The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-05-03
PREsBYTERY ON TEMPERANCE.
Report of the Committee on Temperance
Adopted by Richland Presbytery at
MT. Morriah April 20, 1888.

So many deliverances have been
given and so much said on the sub
ject in reports submitted to the
presbytery in the past, that your
committee do not even hope to add
anything new to what has already |
been said. But as much ground
has been gained by means used
during the last few years, we as a |
committee, think it advisable to
stir up your pare minds by way of
remembrance. Drunkenness is our
national sin. When we speak Of
drunkenness as our national sin we
do not wish to be understood to
mean that the United States has no
other sins. We wish it was the Only
one for we believe by diligent use
of the means brought to bear, in
few years more the evil, if not wip-
ed out, will have it's strong arm
broken. Intemperance is our ma
tional sin because it is the sin pub
licly and openly licensed and pro-
tected by law and from which it re-
ceives revenue. The nation is a
stakeholder in every licensed soloon
in the land. The nation is respon-
sible before God for making an evil
business legitimate. Hear it legisla-
tors and voters. God says s'Thou
shalt not kill" the nation takes it
up and echoes it in her laws and
we have no trouble in knowing how
to deal with murderers. God says
Thou shalt not steal" 1t is placed
on the statute books and we have
no trouble in knowing how to dis
pose of q thief. God says "Woe
unto him that giveth his neighbor
drink" but the nation says you may
trample this under if you will pay
us some revenue. Thus the trouble
begins and we will always have
trouble with this business until the
nation says "Woe unto him that
! giveth his brother drink" Look
at the history of any nation; mark
, its rise and watch its ruin and see il
its fate in every case has not been
because of its national sin. Idolta
|, Try ruined Judah. Sensuality sap
ped the strength OF Greece. Avaric,
ruined Spain. Pride caused tn,
fall of Venice. And if the United
8 States are ever ruined it will be b.
their national sin. Drunkenness il
our national sin and drink is ou
: national curse. In view of wha
!, has been said, resolved,
j, 1st. That drunkenness ia a nationa
l sin for which every citizen is personal
8 ly responsible, at least as far as his o
her influence for its continuance o
8 suppression is concerned.
: End. That it is the sense OF this pres
bytery no genuinely converted an,
well informed christian who is deter
mined under all circumstances to d,
what is for the public good will favo
Z the continuance of the saloon.
3rd. That prohibition is legal a
we'll as moral question, therefore me-
b aspiring to high position in this chris
. tian country should be required to de
: fine their position on all such ques
tions.
y 4th. That we, as presbytery, are b
: no means discouraged by the result 9
/ the vote polled on the 10Th of Sept'l
1887, but think the vote tor the propos
, ed amendment to the constitution Q
: the state of Tennessee was, is an
r should be great encouragement to th
friends of prohibition to continue thei
work. And we as presbytery hereb
declare our purpose to continue tn
work with increasing zeal and unre
j hitting perseverance and urge our peo
pie to de the same till the much desire
and long prayed for end is reached
u the suppression OF intemperance.
J Respectfully submitted,
II r. s. WALKER,
]. j. M. ASHFORD,
ALEX. LUTEs.