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t. Andrews Beacon, March 27, 1890A Miserable Business
Rev. A. Gunn Fires a Shot at "Pop" Drinkers
A Danger that Dorchester will Receive some of Our Citizens
When Rev. A. Gunn arose in the Presbyterian pulpit on Sunday evening to deliver his usual discourse, he stated that at a future day he proposed to make some remarks upon Sabbath desecration, a sin, he remarked, that appeared to be increasing rather than decreasing in this community. There was another subject upon which he proposed saying something about, and that was "this miserable pop business." On previous occasions he had pointed out that the man who sells intoxicating liquor in the County of Charlotte violates the law of the land. He is a criminal. The man who buys the liquor and drinks it has also committed a grave wrong. He is an accessory in crime. In this case the law does not punish the accessory, but there are cases in which the accessory is very severely punished.
The facts, said he, which have come out at late trials here, show a low state of moral sentiment in certain quarters. They show that some men have lost much of the honor the Creator endowed them with. On more than one occasion, the preacher said that he had shown that drink demoralizes a man and deprives him of honor. If there was false swearing at the trails to which he alluded, he would not say, but this he would say—things do not look well. A man may afford to pay a liquor dealer's fine, but he cannot afford to get the dealer clear by swearing falsely. The price was too much. It was high time that the moral sentiment of this community was raised. If it does not, St. Andrews will lose some of her citizens, and the population of Dorchester will be correspondingly increased. There will be a short turn some day. He had raised his voice, he had given a warning.
His remarks were not directed particularly to his congregation. We want a high moral sentiment here. It is time the moral sentiment was raised. If a man has done wrong, let him like a man acknowledge his wrong. The law does not punish the man who buys; it does not punish the accessory. The moral guilt remains however. If a man is guilty, let him not attempt to conceal it by a greater crime. When a man takes an oath it requires of him that he shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If he endeavours to conceal facts, or employs subterfuges, he has violated his oath, and punishment awaits him. The reverend gentleman then proceeded with his sermon, the pith of which was that if men employed the same diligence in seeking after spiritual things as they do in seeking after gold, or silver, or hidden treasure, it would be better for their eternal welfare. During the course of his remarks he stated that if he offered two dollars per day to people to attend church, he had no doubt that the church would be crowded, but, because he had something better to offer them, but few attended. Yet there were people who would accept a dollar and a half per day to go out on the lake at the Sabbath day and work.