West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-08-29

any consideration of the subject OF
temperance by the body, and the
Chair ruled that the subject might
come up as any other at the proper
time by original resolution-then
it was that the true spirit Of the
storm was made apparent. One
brother suggested with emphatic
significance that a
RESOLUTION ON TATTLING
might be presented with as much
propriety as one on temperance.
There was now a lull of the ele-
ments, and the regular business
proceeded pleasantly and profta-
bly, in the regular way, as reported
last week of the Goshen Associa-
ton, Revs. Powell and Holden
representing their respective fields
of Home and State Missions, and
Rev. P. H. Murray speaking for
Foreign Missions in the absence of
the agent.
In the afternoon. the regular re-
ports having been disposed of, Rev.
L. E, Peters took the floor and Of
fered the following Preamble and
TEMPERANCE RESOLUTIONS, AND
THEN CAME THE TUG OF WAR.
WHEREAS, The Liquor Traffic
of our country is still making hav-
oc in it's deathly march, running
thousands of our young men; de-
stroying the peace and blasting the
highest hopes Of hundreds of other
wise happy homes; rending the
hearts of defenseless wives and
worse than orphan children; resist
ing the development of the materi-
al Interests of the country; control
ing in its interests legislatures, and
undermining the very founda-
tions of civil society
Be it therefore,
Resolued. That it is our duty as
Christians to use all legitimate
means for its suppression,
Resolved, That any license sys-
tenn of regulation of the traffic is
wrong in principle, being contra
ry to the teachings of the Word of
God, and has not proven by ex-
pertinent to be in any wise a RENE
dy for the evil.
Resolved, That Legal Prohibition
is the only tenable ground of legis-
lation, and consistent principle up
on which the Christian can act.
RESOLVED, That we are in hearty
sympathy with the present move
ment to free our own beloved noun
tain State from the curses of the
traffic by securing a Prohibition
Amendment to the Constitution.
THE BATTLE OPENED.
The reading of the resolutions
was the opening of the battle which
was sure to come after the morning
skirmishing. The mate weakness
of the cause that would suppress
truth always uncloaks itself in it's
contortions to avoid open argument
and fair discussion. So was it here.
The preconcerted purpose to sup
press the discussion of an issue that
is now uppermost in the Christian
world and the scheme by which
the bitterest enemies of the church
were to be so effeetually served and
made glad, had been so suddenly
sprung upon the unsuspecting
friends of Temperance that they
were for the time, absolu tely dazed,
amazed and astounded. Could 1T be
that the liquor power and the saloon
interests were to have open battle
in their behalf by way of direct as
sault upon their most feared an
tagonists, the Christian hosts ?
and that too right here within
the very fortress of the church!
So did it seem to the faithful SOL
diers on watch, and sodoubtless will
it be hailed by the beseiging Hes
slams of the Liquor traffic in their
strongholds around about.
But the loyal subjects of the
right were
NEITHER DISCOUNTED NOR DIsCoUR-
AGED.
After the momentary surprise, the
ready volunteers sprang to the
front with the invincible resolu-
tions as above, which were gallant
| lv suDDorted in earnest unanSwer-