Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-12-23
STATE TEMPERANCE CONVEN TION
I'm RICHMOND.


delegates from all parts Of the State, was in
session in Richmond during Tuesday and
Wednesday of last week. Hon. John E.
Massey was permanent President and Geo.
W. Hawkhurss Secretary.
All resolutions introduced were REFER d
to committee of thirty representing Go T.
gressional districts. Hon. J. Taylor Ely
son, Mayor of the city, by invitation ap-
peared in the Convention and delivered a
warm and earnest address welcoming Its
delegates to Richmond.
Ten Vice Presidents were elected, one Of
them being Mr.. J. W. Bodley, of Staunton.
Mai. Jed Hotcbkiss was one of the commit
tee on 1.-THE effect of the Saloon upon the
m aterial Prosperity Of the State"
During the morning session on Tuesday,
the following was unanimously adopted by
rising vote and ordered to be telegraphed
to the Legislature Of South Caroline =
"The Temperance Convention in session
at Richmond, representing the churches OF
the different denominations and all the
temperance organic stions of the State, send
greetings to the LIE gislature of South Caro-
lima. We praise you for the noble stand
you have taken in banishing alcohol from
your proud Commonwealth. May your
example be speedily folloTed by every
State in the Unior.''
at the afternoon session: the following
resolutions were adopted -
ResoIred, That the manufacture and sale
st all 70
within two miles of q church or school or
other institution of learning in the country
or unincorporatsd town, or within 500 feet
of church or school or institution Of learn
ing in city or incorporated town.
9. That distilleries shall be required to
take cut State, county, or corporation
license and shall a?piy to courts for license
under similar conditions as those which are
now required Of an applicant for The sale Of
Intoxicating liquor.
S. That license is privilege and the
granting or Withholding of license to sell
liquor should be in the discretion of the
Judge appealed to, and that We should re-
turn to the old law Of Virginia and have
court-day set apart for granting Licenses to
sell LIQUOR for that year and for net less
than a year, and that license shall be
granted at no other term of the court dur
ing that year.
4 That like prohibition of the sale of
liquor on Sundays and election-days be
extended to the first day Of holding Of any
county court in the State.
In the session of Wednesday m 3rning,
on motion of MIR. W. E. Nichols, resolu-
ton was adopted appointing committee
of five, with Rev. J. r. Moffett IS chair
man, TO organize county and subordinate
Ina MT nj
The other members are: Joseph II.
Shepherd, Of Richmond; Preston e. Ross,
of Staunton; Rev. G. P. Scott, Of Warren
ter, aud @. G. Gsever, Of Loudoun county.
The foilosing was adopted after coz
siderable discussion by many CT the more
active delegates
Whereas we do not think the preponder-
ance of public sentiment at present in Vir-
ginia is such as makes it prudent for US to
ask of our Legislature the total prohibition
of the liquor traffic, the majority of this
convention still desire it to be distinctly
understood that we regard prohibition
State and national-tbe ultimate and only
efficient remedy for the vice of intemper-
anee and to this end shall not cease our
efforts to educate public sentiment up to
opr position on this great question.
The report Of the Committee on Relation
of tie Church to the Liquor Traffic was
then presented by the chairman, Rev. H.
B. Lee, and was a lengthy and ably-con~
structed paper touching upon many ion.
portant points. 1t asserted that the
position of the Church 70 iutemperance was
one of unswervipg AID determined bostil- |
ity. 1t discussed temperance legislation,
stating that great error was made by per-
hr in na Init rrh
ever minister begins to discuss legislation |
1t says ''if any law of the Common wealth |
has tendency to promote immortality, that |
law may very properly be discussed from |
the pulpits and the Church may and should |
use her influence to have it changed" The |
paper further cites that "the object of this |
convention during the session of the Legis. |
latnre is chiefly that it may influence legis |
lation in the interest of the temperance |
cause"
General discussion was given the report, |
in which Chairman Massey, Colonel Lee,
of Charlottesville; Professor S one. of the
University of Virginia; Rev F. nj. Ed
wards of Chester, and many Others took
part. The report was finally adopted by
unanimous vote end the convention ad-
journed.
At the afternoon session, the following
was adopted:
Resolued, That we recommend to the
good people of the State of Virginia that
hey in every way possible encourage and
'oster Temperance eating-houses in our
titles and towns, and that they do their
lealing with merchants who do not sell
alcoholic liquors.
A measure was also recommended to the
legislature praying that saloons be re-
luired to abolish stained glass fronts.
On motion of Mr. Moffstt, the Legislature
was requested to make it unlawful for any
Common wealtb's attorney to appear in any
court on behalf of an applicant for liquor
license; but be may serve the people who
re opposed to- the granting of such
license.
The next annual convention will meet in
the second Tuesday in January,