The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-05-23
GENERAL CONFERENCE.

GENERAL CONFERENCE.
w D. Knowles, of the Austin conference.
presented the following:
WHEREAS Intemperance, with its accom-
panying evils is the greatest barrier to the
progress of religious truth, and hangs as an
incubus upon the church, paralyzing its best
efforts for the salvation of humanity, and,
WHEREAS, Statistics prove that from seven
to nine-tenths of all crimes committed grow
out of the manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
\ ing liquors and,
/ WHEREAS, We are taught in the word of
/ God to pray Thy kingdom come. thy will
/ be done on earth as it is in heaven ~ and
/ WHEREAS, We know the will of God cannot
be done on earth as it is i'll heaven while IL
censed dram-shops exist and,
| WHEREAS, The Methodist Episcopal church.
realizing that mans extremity is Gods OPP
portunity, has organized its great missionary
society for the express purpose of doing as
much as in it lies toward answering this grand
prayer taught us by the Lord of glory HIM
self and,
WHEREAS, The humiliation of the liquor
traffic will greatly aid our mission work, and
must be accomplished before this prayer can
be answered; therefore,
Reso1oed, LIST, That a society to be known
as the Prohibition Aid society of the Metho-
LlSt IplSCOpdl CHURCH, DG IOrln6u throughout
our entire church, and that an additional be-
nevolent collection be ordered for its benefit
and that it be empowered to receive legacies,
requests, and donations of money or property
in the same way as our missionary society
now does.
Res0t0ed, I'd, That other evangelical
churches be memoralzed, with the view of
securing or encouraging similar action on
their part.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND BRETHREN The evils
of the liquor. traffic are so apparent even to
the children of our day, that it is needless for
me to refer to them. la order, however that
the very great importance of the resolution
now under consideration may appear. | beg
to refer briefly to the fact that the baleful in
fuences of intoxicating liquors in some one
of its varied forms, Families every department
of human life and of human government
But as my time is limited and speak to ex-
perienced temperance workers, | will name
/ but one vital point-and / may say the most
vital point at which this awful scourge strikes
] our race-and that is in governmental or po-
/ litical life / assert without fear of hearing
one dissenting voice, that intoxicating liquor
is to-day the most powerful factor i'll every
election. 1t presides at the primary of the
primaries, species of convention unknown
to the public, but nevertheless one that fire.
quently convenes, it may be in the private
gambling parlors of some popular saloon
where the slate is made up.
1t enters boldly into, and controls the pri-
mary to which the public are invited.
1t generally controls the nominating con-
ventions and after the nominations are made
it follows its candidates with a hoard of
lackeys from the bloated sot and the leprous,
vet beieweled gambler to the apparently
] l,- 1,,f oli
ticians, who buy votes at the price of dram
from men who would resent with indignation a
direct moneyed consideration for their ballots.
Thus are the wicked brought into power and
the people mourn; Judgment is stayed and
the hearts of the constantly increasing vicious
elements are fully set in them TO do evil.
Alcohol is crystalized sin. 1t is Satan ma
terialzed or embodied on earth and without
dwelling here, we call attention to the fact
that all the ends of the earth are looking to
the christian church as the center of moral
reform from which light and help must radi-
ate Thank God this light, the light of divine
truth, though shining dimiy at first, through
the church is now pouring its refulgent rays
not only from the pulpit and the religious
press. bat science has caught the glorious
light and now, with the power of its mighty
tense, is concentrating its rays upon the
and from the standpoints of political and
business economy.
4 We hold that it is the duty of the church to
give heip as we as light in this the grandest
of all moral reforms
The liquor power is thoroughly organized
all over our beloved land and they are pool
ing a portion of their earnings, and thus have
raised vast corruption fund which they car
concentrate in short notice upon any local OF
general election or upon any court where
their selfimposed test cases are grinding
through, to corrupt these courts, pack juries
bribe sheriffs, suborn witnesses and all othel
cunning tricks known and practised by th'
whiskey power. and they jesringly tell th'
church that if it was half as liberal and al
thoroughly convinced of the righteousness o
its cause as they are, then christian peopl'
might have some hope Of success
Just here | beg to call attention TO the fac
that all temperance societies that have beel
organized hitherto either within or withou
the church. have aimed only at the reclaima
tion of the inebriate and the moulding o
pubic sentiment in favor of temperance, an
so well have they performed this noble par