New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-28
is THIS PROHIBITION 7
TEMPERANCE LNTHE ASSEMBLY
PRESBYTERIANS DO NOT SEEM TO KNOW
THEIR MINDS
MOVEMENT TO CAPTURE IT FOR THIRD rARTH
PURPOSES FAILS IN THE AFTERNOON oN-BE!
FORE RETIRING FOR THE NIGHT SOME
OF THE MEMBERS CHANGE THEIR
OPINIONS NEARING THE
END OF THE SESSION.

Just what tho 10ist General Assembly Of thn
Presbyterian Church in the United States Of
America really believes in regard TO the temper4
ance question it will puzzle the average reader Ia
understand Yesterday afternoon, by fair ma
Iority, the commissioners laid on the table an
amendment TO one Of the resolutions submitted by
the Committee on Temperance which, while fns
dorsing no political party expressed the warm
sympathy" Of the Assembly with the wide<
spread, popular 3, movement now In progress
in favor Of constitutional Prohibition,
and we bid their efforts TO SECURE II
hearty God-speed.' Professor Dufieh moved
to strike out the word constitutional" but even
this modified statement sayored TOO strongly Of
Third Party,' and it was voted down. Ths
Assembly, on the contrary. adopted the report of
the committee, which eaff-med former deliver.
ances of the General Assembly, and said furthera
/" We sympathize with the widespread movement
now in progress in favor Of the complete suppress
sion OF the traffic in intoxicating liquors as q
beverage"
This action was considered decisive and final
but in the evening one OF the commissioners, on a
question Of privilege, gained the tioor and read
the following resolution, which was declared
out of order at the time: The General Assembly,
in reafIirming the deliverances of former Assem-.
blies the subject of temperance calls particulars
attention TO the deliverance OF 1s83 as follows.
That we earnestly recommend to the ministers
and congregations in our connection, and to all
others, TO persevere in vigorous efforts until laws
shall be enacted in every State and Territory
OF our beloved country prohibiting entirely a
traffic which is the principal cause of drunk.
enneSS, and its consequent pauperism, crime taxa,
ton, lamentation, war and ruin 10 the bodies
and souls Of men, with which the country has
so long been afflicted" At late hour, withoua
considering the report bf the afternoon, the,
resolution, which was then considered in order.
was adopted. Whether the action OF the after.
noon, when the Assembly refused TO support Pro.
hi0ition, or the action OF the evening, when an
old deliveranoe, made before Prohibition becama
National issue, was revived, shall
go out as the voice Of the present Assembly.
remains TO be SEEN Doubtless both votes will
be recognized as the voice Of the body.
Frinds and foes alike Of Prohibition agreed in
prasing DR.. Howard Crosby for his vigorous
fight against the liquor interests during many
years. He in turn protested against the Church.
coming out in favor OF political PARTY In
speaking Of his long struggle at Albany in the
interests Of temperance in the city and the State!
he assured his brethren that he was constantly
opposed by the lquor-dealers and the Prohibi.
tionists- The Rev. Mr. Pox OF Allegheny, Penn!
and DR.. Worrall, OF this city, were among the
abest supporters Of DR.. Crosby. On the other
hand, DR.. Thompson, Of this city, offered the
resolution calling up the dehVerance made sic
years ago, and followed the protest made by DR..
Crosby with q brilliant speech, in which he denied
that there any idea OF Prohibition in politi-
cal sense. He made an earnest appeal urgina
the Assembly not 10 sdopt reactionary methods.
DR.. Thompson is unquestionably one of the most
convincing speakers in the Assembly, and his plea
that the Assembly should not refuse it's sympathy
for others who were struggling against the liquor
traffic, Carried conviction 10 many who had voted
on the other side in the afternoon. DR.. McCool<,
Of Philadelphia, supported DR.. Thompson.
When a decision was called for, and
the resolution was adopted, DIR. Crosby
requested that his should go in the
printed Minutes of the Assembly as protesting
against the action Just taken. He called upon
those who agreed with him 10 join m formal pro-
test against the General Assembly's taking sides
on political question. The action Of the Assem-
bly, variously understood Some though ID
was victory for Prohibition. Others asserted
that as IL was merely the revival Of deliverance
made before Prohibition assumed its present
FORM il could not he taken as in a sense a COM
mendation OF political party. Many declared that
they understood it to be simply resolution OF
sympathy with brethren in other States-voting
rather for Dr. ThomDson's speech than his motion.
The Assembly has seldom been so far behind in
its business on the second Tuesday morning as 10
finds itself to-day. The many topics still on tho
docket may be removed before adjournment to-
night, but If they are short speeches must be the
standing order of the day. The next Assembly
will probably be held in Saratoga or Pttsburg; tha
place will be decided upon to-day. Pttsburg is
said to he the choice of the majority Of the CON-
msSionerS.
Much satisfaction was expressed yesterday by
the friends of lake Forest University, because
the Moderator Of the Assembly will be retained
as president Of that young and growing lnstitu-
tion One friend of DR.. Roberts gave one-hftn
of the half million dollars But what has been
q gain to the University has been loss to tho
Home Mission Board, TO which DR.. Roberts would
have returned had the money not been raised
TIVO VOTES ON TEMPERANCE.