The blessings of prohibition are many and are far reaching. The law has been in force for about eleven years, and in spite of all the blessings we are facing the most trying hour of the prohibition question in America. Enforcement of the prohibition laws has not been and is not now what it should be. There are many violations, but the same thing can be said about other laws. The same arguments used against prohibition could as well be used against the laws that prohibit murder and rape and other evils of our country. It is nothing more than a conflict between right and wrong.

      Prohibition came as the only possible solution to the liquor question. The wets are howling. They are denouncing the churches and all religious bodies which have courage enough to withstand them. Their appeal is selfish. They are crying for liquor in the name of temperance and prohibition reform. They would wreck our great Nation if they could, in order to satisfy their own thirst and gain the tremendous money prize that they believe is waiting.

      Prohibition has proven its worth. That is no longer an experiment; does not need citation of authority or presentation of elaborate statistics. Even the most casual observer can see for himself the change which has been wrought in America by this national policy. It has so transformed conditions in our social life that it is difficult today for us to think ourselves back into the setting of the preprohibition era. We have in this brief space of a decade become accustomed to street and: public places free from drunkards. Better living con-ditions and better health have become general. Behind all these things and underlying them as well there is the Eighteenth Amendment. Like the Rock of Gabralter it is there to stay.

      But prohibition is only one of the factors of public morals. We have a reason to thank God and take courage for God is humbling the gamblers. They are reaping a harvest of bankruptcy. Gambling is wrong whether it is on the race track or the pool room.

      Space is too limited to discuss all factors of public morals but no Christian ought to be guilty of card playing, habitually attending picture shows, playing pool among smoke and drink and gambling and dirty talk. Our young folk ought to be warned of the danger of cigarette smoking and modern petting parties. All of these and more are being used to undermine the good morals of mankind.

      Another outstanding danger to public morals is all of the Sabbath desecration, whether for worldly pleasure or financial profit. We believe that Sunday amusements are a menace to the sanctity of the Lord's Day, and should be controlled by law, that the thousands of gasoline stations along the roads ought to be closed on the Lord's Day. Along with these evils there are lesser evils, but evils, such as all these birthday celebrations and family reunions on the Lord's Day. We see members of our churches who rise early on Sunday morning and take the whole family and go to some home and spend the entire Lord's Day in no sort of worship. Besides neglecting their own Christian duty and privilege they are keeping other folk away from worship. Along with this host of people we find that a great many church members stay at home and listen to the radio and read the Sunday newspaper. Their influence cannot be for good.

      In view of the fact that we are confronted by a great number of enemies of prohibition and good morals, therefore be it resolved:

      First, That we declare ourselves unreservedly for law and order and the absolute enforcement of the prohibition laws.

      Second, That we lend our aid in every possible and proper way to the officers whose duty it is to enforce the law.

      Third, That we keep ourselves informed as to the true conditions about prohibition and resolve not to be misled by a wet press.

      Fourth, That we will use our influence and practice to discourage Sabbath desecration in every form.

      Fifth, That we will not support with our vote or influence any man for public office who is in sympathy with the crowd that are seeking to do away with prohibition.

Respectfully submitted,

L. H. TIPTON, WALTER WASH

      This report was discussed by several and adopted.

[From Elkhorn Baptist Association Minutes, 1931, pp. 16-17. The document is from the associational office, Lexington, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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