Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-05-11
ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT
OF the Standing Committee on
Temperance to the Ppresby-
terry OF Butler, in Session at
Butler, April "a, 1888.
Your Standing Committee on Tenn
perance respectfully present the fol-
lowing report:
In response to our application for
narrative on temperance from the
churches of the Presbytery, replies
have been received from seven pas
toral charges, comprising sixteen
churches. There is general uni
formity in these narratives, and while
they do not indicate so high degree
of enthusiasm in active, aggressive
work in the cause of temperance in
our churches as could be desired, yet
they show that the subject has been
by no means neglected. 1t has been
kept before the people and pressed
upon their attention in the ministra-
tions of the pulpit and in the instruc-
tions of the Sabbath schools and pub
lie schools In some instances special
temperance meetings have been held
and lectures deliyered. One nara.
tive reports union temperance alli-
ance, composed of members OF several
churches, engaged in the work. The
noble w. G.. r. Unions, both old and
young, BY their faithful, earnest and
efficient aid, have been helping on the
good cause, as usual. Contributions
Of money have been made in several
of our churches, and others intimate
their intention to do go. Where the
illicit sale of liquor has been carried
on, earnest efforts have been made for
its suppression, and remonstrances
have been circulated, signed and pre-
sented to the Court against the grant
ing OF licenses to sell intoxicating
liquors. Such is brief general out
line of the course that has been pur-
sued and the means used TO keep the
subject before the minds of the people
and press ii upon their attention.
And, although, as before remarked,
the interest and enthusiasm have not
been so great as could be desired,
considering the importance of the
cause, yet it is evident, from all the
narratives, that the sentiment amongst
the church members and good people
generally is almost, if not entirely, in
favor OF total abstinence from all in
toxicating liquors. And they are he
ginning to realize more and more the
necessity of strict legal prohibition as
the most direct and speedy method of
attaining it. And if the outward
manifestation of this sentiment in
active. aggressive work has seemed
to be inadequate to the Importance of
the cause, there are several reasons
for this. One reason is the fact that
by far the larger part of our territory
is practically prohibition. Twenty
four of the thirty three townships into
which our county is divided (more
than three. .fourths) have not liquor
selling house in them, 80 far as known,
either licensed or unlicensed. And
of our three churches in Nenango
county and the three in Mercer coun-
ty the case is the same-no liquor
shops in their bounds In the bounds
of the two in Lawrence county only
one is reported; so that with the ex-
ception of that ono saloon the liquor
traffic in our bounds is confined to the
eight townships-less than one-fourth
of the territory of this county. In
the other twenty-four townships there
has not even been one petition pre-
sented to the Court for license.
Hence the great mass of our people
do not come into immediate personal
contact with the liquor traffic and do
not so deeply realize its injurious ef-
fects. They are happily situated.
AS one of the narratives says, they
"are not troubled with liquor" and
they do not feel the need tor active
local work, as they have no liquor
amongst them. Under these circum-
stances it is hardly to be expected
that they should be as active and ag-
gressive rs those who are engaged in
hand conflict with tie evil An
other reason is the proposal by our
last Legislature to have q constitu-
tional prohibitory amendment submit.
ted in due time to vote of the peo-
pie. They expect this to be done,
and are awaiting the result, expecting
the evils of intemperance to be remov-
ed in this way. Still another reason
is the provision of the late license law
restricting the right of remonstrance
to those persons living in the town
ship or district where the applicant
for license resides This has prevent.
ed great deal of active temperance
work, and has also prevented the
great mass of the people from being
heard in their opposition to the grant
ing OF licenses. But notwithstand-
ing all this. and notwithstanding the
disappointment of last year, the
friends of temperance, order, sound
tuOi ioilJ ouu ROou SoFCI umChe WoiO
hoping that the experience of the evils
of intemperance during the past year,
together with the general and earnest
expression of public sentiment on the
subject might have their proper influ-
ence, and that different result would
be reached in the license court this
year. But again we have been DOOM
ed to disappointment. Unfortunate
ly for the cause of virtue, prosperity
and human happiness, our Court has
again sacrificed the best interests
of the people by licensing an increas-
ed number of drinking places, and has
thus continued the reign of vice and
crime and misery within our bounds.
Some judges seem to have
strange and very unwholesomc dread
of the influence Of public sentiment
and think that it should not be re-
garded, lest it should drive the Court
"irom it's moorings and tend to an
archy." But the strangest feature Of
Il. -, L. a