The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-04-11
Vol. I. No. II.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
AND TEMPERANCE.

on temperance, from n. u Ioiz 10 ~ v. iooo'
1872 Ministers are urged to preach point
eddy and solemnly, warning ALL especially
members of their churches, not only against
actual intemperance, but against all those
habits and indulgences which may have q
tendency to produce it.
Church sessions are enjoined to purge the
church of sin so enormous and dlsgraceful
rs intemperance.
1918. It was earnestly recommended that
officers and members abstain from g even the
common use" of ardent spirits.
1927 The Presbyterian church is pledged
to cooperate in one great national effort to
accomplish universal change in the habits
and customs of our country, relative to the
Incorporate use of intoxicating liquors.
The American Society for the Promotion of
Temperance is commended to the presbyte-
ries and congregations of the church.
1928. A day of fasting, humiliation, and
prayer, with special reference to the sin of in
temperance, was appointed for the fourth
Thursday of January. The presbyteries are
commended for forming associations to dis
countenance the use of all kinds of spirituous
liquors.
1929. The apathy of church members upon
the subject, and the fact that any of them
can be found actively engaged in promoting
incompetence by using and trafficking IN ar
dent spirits is deeply deplored.
1880. Deep regret is expressed that any
members of the church of Christ should at the
present day and under existing circumstances,
feel themselves at liberty to manufacture,
vend or use ardent spirits
1886 An almost unanimous position OF
public opinion is quoted, to the effect that
the use of ardent spirits as a common drink,
and the traffic in it, are immoralities not to
be countenanced by the church of Christ.
Here, it is suggested, we should take our
stand and purge the church from this deadly
infection. Total abstinence from lnebrlatlng
drinks should be the principle followed by
all the followers of Jesus.
1910 IN. s. Recommended that all forms
and fashions which would countenance to any
extent the sin of intemperance be avoided,
such as all implication with the traffic and
manufacture of intoxicating drink; asserted
that the only true principle of temperance is
total abstinence from everything that will In
toxicate.
1912 60. S. The question whether the
manufacturer and vender of intoxicating
drinks should be continued in the full COM
munion of the church. was answered by re-
fusing to sanction any new term OF commun-
ion.
1S4S 60. s. The church cannot ally itself
with voluntary societies, or require adherence
10 UQ6u Oh luc pdII VI I'D iliOihDSAo. -A-O'O
connected with temperance societies are rec
commended to labor to prevent the introduce
ton of any other principle than christian eX-
pediency as the ground of their pledge, and
to guard them from the excuses to which
they are liable from influences opposed to or
aside from the gospel of Christ
1854 IN S. Prohibition as new system
of legislation on temperance is commended to
the attention and support of all ministers and
churches
1856 IN. S. Prohibitory laws are approved;
vigorous efforts to prohibit the traffic IN IN
toxicating drinks are urged
1860 IN. S. The assembly is willing to as
sign to the cause of temperance relation to
the church not dissimilar to that which has
been given to the benevolent objects with
which it has been compared-tract, Bible,
and missionary causes This relation is such
as the moral power of these objects secures
upon the free affection and esteem OF the
members.
1864 IN. So Members are called upon to
abstain from cider, beer, ale, and from the
manufacture and use of domestic wines as
beverages.
1865 On S. The stated clerk was directed
to prepare paper, exhibiting the testimony
of the Presbyterian church IN the United
States of America on the sin, evils and the
remedy of intemperance, and to PRINT IL III
the appendix to the minutes.
1865 co. S. The new exigency IN regard
to Incorporate habits in our country, arising
from the demoralizing tendency OF the war, Is
recognized and entire abstinence from all IN
toxicating drinks as beverage is urged as
the only sure protection against drunkenness
The manufacture and sale of intoxicating
drinks as beverage is an offence IN the sense
of the book of discipline, inasmuch as II
comes under the definition of an offence,
Chap 1, Sec 3: Anything in the principles
or practice of a church member which IS con-
trary to the word of God, or which, II 1t ne
not in in its own nature sinful, may tempt
others to sin, or mar their spiritual ediilca-
ton" To persevere in such manufacture ana
sale, especially retail sale, is SO palpably
violation of the law of christian charity to the
weak that it is sufficient ground OF refusal
and exclusion against those already IN the
communion of the church.
This the deliverance proceeds to say (dl-
gest, D. 489). is not establishing new term
of communion not before known IN the
church. If the practice or the church mas
been to any extent favorable to the ADMISSION
or continuance of such persons IN her COM
munion, it only proves that the church III
these cases has overlooked or neglected 10 en-
force the true principles of her standards: we
conclude, therefore, that it is not adopting a
new term of communion to exclude persons
from sealing ordinances on the ground OF their
manufacturing and vending intoxicating drinks
as beverage. On the contrary 1t is only faii-
;,.. laal- tha +aa ob,puc of the Rible and