Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-04


deliberately observation-disclosures on
Temperance.
The Conference reassembled on yesterday
morning with Bishop Pierce in the chair.
The order for the morning hour was
taken up, and the following were elected
alternate delegates to the annual session Of
the South Georgia Conference, to be held
in Columbus next December: Rev. z. Heidi,
John W. Cheatham, George T. Palmer and
Robert McIntire.
The following were introduced by Bishop
Pierce to the Conference:
Rev. W. Dunbar, OF the Florida Confer
ence, Rev. Mr. Mcfarland, OF the First
Presbyterian Church, and Rev. r. ?. Kerr,
Of the Independent Presbyterian Church.
The Conference resolved to hold its next
annual session at Louisville, Georgia.
The discussion Of the Sunday school ques-
ton was then introduced by Rev. A Ii.
Wynn, who answered the question "Whst
is Sunday school -? What are its OBJ
jectsg :" Among the more interesting SUBJ
iects discussed were:"Are Baptized Children
Members of the Church f' emusic and
Blackboard" 'The Pastor. Superintendent
and Teachers 1.-The Art Of Applying the
Spiritual Truth OF the Lesson" Fought
DenOminationsl Devotion be Taught In the
school ," and fought Incompetent Persons
be Employed as Teachers ~
All these points were ably and forciblY
presented. the discussion being INDUCED in
by twenty-nine different speakers, Bishop
Pierce closing up the discussion by some
wise and timely suggestions. Rev. Mr.. Kerr,
of the Presbyterian Church, addressed the
body on the subject of Applying Spiritual
Truth of the Lesson which was warmly
commended. Nearly the whole day was
spent in considering this all important sub
ieet, and much valuable information was
gathered by the attentive audience.
The Committee on Temperance brought
in their report, which was read by the
Chairman, Rev. j. o. Branch.
The following resolution was passed
RssOlued, That the MORNING NEWS be re-
quested to publish the report of the Com
mitiee on Temperance.
REPORT.
All Methodists are pledged to abstain. not
only from drunkenness, but from drinking
Spirituous liquors. unless in cases of necessity"
This fact sufficiently defines the position of our
church upon the general question Of temper
aRce. Except when needed as a medicine,
there is no such thing recognized among Metho.
dists as a temperate use Of alcoholic drinks
Our people cannot be tipplers without for
swearing themselves. What is called moder-
ate drinking is the violation OF a rule they have
Solemny promised to obey. With us. temper
ance means total abstinence. And our princi-
pies upon this subject accord with the teach
ings of science as to the nature, and of univer-
sal observation as to i'll effects of the most
moderate, habitual use OF alcoholic Stimulants.
But all discussion is SUPERSEDED by a law that
is practically irrepealable For us. as Metho-
dists the question is settled by the general
rules"
When appointed as committee on tempe
rance, we were instructed to have special
reference in our report to the efforts now
making to secure such legislation as shall sup
press the liquor traffic. The almost universal
turning of the public mind in this direction
signifies much to those who are accustomed to
tracing the hand Of God in great popular
movements The people seem to be very gen
orally coming to the conclusion that the only
way to save our country from the unspes kable
woes involved in the habitual drunkenness OF
hundreds OF thousands of her citizens
Is to close the saloons. That the State
has the right TO do this by law has been
affirmed by the highest judicial authority in
the United States We think that the time
spent in defending this right is time wasted.
The advocates OF prohibitOry legislation ought
to refuse to be put upon the defensive any
| longer. Our true position is that the State
has no moral right to license the liquor traffic;
no right not to rigidly prohibit the whole hor-
rible business. And we believe that this con-
viction is fast taking root in the minds and
hearts of the people. More and more they are
awakening to the fact that 1t Is the highest
crime Of which State can be guilty to issue
licenses to liquor dealers. and thus become
the paid accessory to the ruin, Of the
homes. the destruction of the lives,
and the damnstion of the souls of
her own citizens. More and more they are
realizing that it is the reproach and shame of
our boosted civilization that the law licenses
business that is the source of four 1fths of the
crime committed, that is numbering one hun.
dred thousand men in the United States every
year. that is reducing countless families to
pauperiSn, that is crOWdn2 our prisons with
or Wit m
More and more they are taking to heart the
truth that under our repre- sentative form of
government the responsibility for the unutter-
able horrors of this accused business is upon
them. The time is Fastening on when they
can bear it no longer. Already the tone
Of petition is changing into that of
an authoritative demand for this
thing to come to an end Legislature
after Legislature has been forced to heed this
demand And in our own State, from the
mountains 10 the seaboard, men. women and
children are uniting to require OF our law
makers that our statute books be forever
purged of the infamy Of the license laws which
authorize saloon keepers to destroy our sons
and to desOiate our homes. That a civilized
people, calling themselves Christians so long
submitted to the loss of property, of lives, end
o. happiness. involved in the liquor trade. be-
fore employing the whole power Of govern
ment to crush il, will one day be regarded es
the most incredible fact recorded in history
This trade is doomed. The blood of its victims
has long cried to God from the ground; the cry
mas been learQ, anu Inc answer mas come IN q
quickening of the public conscience which
promises to work our deliverance from the
greatest curse that humanity has ever known.
We offer for your adoption the following
preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS. The highest function of civil
government is to protect the lives and property
of its citizens; and whereas. a government
that derives a revenue from licensing bust
ness that is destructive to both life and prop
erty is false TO its most sacred obligations; and
whereas, the liquor traffic. now conducted
under cover OF legal license, is the direct cause
of death to thousands and OF the destruction
of millions of dollars worth OF property; there
Resolred, I. That the State has no moral
right to issue licenses to rum sellers.
Resolved, ?. That we do most heartily in
dOrse the efforts now making to rid the statute
books of the State of Georgia Of all laws that
license the sale of spirituous liquors and their
substitution by laws that shall prohibit the
manufacture and sale OF intoxicating drinks as
ResoIUed, g. That we pledge ourselves to DO
all in our power to further the movement now
in progress to close the saloons by law, and we
urge our people TO rally to this work. and per-
severe in it until not one barroom remains to
tempt our sons and to shame our civilization.
JAS. 0. BRANCH.
j. B. K SMITH.
w. B. JONES.
DIR. j. o. A. Clark offered the following,
which was unanimously adopted, and a
copy ordered sent to Judge Simmons:
Resolved, That this District Conference
indorses the action taken by Judge T. J.
Simmons, of the Macon Circuit, in refer
ence to the selling of Intoxicating liquors
to minors, and in keeping open drinking
saloons on the holy Sabbath.
The Conference adjourned to reassemble
this morning to finish up the remaining
business and adjourn sine de.