy with liquor selling in any way, but we do not believe it can ever be suppressed by such inquisitorial, bribe-giving methods as the above. Such methods are a disgrace to the Gospel ministry, and would be promptly and severely denounced by the religious press if the Gospel power were dominant in the churches.