by June Griffin

The prophet Haggai spoke of one to come which he calls "the desire of all nations." It takes some thinking to come up with a quality to which all nations would wish for their leader. Would you not say this quality, this hallmark of integrity and unselfishness would be to the end that their people would be able to pursue their own right hopes and dreams? A man who loved his own people and wanted them to be industrious, not troubled with snoops, busybodies or priestcraft who use the people, extort their natural resources, tax their labor and use up the minerals from their property. Such a leader would not want them to be given to the madness of alcohol or drugs, to be a sober and industrious people.

This quality is one indeed to be admired. Such a person would follow the Royal Law, which is to be "no respecter of persons." What a leader! Where is such leadership in Washington or even our State Capitols today? Certainly a leadership such as craft the heinous mandates which come from grants and take away all our liberties and are fraught with favoritism does not fit the bill of that 'desire of nations.' How about blessing liquor stores and beer dealers at 'convenience' stores? But be sure and buckle up! Or else!

We have historical American examples in the associates of our founders like Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Franklin, and our own Tennesseans from Sevier to Crockett. They wanted us to be free and offered their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to attain liberties for us under Christ. The American circuit preachers "used to ride across the land, with a rifle on their saddle and a Bible in their hand; they taught the prairie people all about the promised land - His Truth is Marching On." They suffered so we could be free of sin and oppressions of man. John Wesley, such a preacher, after attempts to turn the Indians from gambling, abortion, alcohol and other sins gave up on the Indians, but his sacrifice and warning was not forgotten by the Lord. After his denunciation of hopelessness and years later, the savages were given a ray of light.

Take one Yonaguska of the Cherokee nation. "The Cherokee now own in Haywood County, a tract of seventy-two thousand acres of land, well adapted in the valleys for farming, and on the mountains for wild game and sports of the chase. "Qualla town," their metropolis, is chiefly inhabited by the former sovereigns of the country, among whom are a few Catawba. The Qualla town people are divided into seven clans or divisions, over each of which a chief presides.

About the year 1830 the principal chief of this settlement, by the name of "Drowning Bear" (or You-Na-Guskee) becoming convinced that "intemperance" would destroy himself and his people, determined, if possible, to bring about a work of reform. He accordingly directed his clerk to write in the Indian language an agreement which translated reads as follows: "The undersigned Cherokee, belonging to the town of Qualla, agree to abandon the use of spirituous liquors." This instrument of writing was immediately signed by the old and venerable chief, and the whole town. This wise proceeding has worked a wonderful change for the better in their condition. They are now a temperate, orderly, industrious and peaceable people. (quoted from "The Cherokee Indians," northcarolinagenealogy.org.)

Guess what? Now the "desire of the devil" has overturned this good Cherokee ordinance and not only promote gambling but have made it so alcohol can be sold while you are gambling! What kind of licentious merchants would entice you to buy alcohol in a gambling dive! The great Methodist commentator Daniel Steele said that alcohol destroys the brain. That may explain some of the proposals coming out of Congress.

Certainly the promoters of alcohol traffic do not care for their people, rather they destroy the "temperate orderly, industrious and peaceable people." Who is responsible for doing away with Yonaguska's ordinance in Cherokee?

Does your town have such loving leadership as Yonaguska who wanted his people to prosper, from whose leadership came the printing of Bibles and good literature for his people? Sure you do.

Such love!


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