The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-11-11
A RINGING DOCUMENT !
For Moral, Legal and Ecclesiastical
Susslon of the Liquor Traffic.
REPORT ADOPTED BY THE FAIR RIVER
BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OCT. 16, lGSG.

BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OCT. 16, lG8G.
The report your committee on Temper
ance is enabled to make is one to cause
\ rejoicing and humble thanksgiving to
Almighty God. Since the last meeting of
this Association, the cause of Temper
auce, sobriety and the legal prohibition
of the liquor traffic has made an advance
without parellel in the history of our
State. Under the operations of the new
law known as the Local Option Law,
the liquor traffic has been driven during
the past summer from II entire counties
where before the saloon held undisputed
sway, and at the same time every foot of
territory before under prohibition has
m aintained its standing in the Temper
ance column, making altogether with
the new and old a grand total of 81 ont
of the "a counties of the State where the
saloon is outawed, besides hundreds of
towns and districts in the counties where
King Alcohol still holds Uncertain
sway.
1t is with peculiar qualification and
thankfulness that we record the fact that
since our last meeting the legalized
liquor traffic has been driven from
every foot of our Associatlonal
territory, and that within our bounds
the practice of Temperance has made
marked and substantial progress.
Statistics show that under the influence
of the great Prohibition and Temperance
agitation which is sweeping over our land
there has been an almost incredible
decrease in the cOnsum ption Of alcoholic
liquors. even where the omen grog-shop
has not yet been sealed. Church meln-
bers and the better class of our citizens
who make no profession of religion have
been brought to consider the true char
acter of the saloon and the disgrace
which attaches to being known as II
freuuenter of it. Church members, long
asleep as to their responsibility on this
great question, are coming to appreciate
that the saloon is the fruitful source of
druhkenno IS, crime, poverty, disease,
wretchcdness, broken families, discor-
dant churches, and every form OF vice
and wickedness and that they cannot
longer align themselves with it without
setting up in avowed opposition TO the
plain letter and spirit of the Scripture
and Christ's holy Church. In word,
IL cd
ant-Prohibition is synonymous with
ant-Christ, and that to lend ones name,
vote or influence in support OF the whisky
traffic is utterly inconsistent with chris
tian profession.
We recommend that this Association
advise the churches to continue an uncom-
promising protest against the use, manu-
facture and sale of ardent spirits, as Il
beverage, against the signing of whisky
petitions, voting for license, going on the
bonds Of liquor dealers, or giving conn-
tenance, in any way, to the inIqnItous
traffic, and we request our ministers on
all proper occasions to preach and speak
upon these subjects.
That we advise the churches not to
retain i'll their fellowship those who per
sist i'll lending their influence to Satan by
visiting saloons, signing petitions or vot-
ing for their establishment, or Ill any
way encourage the use of whisky, as a
beverage; and we reiterate it as the de-
termination of this Association to hence
forth withdraw fellowship from any church
whose pastor or members are known 10
patronize or sympathize with the inquit-
Gus liquor traffic, and recommend such
action as will make this resolution effect
i've both now and hereafter.
We give our hearty and emphatic en-
dorsement to the proposition that total
abstinence is the only safe rule for the indi
vidual, and that Prohibition by the State
of the manufacture and sale of all alco-
holc liquors as a beverage is the true
method of dealing with the "Matchless
Evil" We appeal to every patriot who
loves his country, to every philanthropist
who loves his fellows, to ever parent who
loves his children and to every Christian
who loves his God, to rise in his strength
and majesty and complete the legal pro-
hibltion of the traffic in intoxicating
drinks.
We endorse, commend and say, God
bless the w. G. L. U. in their efforts for
the suppression of the liquor curse.
Finally, we earnestly recommend that
our ministers and laynen shall endeavor
to inculcate Temperance principles in the
minds of the colored race. They are
among us, and if we fail to instruct and
enlighten them, they will fall an easy
prey to the friends of tie saloon against
the home.
! Unanimously adopted.l
Remember KOhlman will not be under