Smyrna times., 1885-11-18
The Episcopal Church and Tenn
peranCe,

Temperance was the subject of SER
mons in many Episcopal churches Sun
day week. This innovation in the
Episcopal church is an experiment, but
those highest in church authority be-
lieve that it will meet with general ap-
proval as soon as its purpose is thor
Oughly understood and that it will be
the means of much good. In a circu-
lar letter to the clergy of several do
ceses, requesting such a service, Assis-
tant Bishop Potter says: eff it were
cholera or yellow fever that threat
ened us to-day the whole land would
be on fire with efforts to arrest it and
yet this dread disease drunkennessI
slays it's millions for hundreds that
perish in other ways" The letter
asks for united effort in confronting
and checking the liquor evil. The
designation of a Sunday for temper
ance sermons results directly from the
work of the Church Temperance Soci-
ETY., which was organized four years
ago on the basis of a union on perfect
ly equal terms of those who use
liquors temperately and those who alb
stain entirely from their use as bever-
ages. The objects of the society are
the promotion of temperance, the res
cue of the Incorporate, and the re-
mOval of causes of intemperance. For
these objects and on this broad basis
Churchmen were ready to unite, so
that within the four years the society
has been established in 35 diOceses, re-
quiring the monthly publication in the
past year of paper called the Outlook.
The attitude that the church is like
! ly to take will be broad and tolerant.
Temperance is to be urged as a chris
tian virtue. and not merely from a hu-
manitarian, a social, or moral stand
! point. Total abstinence is to be rec
Ommended to persons placed in special
peril; to persons who should abstain
for reasons of prudence or health to
persons whose example may help
weaker friends, and to the young as a
safeguard against temptation. Work
on this general plan has been going on
for several years in England, where
there are now enrolled 100000 juvenile
members and an almost equal number
of adults, including 5000 of the clergy
and nine bishops. A new generation
has nearly grown up without acquiring
!
bill in England has meanwhile fallen
off $125,000,000 In this country 81
bishops have already given adherence
to the movement. Acting within the
province indicated by the removal OF
causes the society in New York has
prepared a bill that will be submitted
to the legislature at the coming session
The bill provides for high license, re.
quiring 81 900 from each seller of dis
titled liquors and 800 from each seller
of fermented liquors. 1t prohibits the
sale of liquor in tenement houses or on
excursion boats, on Sunday, to minors
and habitual drunkards. 1t disquali-
fies ex-conVicts from going into the
liquor business, and disqualifies prem
ises for one year in which liquor may
be sold without a license or in which
the license for any cause may be re
Yoked.
Not only have the bishops and clergy
of the Episcopal denomination entered
upon crusade against intemperance
but Roman Catholic priests are to use
their influence to restrict the liquc
traffic. At the plenary council, last
: year, the pastoral letter, issued by tn
: archbishops and bishops, contained al
f appeal to the pastors of the various
churches to labor with the members 0
! their flccks against indulging in tn
! sale of liquor-On Sunday, especially
: but on any day. This action of tn
\ council was forwarded to Rome for tn
' approval of the pope. The answer c
; his holiness is awaited with Interest
4 for if he approves the action of tn
council, it is said the crusade will b
general-AnSonid Conn Sentinel.