Article October 13, 1928 Issue

Prohibition

ROSS SPENCE

What is prohibition? Whence did it come? Whither does it tend? In considering these questions, a survey of the subject from the broad basis of the prohibition of every form of evil, rather than from the viewpoint which the word "prohibition," as applied to the embargo on the liquor traffic, has assumed during the last half century, will afford much food for thought.

One of the earliest prohibitory laws of which we have knowledge is stated in the second chapter of Genesis, wherein God says to Adam. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it." The exact classification of evil was never entirely possible until the revelation of Christian Science drew a sharp line of demarcation between the spurious creation of mortal mind and the perfect creation of the Mind which is God. In the light of this revelation, concepts which have been accepted as real and God-made are seen to be unreal and erroneous; and thus the unreality of sin and sickness—all misery, which has formed such a large part of human experience—has become apparent. In the light of this revelation, also, the way out of these afflictive experiences is brightly illumined, because it is now possible to understand the full scope of this fundamental prohibitory law. With greatly increased assurance and conviction we may sing with the Psalmist. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Later came the Mosaic Decalogue, so directly prohibitory in statement. It may be said that this is the most comprehensive code of prohibitory laws ever formulated; and to these laws, in large measure, is due the progress of mankind towards the measure of civilization enjoyed in this the twentieth century.

Prohibition has never been popular—not more so with Adam and Eve, and the children of Israel, than to-day. Always the history of constructive prohibitory legislation runs true to form: the intrenched powers of evil bring every available argument to bear upon it in an endeavor to annihilate it. The animus for this formidable opposition is easily discernible when it is realized that true prohibition prohibits evil only. Unless prohibition did this, it would eventually be seen to be an ally of evil; and sooner or later it would no longer be effective, and would be repealed.

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