Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-20
DIVINES WHO SMOKE.
They Must Preach the Gospel With
Their Mouths Clean.
BADEXAMPLES SET FOR THE BOYS.
The Colored Ministers Draw the Line
Rigidly at Tobacco.
A RESOLUTION WHICH WAS NOT A JOKE

The colored clergymen of Pittsburg and
Allegheny are starting a new reform. They
have drawn the line at tobacco. Beyond
that ministerial indulgence may not go. A
month ago the annual conference OF the a.
NJ E. Church in this section OF the country
was held in the sanctuary on Hemlock
street, Allegheny. The following resolution
was introduced by Rev. John W. Reilly on
behalf of the Committee on Temperance:
Resolved, That every member OF this con-
ference be given six months to quit the use
of tobacco, so that we may be able to preacn
the holy gospel with clean mouths
The resolution was adopted. One month
out of the six has now passed, and reporter
of THE DISPATCH started out to see If the
terse threat-for it is an implied threat
has had the effect of decreasing the con-
sumption of tobacco among the preachers
vet.
"was it all joke?' he asked Rev. Cor
nelius Asbury, whom he met at the colored
church on Wylie avenue, short distance
above the Court House.
''Nc sir, it was not joke" replied the
clergyman. "The resolution meant exactly
what it said. Why, sir, Bishop Arnett,
who presided at that conference refused to
license any of the new preachers who then
applied unless they pledged themselves to
abstain from the use of tobacco. He waited
for the reply of each applicant, and they all
had 10 promise.
The Preachers Will, BE Watched.
"And 1 am going to watch to.see that
these pledged preachers keep their
promise" interrupted Rev. Mr.. Sampson,
who was standing in the room into which
the reporter had been invited. eff they
don't the matter will be attended to at the
next annual conference"
will the resolution be remembered hy
the conference next wear in so far as to make
inquiry about its general effect among all
preachers both old and new?''
s'Undoubtedlv," replied both the preach
ers almost in the same breath. Continuing,
Rev. Mr. Asburv said: ''It is the custom
of our conference every year to vcntilate
this question. The moral effect of repeated
utterances on the subject has been good, and
I may say to you that comparatively few of
our colored preachers use the weed. The
resolution this year was very plainly
worded. and have no doubt that inquiry
will be made next year as to how many of
us quit the use of tobacco"
1.-The Bishop holds very strong grounds
on this question" added Rev. Sampson,
'ias was evidenced by his having the young
candidates for the ministry promise to let
cigars, the pipe and the quid alone. / fav-
ored the adoption of this resolution at con-
ference. and L hope it will do much good.
We ministers cannot afford to be smokers or
chewers"
He Can Set Boys to Smoking.
A colored minister from suburban town
said: 81 can set more bows to smoking
cigars in nv village than any other man
who lives there. How? Why, by simply
walking down the main street smoking
toby myself am their pastor-suppose1
to be TO them the embodiment of all that is
clearly, pure and right. If l thus publicly
smoke, they will say, Surely, if Rev. MIR.
Blank does this, it can be no particular
harm Don't you see, it is the example
that we set. No minister ought TO smoke
or chew for this reason, if for no other, and
there are other reasons, of course
One other city clergyman, of the A. NJ. E.
Church. did not favor the method taken by
the conference of dealing with this question.
He said tobacco was largely personal mat
ter with preachers, and no one could pre-
tend to say that sin and misery flows from
the use of tobacco, as they do from the alco-
hol habit. A minister who does use the
weed is generally little touchv on the sub
ieet, and he should be respected in his
peculiar beliefs. He did not look for re-
opening of the subject at the next annual
conference. at least he expected it to be
treated lightly if it did come up again.
An Example for White Ministers.
The reporter asked a well-known white
clergyman his opinion of the movement.
Very good. he replied, "and i hope it
will bear results worthy of the stamina re-
quired to put forward a resolution of that
kind and pass it. Now, such a thing as
that would be impossible in the particular
denomination which 1 represent. Our
preachers are largely iuveterate smokers and
chewers-in this district, mean, for know
nothing about the habits of preachers in
other districts Many of them are extremely
sensitive about it, and would probably de-
ride the man who had courage to pose as a
sincere reformer in this respect. Perhaps,
after all, though, it is better to avoid formal
action on such delicate subject, and RELY
upon a general raising of the tone of the
church for the same good results. In this |
way offense would be averted, and the prac-
tice of questionable domestic habits quietly
but firmly discouraged. NV word for it,
when smoking preacher goes to congre-
cation where cleanly parishioners frown
upon his habit, he will find it out in a more
severe way than his brother preachers can
tell him of it. Still, if our colored brethren
are in earnest about this matter, it will set
10 - h.,