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14 the presbyteria;
Editorial Notes
The effect of the law prohibiting the sale of liquor
in Georgia becomes evident as the police reports of
Atlanta are made public. In 1907, before prohibition,
the arrests for drunkenness in Atlanta were 6,480; in
1908, under prohibition, they were 2,577, a decrease of
nearly four thousand. When we remember that "no
drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven," we can
appreciate the value of this change.
rttirSnrr !,? -1 f '1 *
milt uiuiuiis me year me improvement
was more marked; in the later months, there have been
more such arrests. This can be attributed to three
causes: I. The Federal Government ignored the
laws of Georgia and about a month ago sold by auction
in the city of Atlanta a large quantity of whiskey that
had been seized. It was bought by the "thirsty" in
Atlanta, and has produced much intoxication. 2. The
decisions of the United States Courts protect the distillers,
etc., in neighboring States in shipping large quantities
of liquor into the State, by express, and shippers
are not only "filling orders" but sending intoxicants for
secret sales. 3. Blind tigers.
Not only have the arrests for drunkenness diminished,
but also the number of arrests for other offenses. In
1907, the total number of them was 20,695; in 1908, it
was 12,758. These figures speak for themselves, and
may stimulate their cities to follow the good example.
If prohibition does not absolutely prohibit, it does diminish,
criminality.
The prophecy was that when Atlanta should lose its
revenue from liquor licenses it would find its income
inadequate to the annual expense of the city governTM
/..? - ii -----
. menu me iact is inat in 1907, prior to prohibition the
revenue of the city was $2,442,071. In 1908, under
prohibition, it was $2,683,084. This shows an increase
of $241,013, under the operation of this law. Part of
this is due to increase in the value of property; much
of it is due to the sobriety of the people and their wise
use of their earnings.
The "Week of Prayer"-is observed this week. We
trust that it will be observed specially as a season of
prayer. In some cases it has been made a season for
services in which speaking had a large part: in other
cases it has been largely neglected. We plead for its
special observance, by petitions for the conversion of the
world.
WA Oro nreronl-jm/v T * *
.? ^ c*.*, uigaiuLing me i^a_yincn s missionary jviovement
for foreign missions, and another like movement is
on foot in behalf of home missions. These are to raise
money. This special week of prayer is partner with
these movements, for in it we secure God's blessing.
There are some who are so situated that they cannot
go to the sanctuary every evening to join in public
N OF THE SOUTH. January 6, 1909.
prayer. But we all can unite in prayer at home at a
special hour in each day of the coming week and we
trust this will be done.
Fearful is the disaster wrought by the earthquake of
last week in Sicily and Southern Italy. At first the reports
indicated the death of fifty thousand; then of
seventy thousand; then a hundred thousand; and now
the estimate is of two hundred thousand persons suddenly
borne into eternity.
How many of these were prepared to render their
account unto God? As in the days of Noah, many of
them considered not until the calamity came, which
took their lives, without warning. The lesson of Christ
is, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye
think not, the Son of man cometh." Are we all ready
for him?
But will the warning be heeded? Let pnrll nno n(
us answer for himself. Has this warning caused me to
change my life and conduct? If it has not done so?
if this warning is passing unheeded?what hope is there
that any warning will avail for us?
The natural tendency of the reader will be to read
these words as if addressed to the impenitent only.
Not so. Almost every Christian can find something to
his life which needs amendment. This warning comes
to each of us to amend our ways in all respects. Let us
do it.
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN CHARACTER?
This is a question of comprehensive and vital import.
Different schools of religious thought have answered
it in different anrl nnnn? mL
w^/^/voiug wcxyd. x iic Komanist
would give one answer, the Ritualist another, the
Rationalist another and the moralist another; while
the evangelical expositor would dissent from all these.
One would say, substantially, that Christian character
consists in "unquestioning submission to a pontiff";
another, "fidelity to ecclesiastical order in government
and worship"; another, "loyalty to reason in determining
our belief and conduct"; another, "obedience to
moral law"; while another would wv
J f ui wjr to v_slli 131
in his Divine-human person, in his mediatorial and
gracious work." None of these answers are complete,
but they are just.
This question was recently asked the President-elect,
and his answer has been widely published. It is expressed
in these words: "I consider a Christian character
that of one who holds as his ideal a compliance
with the two commandments given by Jesus Christ and
who earnestly strives to live up to that ideal."
We might have expected from a judicial mind a more
discriminating answer than this when we reflect, first,
that while this is a Scriptural and comprehensive statemo.**
1 ' ? -
ui mui ai uDuganon it is not a statement of the
plan of salvation or a recognition of the gracious and
efficacious sources of ?piritual life; and secondly, that