Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-14
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
TEMPERANCE.
CONFERENCE OF THE METHODISTS

OF THE METnODIsTs.
Essays and Addresses Delivered and Kcs,-
lutiOns Passed.
The Wes5 Philadelphia conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church was held
in the Duke street church, this city, yes
tcrday afternoon and last evening.
Tie following named clergymcn were
present Rev. Henry Wheeler, Columbia,
president Rev. J. w. Geigcr, Chester
county, and Rev. e. Rhoads, Mount Joy,
acting secretaries Rev. w. G. Robinson,
Lancaster Rev. ID. c. Babcock, Rev. J.
Bailey, Bird-in-lIand Rev. S. E. Yerkes,
Atglen, Rev. A. l. Collum, Lancaster; Rev.
R.A. .McIlvaine, Lancaster Rev. {. 2hoads,
Mount Joy Rev. Ii. G. Appenzeller,
Lancaster Rev. J. $. J. Mcconnell, pre-
siding elder Of South Philadelphia dis
trict ; Rev. NJ. Frayne, pastor of Second
Baptist church, Lancaster. There were
also present a number of gentlemen and
ladies' Of the city and vicinity interested in
the temperance cause.
The convention was opened ut o'clock,
p. H., with devotional exercises, after
which an address OF welcome was made by
Rev. w. {. Robinson, Of the Duke street
church.
Hon. James Black, being introduced,
delivered au address on The Methodist
preachers relation to the temperance re
form as indicated by tic book OF fdiscipline.'
The address was delivered in MIR. Blacks
forcible and imp:.ssonel style. He quoted
frequently from the book of discipline to
show that the Methodist preacher must
not 6o merely q passive temperance man,
but an active, energetic invetcratc foe to
the liquor traffic in all it's phases. He
showed from statistics that nearly
all the paurcrism and crime i'll
civilized countries arc caused by
Intoxicating liquors, and that a vast pro-
portion OF the labor and products OF tho
world are absorbed by direct or indirect
taxation made necessary by the accurscd
traffic. lie locked upon tho manufacture
and use of Intoxicating liquors as tie
greatest blot upon our civilization, and
added that at 4 recent meeting of bcli5v-
crS in the doctrines Of Confucius, the ques-
ton of sending missionaries to the United
States, to endeavOr to bring about Il re-
form of the abuses resulting from the use
of Intoxicating beverages, was seriously
discussed, and he had seen it stated in the
newspapers that the idOlators of India die!
not object to Ou. sending missionaries to
their country, but did object to our send
ing with every missionary i cask of rum.
Rev. J. W. Geiger followed Mr.. Black,
endorsing all he had said, and adding that
it was al important matter that Christian
laymcn should assist Christian ministers;
in their efforts to overthrow the dynasty
of alcohol ard wage unIclenting war
against it.
Rev. Mr. Babcock and Rev. MI. Fraync
followed in brief speeches, the last named
gentleman recounting several instances to
show the terrible prevalence of intcmpor-
ance in Lancaster. lie advised that
church fellowship should DO denied those
who indulgcd in alcoholic beverages.
Presiding Elder J. $. J. Mcconnell
closed the debate in 4 brief speech, fully
endorsing the views of tho other speakers
and recommending the formation of tenn
pcrance conferences irrespective Of the
bounds; of tho district conferences. lie
would make Philadelphia, Lancaster,
Reading, Allentown and other important
cities the centres of these temperance con-
fcrcnccS.
Rev. $. Kirkpatrick, who was set down
OIL the programme for ;ln essay Oh 1.-THE
best form OF organization of temperance
societies in tho Methodist Episcopal
church and their most effective methods
of labor under our book of discipline, "
was unavoidably absent, but the matter
was informally discussed by James Black,
esq, and tcvs. Wheeler and Robinson.
1ueStiay Ercning.-Aftcr devotional cx-
ercises President Wheeler read an able
address OH g Temperance and Mcthodism
historically considered"
IIo was followed III an address by Rev.
ID. G. BabcOck, after which there were
some committee reports presented of no
general interest
Tho following resolutions were prcscnt-
cd and unanimously adopted.
lscsolred, That this temperance confer
cnce congratulate the president and O!li-
GERS Ofthe Philadelphia Conference Tenn
pcrance society of the NJ. f. church, Oh
the expressed determination to hold simi-
lar conferences on the vital subject Of
temperance and having the opportunity
to participate in this first public meeting
held under the auspices OF this church
movement, do express tho Judgment that
temperance effort under the guidance and
support of church authority, is calculated
to be of great value in educating religious
and public sentiment for the legal sup.
preston OF tho drink shops which arc the
chief source and support Of the pcrnicious
drink habits and tho intemperancc which
follows, and is SO detrimental to all relig-
iOus, educational and industrial efforts for
the public welfare, the sustentation of our
common schools and the perpetuity Of
free institutions.
WHEREAS, The sentiment of the public
Oh the temperance question manifcstly is
in favor of All effort for the amendment Of
our state constitution prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors for drink uses, and tho state con-
veEtiOn to be held at Harrisburg, January
10Th and Goth, 1882, will be meeting of
great moment for tho preparatory steps
for necessary organization to properly pre-
sent and prosecute this movement before
the people and future Legislature there
fore,
Resolccd, That We urge all pastors and
church officers to SEQ that delegations arc
appointed and secured to attend this con-
vCntiOn.
Resolced, That we respectfully request
the pastors Of the Philadelphia conference
to preach ut least one sermon before the
annual conference meets on the principles
of the temperance movement and their re-
quircmcnts, personal and political, as held
and crjOincd by the discipline Of the NJ. E.
church.
The convention closed will: devotional
exercises.
Slight Fires.
Yesterday afternoon between three and
four o'clock, there was an alarm of fire