Temperance, Disarmament, and War
By Editor
A BILL has been introduced in the Colorado legislature, to provide for the enforcement of the prohibition amendment carried in their last election. Under the terms of the proposed measure, the use of intoxicating liquor will be permitted “only for medicinal and sacramental purposes.” It seems a shame that our churches, which should be the strongest in advocating prohibitory measures, and that should lead the way in practical temperance, should want an exception made in their favor, in a law prohibiting the use of liquor. The use of fermented wine in the Lord’s Supper or “sacrament” has no foundation in Scripture, and churches should get beyond the place where they use anything of that sort. Unfermented wine is the only thing the Bible authorizes, and most of the Protestant churches recognize this. “THE armed peace” which able men thought would forever prevent war resulted in the present awful strife. Armed and equipped for conflict, is always provocative of war. Dr. James Bryce, historian and diplomat, prays, “Deliver us from another armed peace.” That armed peace cost the nations three billion dollars a year. It is costing billions more in this war’s fearful loss. Some men are working for disarmament after this war, and think it will come. If it does not, as the New York World remarks, “another war of similar character and consequences is as inevitable as the rising of the sun.” And that is Armageddon. AN official of the Department of Agriculture is reported through the Wall Street Journal to have said, “This country faces the possibility of beefsteak at fifty cents a pound.” The most advanced physicians, including some of the leaders in the American Medical Association itself, are telling us that meat is not an essential; that there are other foods that are even more nourishing and in many respects more desirable than flesh meat. There are thousands of us who have learned this through experience, and to all such there is no anxiety whatever over the prospect of “beefsteak at fifty cents a pound.” THE saloon interests of San Francisco have caused to be introduced in the California legislature a bill providing for the keeping open of all the saloons in that city for the entire twenty-four hours of the day. The object is to reap the benefit that would come through the drinking crowds that may come to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. We are satisfied that no such measure can be passed. If the saloon men succeed, however, it will certainly cause the temperance forces to redouble their efforts to destroy such an influence. OUR periodical department informs us that the Signs of the Times Magazine subscription list keeps mounting higher and higher. An increase of 1,400 in December and 1,600 in January is reported. For the past five months, the circulation has averaged 48,000 copies. A record-breaking sale of the beautiful Exposition Number is expected. It is now ready.