The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-02
THE CHURCH VERSUS THE SALOON

HYANNIS, MASS January q 1888
To the Editor of the BdHner-The
unstable G unity Conference of Con-
gregational Churches, at th-ir Session
II Harwlchport, December 14th. 1887,
passed unanimously the following pre-
Amble and resolutions:
WHEREAS. we believe that the Chris
tian church should be an aggressive
force in the moral reformation Of socie
", and that true Christian citizenship
involves the guardianship of the purity
# the State and the sanctity and safety
Of the home. and
WHEREAS. we believe that in the great
national struggle between the home and
he saloon. the Christian voter of the
country ought to unite in taking an i'm
mediate and decided standard for the
nome. therefore
Resolved. That we recommend to all
he churches OF this conference. to cir
cuate in their respective parishes, the
following pledge-We, legal voters OF
-, hereby pledge ourselves, that we
will not, knowingly, vote for any can
dldate for any Office. legislative, execu.
i've or judicial, who will not endeavor
both by vote and influence to prohibit
The manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors as beverage.
Resolved, That copy Of these reso
lutlOns be sent to all the conferences of
nur order. and as far as practicable, TO
all the religious bodies within the limits
Of this Commonwealth. and to all tenn
perance organizations, inviting them To
cooperate with us in this movement.
RaanlpaA That Of
be appointed by this Conference to
further the objects of these resolutions
To secIre united action thereon, by
whatever methods may be, by them
deemed expedient, and to take all nee
cssary steps to secure the presenta ton
Of the signatures to the aforesaid pledge
before the State and National COnven-
ton Of the political parties.
The undersigned were then appointed
tie committee contemplat I'D by the
above resolutions. In pursuance OF the
duty assigned us. we have inaugurated
the movement in our own county, and
have published and sent invitations tC
all religious bodies and temperance or
ganiz ttiOns throughout the State 10 co
operate with us in securing the afOre-
said pledges, and to communicate with
us through the charrmen OF their re-
spective committees with Q view Ia
united and harmonious action. This
must necessarily be the limit OF our in
dividual work. But we believe that
this, movement is destined to be recog-
nizpd rs national in interest and scope,
when the Christian people of our land
shall realize the magnificent: opportu-
nifty 1t affords for grand advance of
the RedeemeT's kingdom.
We, therefore, desire through the
courtesy of the public press TO request
all religious bodies and temperance or
ganlz itions throughout the country to
organize as speedily as possible in their
respective states a movement similar to
ours, in order that the will and purpose
Of the temperance people Of America
shall be expressed with unanimity
and overwhelming power before those
| political conventions and caucuses,
which primarily determine the nature
OF our laws and the methods of the I
enforcement and administration. We
earnestly request all papers, religious
and secular. throughout the country &c
copy this letter. Very Respectfully.
j. X, ALDRICH.
JAMES b KING, Com,
6za WRtEY osGVou,