Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-11-06
YORK BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.

We published last week in the local columns
Of this paper a short paragraph in reference to
what purported to be the action of York Baptist
Association, at it's recent session at Blacks Sta
tion on the temperance question. Our attention
was directed to the subject by marked copy OF
the Blacks Station Transcript addressed to us,
and the essence Of which matter we supposed
to be the views of DR.. John G. Black on this ques-
ton, which were reprinted in connection with
the statement of the Transcript, to the effect that
ga committee on temperance was appointed,
which, after mature delberation, submitted
report that the whole matter of intemperance
was a moral one, and as such should be treated
solely by the church; and that moral suaslon
was the proper remedy for intemperance. The
report was adopted" The appearance of this
statement in the ENQuIRER-and we certainly
ask the indulgence of our Baptist friends for
having inadvertently reproduced it-has attract
ed some attention, and among others from the
Rev. j. +. Covington, pastor of the Baptist church
at this place, and member Of the Association,
who, in the Transcript of last Saturday publish
es the following
To the Editors of the Transcript: In your notice
Of the proceedings Of the Baptist Association
which recently convened at Blacks, you made
statement in regard to the report on temperance
presented to the body which misrepresents the
sentiments expressed in the report and the whole
tenor Of the report on that subject. will quote
your words:
"a committee on temperance was appointed
bv the Baptist Association which convened here
last week and after mature deli6eration the COM
mittee submitted report that the whole matter
Of intemperance should be treated solely by the
church, italics mine) and that moral suaslon
was the proper remedy for intemperance.'
Now so far from there being any mature delib-
Grafton on the subject of temperance, no thought
had been given it either by the committee or the
members of the Association. When the report
was called for it was found that the brother ap-
pointed at last meeting to perform that duty was
not ready to report and in order that the progress
of the meeting should not be impeded, he hasti-
ly got together few scattering thoughts amid
the press of his duties as clerk, and presented
the report you refer to. No mature delibera-
tion," assure you, was given the subject from
beginning to end. The second error is contained
in the word solely as used by you:
"The whole matter of temperance was moral
one and as such should be treated solely by the
church Gtalics mine.)
The only idea conveyed by that statement is
that after careful thought the committee had
come to the deliberate conclusion that the church
was the only body that has the right to deal with
the evil of intemperance; and that only such
efforts as she may put forth in the way of "mor-
al suasion" be endorsed. Permit me to say that
no such sentiment as this was expressed either
in the report or in any of the speeches made on
tnaG subject lie QlSCuSSlOH UOIe SHtlioly uPoh
the religious aspects of temperance, the duty Of
the church to inculcate temperance principles in
members upon the basis of Christian duty; the
duty of individual Christians to throw the weight
Of their example and influence on the side OF
total abstinence, that the principles might be i'm
pressed upon the world. The question OF leglsla-
tive interference in the sale of Intoxicating
liquors. the right of the church to use its intiu
enee to bring about such interference dld not
enter the discussion at all. The merits of the
aspect of the question was not passed upon by
the writer of the report by the vote Of the AS
sociation. The report, it is true, contained the
statement that legislative enactments and tenn
perance societies had proven thus far inadequate
in wholly checking the evil. This no one will
deny. But this is by no means equivalent to
saying there should beno legislative interference
nor efforts on the part of the church to bring it
about. This correction is due to the committee
and body which endorsed its report. 1 therefore
ask that you will give it place in your columns;
had been obtained, it would have recorded its
cordial sympathy with any movement whose
object is to put stop to the traffic in intoxicat-
ing liquors. Very respectfully,
J. T.. CovINGTON.