National Republican., 1881-01-18
STILL PROTESTING.
PASTORS VERSUS COMMISSIONERS.
The Meeting Of the Pastors Union Yesterday
Rev. DR.. Lanahan Withdraus Therefrom-
An Address to the Public, Defining
the Position of the Union.

The parlors of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation were occupied by the Pastors Union yester-
| day morning the occasion OF the weekly
| meeting in the interest of the temperance move
ment 1t was evident from the start that the
meeting to be of unusual interest, for soon
after being called to order letter was read from
Rev. John Lanahan, pastor of Foundry Church,
severing his connection with the union, which
was followed by one from Rev W. L. Parsons, pro-
testing against the methods employed by the
union, which he said were "intemperate." Mr..
Parsons then obtained the floor, and. in the course
of short speech, said he had asked several ques-
in liquor cases, and was satisfied that they had done
their best TO comply with the law. The trouble
was with the law and not the Commissioners, ana
he was opposed to fighting them all the time, IN
stead of deyoting their energies to reasonable,
temperate movement against intemperance. KEY.
George V. Luch called attention to the fact that IN
the section where ne lived applications for licenses
had been disapproved one day and approved the
next. He was followed by Mr. Richardson, who
cited the cases ofquor saloons opposite the wash
ington Market. One man had been granted a
license and several of his neighbors refused the
same privilege. Such action showed inconsistency
on the part of the Commissioners. running de-
bate ensued, in which all ensparticipated re-
sulting in the appointment of committee to pre-
pare an address to the public. The committee
retired for short time, and upon returning sub
mitted a report, which was adopted, as follows:
ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.
At a large meeting of the Pastors Union, Janu-
AIRY H. 1881, representing the several denomina
tions in the city, the following paper was adopted:
'The Pastors Union of this city feel it incum-
bent upon them to state their position in regard to
the enforcement of the liquor license law by the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia When
the administration of the Liquor License Board for
the year ending October 81 1879, called to our
attention September 20, $780, and petition signed
by some thirty pastors and upward presented to
the Commissioners asking for its removal in view
of its loose construction of the law, we were not
unmindfIl of the gravity of thus boldly and pub
licly censuring the conduct of the Commissioners,
by whom the Liquor License Board is appointed.
And when the reply of the Commissioners was re-
ceiyed declaring, after the most thorough scru-
tiny, that our complaints were not well founded,
and that the delicate and responsible duties of this
board had been discharged intelligently, impair
tally faithfully, and in conformity to law we
felt as honorable men and ministers of>the Lord
Jesus Christ we were in duty bound either TO
knowledge our error in making the charge of pre-
yiOus maadministraton by the then License Board
or else to maintain our ground, and prove TO the
public the SOundnesS of our position.
"Wethen, on OctoberS, 1880 at the largest meeting
ever held during the pending of this matter-over
fifty pastors being present-deliberatey and unani-
mouSy reaffirned our views and declared in the
letter sent to the Commissioners in reply to theirs
that the law had been violated, both in letter and
spirit.
"On November s, 1880, at another large meeting,
and without dissenting voice. the following pre-
amble and resolution were adopted:
Whereas certain representations haye been
of which is TO create the impression that the object
of the Pastors movement is TO array the Com
missiOnerS against the laws made for the govern
ment of this District; and
"'Whereas we have positive knowledge that
forged names have been heretofore appended to
applications for liquor licenses, and also that in
many instances heretofore definite provisions of
the law, and the regulations of the Commissioners
made in pursuance of law, have been utterly ig
nOred: Therefore, be it
'''Rcsolred That in this entire movement we rec
ogniZe the existence of the liquor-license law as
now on the statute book, and the regulations of the
Commissioners in pursuance thereof; and that the
immediate object of our present movement is the
faithful execution of this law in the interest of
order and good morals
Thus did the Pastors Union solemnly, after
nearly two months discussion of this matter, and
in face of the expressed and known denial of the
Commissioners, charge that in many instances
heretofore definite provisions OF the law and the
regulations of the Commissioners made in
pursuance of law had been utterly ignored In
this and all other measures referring to the eNecu
ton of the law by the Commissioners every
thing was done with entire unanimity by the
meeting.
"Our position today, therefore, is precisely the
same it has been all along this controversy. We
have alleged and proven, and are ready to prove
by the records of the Commissioners Office and
other undoubted evidence, their failure and un-
willingness to execute law which, as their legal
adviser, District Attorney Riddle. states, waSmade
in the interest Of the protection of the public
morals Our complaint against them is the non
enforcement of the law they are appointed and
sworn to execute and also of the rules made by
themselves in pursuance thereof. This is all we
ask, or have at any time asked, and knowing their
failure TO do these things, we assert that no men
should occupy offices the duties of which they are
unwilling to perform, and especially when these
duties refer to the regulation of traffic which is
the greatest incentive to the disorder, vice, and
crime that infest society.
"FOr three months we have waited, frequently
calling the attention of the commissioners to the
nOneXecution of the law, until with the SubStan-
tia close of the business OF the License Board this
wear a mass of testimony has been gathered show
ing both the violation of the law recently and the
lnOseness with which il had previously been ad-
mnistered. We have seen their action condemned
by the Judge of the Police Court in violation of
law, and as paralyzing the same We have seen
them disregarding the law i'll the interest of the
liquor traffic and for three months permitting
looms to keep open opposite the General POSt-Ofce
and Washington Market Company, i'll spite of pro-
tests sent i'll by the PoStmaSter-General and the
that they have licensed over one hundred saloons
in the District contrary to the law and their
regulations Knowing these things, therefore, we
have nothing to retract regret or explain concern
the peace and order of the community, in the in
terest of the protection of the public morals, and
with the fear of God before U.s. repudiating all per-
sonal considerations i'll the matter, we append the
following preamble and resolution:
'"Whereas it has been intimatedthat the pastors
is in the interest Of some particular can
didate candidates for the Office of commissioner:
Therefore, be it
'''Resoired, That we have pursued this inquiry
solely in the interest of justice and only ask either
that the present Commissioners fulfill their sworn
dutT or be superseded by others who WILL We
have no opinion who those others shall be-"
\ motion was adopted providing for the appoint
ment of committee to wait upon the President
and submit the report and statement of the facts
to him, after which the meeting adjourned.