Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-05-03

Report of the Committee on Tenn
perance, adopted by Richland
Presbytery at hit. Moriah church
Giles Co.. Tenn, Apr. 20, 1888.

Pr6SDyJ6ry aL MI. MUIidn CHuIOA
Giles Co., Tenn, Apr. 20, 1883.
So many deliverances have been
given aud so much said on the sub
ject in reports submitted to the
Presbytery in the past, that your
committee does not even hope to
add anything new to what has al
ready 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 pure minds by way
of remembrance. Drunkenness is
our national sin. When we say
national sin, we do not wish to be
understood to mean that the Uni
ted States has no other sins. We
wish it the only one, for we believe
by a diligent use of the means
brought to bear, in a few years the
evil, if not wiped out, will have it's
strong power broken. Intemper-
ance is our national sin, because it
is the sin the nation publicly and
openly licenses and protects by
law and from which it receives a
revenue. The nation is stock
holder in every licensed saloon in
the land. The nation is RESPONSE
BILE before God for making an evil
business legitimate-hear it legis-
lators and voters. God says "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 dispose of 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 his
tory of any nation, mark its rise
and progress, then watch it's ruin
and see in every case if it has not
been because of it's national sin.
Idolatry ruined Judah, sensuality
sapped the strength of proud
Greece, avarice ruined Spain, pride
caused the fall of Venice, and if
the United States is ever ruined it
will be by her national sin, drunk
enness. In view of what has
been said:
Resolved list, That drunkenness
is a national sin, for which every
citizen is personally responsible, at
least as far as his or her influence
for its continuance or suppression
is concerned. I
2nd, That it is the sense of this
Presbytery, no genuinely convert.
ed and well informed christian,
who is determined under all cir
cumstances 10 do what is for the
public good will favor the contin-
uance of saloons.
3rd, That prohibition is a legal
as well as moral question.
Therefore, men aspiring to high
position in this christian country,
should be required to define their
position on all such questions.
4th, That we, as a Presbytery,
are by no means discouraged by
the result Of the vote pOlled on
the Goth of Sept, 1887, but think
the vote for the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution of the
State of Tennessee, was, is, and
should be great encouragement to
the friends of prohibition to con.
tinue their work. And we as a
Presbytery, hereby declare our
purpose to continue the work with
increasing zeal aud unremitting
perseverance, and urge our people
to do the same, till the much-de-
sired and long prayed for end is
reached-the suppression Of i'll.
temperance.