Helena weekly herald., 1889-05-30
COLD WATER DEBATE
Prohibition Gets the Upper Hold in the
Presbyterian Assembly.
Bitterness Among Christians---A Pande'
monium of Discord.
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL AS
SEMBLY.
Prohibition Question Under Dis
cuSsiOn.

chairman of the Committee on Temper
ance, presented report in which was en-
bodied resolution expressing sympathy
with the movement in progress for the
complete suppression of the traffic in in
toxicating liquors.
Rev. J. Logan Sample, of the Black
Hills, Dakota, offered the following substi-
tute: That while not endorsing any
political party, we desire to express our
heartfelt sympathy with the widespread
movement in favor of prohibition, and ex
tend to its advocates hearty God-speed.
DR.. Howard Crosby opposed the substi
tute and said There are two great prln-
ciples adopted by the Christians of the
country on the temperance question. One
is prohibition and the other high license.
1t would be great mistake for the Pres
byterian Church to determine which is the
best method for the purpose. The Pro-
hibitionists are political party and we
nave no right to pledge our adherence to
any political body.
DR.. Sample said he advocated prohibi
ton because it was scriptural, and he
cause when large body like the Assembly
could not bid it God speed.
DIR. Crosby said: What right has DR..
Sample to say that constitutional prohlbl-
ton is the only thing that will conquer
the saloon? l say it would result In free
rum. Both prohibition and high license
are political questions, and we have no
right to ally ourselves to either side. Let
IL - \ ay,I ~ hnf ,
let us take either side.
By vote of 210 to 105 the substitute
was laid on the table. The original resO-
luton, which read as follows, was adopted:
Resolved, That we heartily reirerate the
deliverance of former Assemblies upon
this whole subject and express our warm
sympathy with the widespread and popu-
lar movement now in progress In favor OF
the complete suppression OF trafhc IN
intoxicating liquors as beverage, and we
bid all wise and proper methods to secure
this issue a hearty God speed.
At the evening session DR.. Thompson
arose and said as many had not understood
the import of the temperance resolution
adopted this afternoon, he moved the adop-
tiOn of the following resolution, IL explana-
ton:
Resolued, That the General Assembly, in
reaffirmIng the deliverance OF former as
semblies, calls attention to the dellverance
of 1888, which says: THAT we earnestly
recommend to the ministers and cOngrega-
tions in our own connections and to all
others to persevere in vigorous effort until
laws shall be enacted in every State and
Territory of our beloved country prohibit
ing entirely the traffic which is the prlncl-
pal cause of drunkenness and its conse-
quence-pauperism, crime, taxation, la
mentatiOn, war and ruin to the bodies and
souls of men with which this country so
long has been afflicted"
DR.. Crosby and several others bitterly
opposed the adoption of the resolution,
claiming that it was the approval of the
action OF political party. II most stren-
uously object" said DIR. Crosby. THE
word prohibition in 1883 meant an en-
tirely different thing than it does now.
To day it means third party" Cries of
mo, no." IF we pass this resolution the
organs of this third party will boast to-
morrow that the Presbyterian ministers
have found their ranks. That third party
has been the greatest hindrance to the
cause. 1 have been twenty times to
Albany to advocate measures that would
have reduced the saloons, and found here
not only saloon-keepers to oppose me, but
representatives of the third party"
General pandemonium reigned after the
subject got well entered into. Finally the
motion was put, and each side in voting
used its lung power to such good effect
that the moderator was unable to decide
which had won the fight. The voters were
asked to stand, and it was counted, 1913
ayes and 80 noes. THE motion is car
ried," announced the moderator, and DR..
Crosby left the church before the meeting
adjourned.
NEW YORK, May 28.--At the opening of
the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day
Rev. Dr. Crosby offered a resolution setting
forth that the action taken yesterday on
the temperance question must not be con-
strued as an endorsement of any political
party. 1t was unanimously adopted. The
centennial fund committee announced that
$616,0OO had been raised for disabled min