The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-10
THE TEMPERANCE SIM00y.
Wine, Women, Wit and
Wisdom.
TIE CLERGYMEN 70 THE RESCUE.
Catholic Temperance Movements
I'm Brooklyn.
HEfM1N1srERs' CONFERENCE.

the Meeting of Clersymen ut Association
Hall Yesterday-The National Temper
ance Society Hauled Over tho Goals
Tho Clergy Against the Praying Band
System-IntcrcstinS Proceedings.
The ministers OF the various denominations in
this city met yesterday at Association Hall. There
was quite q large attendance, the majority OF the
tclergymen being Methodists. In the absence OF
Mr.. William E. Dodge, the Rev. Ireneus Prime was
called upon to preside. The Rev. DR.. Foss opened
the proceedings with prayer, during which he asked
God TO bless the present temperance agitation,
that it might have beneficial issue. Mr.. Stearns,
on being elected secretary was called upon to tell
what he knew about the work OF The temperance
advocates in this city thus far. He considered
the movement purely religious one, and that the
ministers should at take hold and give the
cause proper direction.
FEELING THE WAY FOR A sOCrETY's INTERESTS.
The Rev. DR.. STEELE was the first to put forward
In formal way sort OF plan for action, which ne
did in q series Of resolutions The preamble de-
clared that the movement was a religious one,
and the first resolution declared that the clergy re-
1Oiced in the success that had thus far attended
the prayers OF the Christian women who had en-
gagged in the work, and that they deserved the
prayers and aid OF all good Christians everywhere.
The second resolution requested that the women
perance should be checked as a social custom, so
to speak. The other resolution simply called for
the formation OF church prayer meetings and the
formation Of q general woman's temperance
union, made up from members of all the churcnes,
and advocated the spread OF tracts, &c, OF the
National Temperance Association. -.s...
ROUGH ON THE N. 7. 8. .~"--
The Rev. DR.. CROSBY said he had come to the
meeting in answer to the invitation sent to him.
The movement against inremperance had his
hearty approval. There a question in his
mind, however. We're they there to consult to-
gether as to what plan ought to be adopted, or
were they there to endorse The National Temper
ance Society The way to work Tor temperance
was to go about 1t in some practicable way. Ii a
movement was started to nave the crime OF drunk
enness severely punished by legislation ana pre-
vent the drinking OF liquor on the premises where
sold it wOuG succeed. The tipping shops could
thus be shut up and drunkenness would cease. But
not so ii they went before the people demanding
prohibition, because by doing SO they would have
one half the community against them. They
would revolt against 1t, and the movement based
OF any practicable way that would do good If
they were there to endorse the National Temper
ance Society, he would have to take up his hat
and go. Ii, on the other hand, they were there to
confer together and endeavOr, rom their confer
ence, to work on some feasible plan, he would give
1t his heartlest support.
AGAINST PRAYING BANDS.
Several OF the cergymen, after the committee
expressed their views on the subject of the tenn
perance movement in the West and the general
sentiment, seemed to be against anything like an
outdoor demonstration on the part OF the women
in this city, like those which had been adopted in
Dayton and elsewhere. DR.. Ganse declared that it
would only njure the temperance cause here to
ape the ways OF the Western workers. He did not
believe that the conditions In this city were lavor
able-at least as yet The time, however, he felt
certain, would come, and very soon, when this
community would be awakened: HIS motto was
Home IN ,s own scod me e meenq nav
adjourned, to meet again next Thursday afternoon,
after prayer by Drs Wakeman and Burchard, and
Nearer my God to Thee