The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-07-11
PRESBYTERIAN TEMPERANCE.


The Standing Committee on Temperance
submit the following report (Which was adopt
ed, as follows:
Your committee have had under considera-
ton the third annual report of the Permanent
Committee on Temperance Their report
shows that this committee, with limited means
at their disposal, have done large amount of
work during the past year, and their diligence
and faithfulness are worthy of high common
dation.
They have during the year issued and dis
tributed among the synods, presbyteres and
churches four important documents. The
first, Tract No. 6, is a summary of the deliv-
erances of the General Assembly on the sub
iect of temperance from 1872 to 1883, valu-
able document for reference, showing that
for more than seventy years the General AS
sembly has borne repeated and emphatic tes-
timony against the sin of intemperance and
the traffic in intoxicating liquors.
The second is a circular letter to the syn
DDS and presbyteries, prepared by Rev. DIR.
Altman, calling their attention to the import
ance of appointing in each of these bodies
Permanent Committee on Temperance, as in
other departments of church work. This
tract is re-published in the annual report of the
Assembly's Permanent Committee, and the
attention of synods and presbyteries is hereby
called to its recommendations, and they are
urged to act in accordance with them.
The third is plan for organizing the tenn
perance work in Sabbath schools. This paper
is also re-published in the annual report 1t
contains valuable suggestions and should re-
ceive attentive consideration. At time when
the state is beginning to turn its attention to
giving special instruction to the youth on the
subject of temperance, the church must not
10 hahi ind mi Tha IF
Installing into the minds of our young people
right views and principles ON this subject
cannot be overrated
The fourth is circular concerning the
temperance narrative designed to secure from
each presbytery a statement of facts concern
ing the temperance wolk in churches and
communities A comparatively small num-
Der of presbyteries have forwarded temper
ance narratives, and many that have done SO
have sent them too late to be of use in pre-
pairing the annual report. The narratives
which have been received generally indicate
interest and activity in the temperance cause.
1t is earnestly hoped that hereafter every
presbytery will forward carefully prepared
narrative on this subject. In order that these
narratives be digested and the facts contained
in them be embodied in the annual report of
the Permanent Committee they should be
sent Immediately after the spring meetings of
presbyterles.
The Permanent Committee has shown cou-
mendable diligence in corresponding with the
ecclesiastical bodies. The results of this cor
respondence are embodied in the annual re-
port, and are deserving of special attention.
The cheering fact is brought out that most of
the leading evangelical churches of our coun-
try have taken decided ground against the sale
and use of intoxicating liquors as beverage,
and in favor of the most vigorous measures
for the complete suppression of the traffic.
1t is as certain as anything In the future can
be that the churches of America, including
our own, will never go back from the advanced
position which they have taken on this sub
ject They have reached this position after
mature deliberation, thorough discussion, de-
vout study of the word of God, and the indi-
cations of divine providence, and earnest
prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
They are now prepared to say of the traffic III
intoxicating liquors, as Abraham Lincoln said
of another evil, if this traffic be not wrong,
nothing is wrong.
We cannot believe that this attitude of the
churches of our country is the result of fanat-
icism. We cannot believe that the Spirit
of God has given over his people to delusion
upon this subject We are compelled to be-
leve, that in coming up to the high plane OF
total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors
as q beverage, and of determined and irrecon-
cilable, hostility to the drinking saloon, as the
sworn foe of all that is best and purest IN our
civilization the church of Christ is simply
following the standard of her divine leader.
She can take no step backward. She hears
in the word and in divine providence, the
command, 'Speak to the children of Israel,
that they go forward y and with unwaverlng
courage and infexible determination, she Will
go forward to glorious victories over the great
foe of God and man.
The Permanent Committee has also done
good service in gathering statistics concern
ing the evils resulting from the sale and use
of intoxicating drinks, and the progress OF
the Temperance cause. 1t is prime maxim
in war not to underestimate the strength OF
the enemy. The statistics gathered by the
Permanent Committee give some idea OF the
power in money and influence of the baleful
traffic in strong drink. The overthrow OF
this giant foe is not to be the work of an hour
or day, but of iong-continued and persis-
tent effort 1t is not to be accomplished by q
feeble, half-hearted or divided exertlon OF
the temperance forces, but by an earnest,
united and determined movement all along
the line of all the friends of temperance ana
humanity The demon of intemperance that
has SO long held possession goeth not out bnl
by prayer and fasting, and 1t need not De
thought surprising that as he goes out he
should seek to rend and destroy.
The statistics further give unmistakabie IN
dcations of the most effective methods OF
dealing with this monster iniquity. In Maine,