The Monitor., 1891-10-02
westIer.ex Presbxterx.

ihc West Jersey Presbytefy held the
opening session of its Autumn meeting In
the West Church, Bridgeton. on Wednes-
day. TIE sermon was preached by tie re-
tiring moderator, Rev. A. j. Snyder. Rev.
DR.. John Ewing, of Daretown, was elected
moderator for the next six months The
narrative OF the State religion showed a
prosperous condition of the churches. Pro-
gress is manifested in church renovation
and church and chapel building. More
than half of the forty seven churches have
Christian Endeavor societies.
The report of the General Assembly ;.
committee on Revision OF the Confession OF
Faith was substantially adopted. Its es-
sential features are retained new man.
ual for methods of work of the Presbytery
with historical matter was adopted
Trustees were appointed for the West Jer-
sey Academy. The members of the Pres
bytery dined at the Academy, where ladies
from the three churches OF the city attend
ed. aiding to furnish a sumptuous repast.
After the dinner speeches were made by
Rev. DR.. Aikman, Rev. George w. Thom-
son, and the principal, Ph@bus w. Lyon.
The Presbytery spoke with no uncertain
voice upon the liquor question when it
adopted the report of the Committee on
Temperance, Reys. William Boyd and w.
V. Londerbough. The temperance report,
as adopted, is given in full as follows:
'.Your committee has nothing very en-
couragiug to report in reference to the
cause of temperance, within the bounds of
our Presbytery. Under the operation of
the unjust and infamous Excise Commits
sion BILL passed by the last Legislature
and approved and operated by Governor
Albeit, the popular will of two counties,
Camden and Cumberland, has been ignor-
ed and outraged in way that must excite
the righteous Indignation of all good citi-
zens. In the city Of Bridgeton, where the
voters, in the exercise of their constitu-
tional rights, had desired that No license
to sell Intoxicating liquors as beverage
should be granted, and where immunity
from the open saloon cause had been en- :
.joyed for several years, licensed places have
been forced upon the people, through this
bill, to debauch and ruin those who can be
tempted by the intoxicating cup, and to
spread poverty and misery in their homes.
in Camden the number of licensed
saloons has been largely increased under
the same law Millville, Vineland and
other places are threatened with return
of the licensed liquor curse. Not for many
years has the political aspect of the tenn
perance cause been SO sad and hopeless in
this State. We are, at the present time,
in the power of the liquor ring and unless
the moral and patriotic people of the State
shall arise in their united strength and
overthrow this power, we shall suffer from
still greater evils at their hands. In view
of the wrongs we are now suffering and
the greater wrongs that We fear will yet
come from such legislation, we, as Pres
bytery call upon all Christians and all
who love the church, as well as all who
care for the honor of our State and the
rights of the people, TO raise their voices
and use their votes against the persons
and party responsible for such legislation
and against all who uphold it.
''It is gratifying to know that in view of
such dscouragements the women of our
churches are still energetically and patient
ly pushing on their work in connection
with the ". C. t. L. and its auxiliary
societies, training the young in temper
ance principles, moulding public senti-
ment. and appealing to God in united
prayers for the removal OF the liquor curse.
Our churches as organizations should not
be behind them in this good work, but
should encourage and help them.
Notwithstanding adverse and unjust
legislation and the power of the saloon we
believe that the sentiment against the use
of intoxica ting liquors as beverage is
slowly and steadily growing, that drunken
ness is becoming more intolerable and de-
grading and that the time is not far dis
tant when none of our citizens will be re-
spected who support or patronize the
saloon. We should keep up faith in God
for the ultimate triumph of the right and
work steadily on along all proper lines.
All pastors should preach frequently upon
temperance and it should be regularly
taught in all our Sabbath schools, practiced
in all our homes and lived in all our
lives"