The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-01
RELIGION and Drinking.

The Presbyterian General Assembly takes
ground as to temperance and the liquor
traffic very close to the position occupied
by the General Conference Of the Methodists.
They both arc for total abstinence, and
either directly or theoretically for prohibi-
ton. The Baptists are substantially in
agreement with them.
These three denominations make up the
great body Of Protestant believers in the
United States. All the others combined are
comparatively few. and the majority Of
them are in sympathy with the moral and
social views and principles Of the Baptists,
Methodists and Presbyterians.
The Protestant sentiment Of the country.
as expressed formally and officially. is
therefore In favor Of total abstinence, with
ut least strong tendency toward prohibi-
ton OF the liquor traffic. Many individ-
ual members Of even the denominations
in which this conviction Is strongest
are undoubtedly temperate drinkers.
men who have no objection to TAX
ing "a social or q convivial glass" with
DR.. BUnRELL OF the Dutch Reformed
Church; but when the representative as
semblies. conferences. and conventions
meet. their practice is condemned by the
passage OF such resolutions as those adopt
ed by the Methodists and the Presbyteri-
ans. The prevalent feeling is that safety
lies only in total abstinence.
Under such circumstances. any attempt
to carry out the views Of DR.. RA1NsFoRD Of
the Episcopalians or Mr.. ELs1Na OF the
Presbyterians. by the establishment OF sa-
looms conducted on Christian principles,
would be. sure to cause storm Of Profess
tant opposition. The assault on the pres
ent liquor saloons Is mild rs COM
pared with the virulence Of the attack
which would be made on drinking places
so sanctioned and conducted. There is no
church that would dare to carry out such
proposition in the face Of the indignant and
almost universal opposition OF both the re-
ligious and irreligious. which would be
stirred up by the attempt.
The suggestion. accordingly. need not be
discussed seriously. 1t Is wholly impracti-
cable. The demand for drinking places is
already supplied. and In way which is as
little injurious to the public as 1t is possible
to make the liquor traffic. The most seri-
GUS trouble with drinking, 80 far as the
mass OF saloon drinkers is concerned. Is
that it uses up so large part
OF the money of the people: and that
evil would not be lessened by DR..
RAINsFoRD's plan. II he gave away
his beer and wine. he would encourage
drinking. and therefore he proposes to run
his saloons as money-making enterprise.
Hence they would not diminish the waste
fulness OF expenditure in drink by the
poor. The money would only 60 into q
different till.
Besides. the people have nicer sense OF
congruity than DR.. RA1NsFoRD exhibits.
They are not disposed to mix up conviviality
with religion. They go to church for wor-
ship and for religious instruction and ele-
walton. not to drink beer. The beer they
prefer to take by Itself.
The rector OF st. Georges is a very ear
nest man. undoubtedly. but his perception
OF human nature seems to be deficient. The
regular saloon keepers would have no rea-
son to fear the competition of the drinking
places he proposes to establish.