Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-01-28


on it. have been presented in the re
ports of the ministers of this confer
ence, nor developed in the proceed
ings of this body, to add any specia
or peculiar emphasis to the doctrines
of the church. In all our official as
semblies, from the Church Conference
to our highest judicatOry-the Gener'
al Conference clear, strong, une-
quivocal voice has been raised against
drunkenness and drinking spiritu-
ous liquors, unless in case of neces-
sity."
The life of every consistent Chris
tian is a condemnation of the fragrant
vice of drinking intoxicants as bey-
erage, and an endorsement of the
healthfulness, cleanness and virtue OF
total abstinence.
No man who reads intelligently the
Word of God, and regards its sacred
authority, can look upon drunken
ness as anything less than destroy
ing sin, expressly forbidden in his
holy law; and no one who, at the al
tars of our church, has taken upon
him her VOWS, can engage in the
manufacture or sale of intoxicating
| liquors to be used as a beverage; and
we furthermore declare our most sol
emn and positive conviction that no
member of our church can, without
violating the spirit of Gods Word and
the requirements of the Discipline of
our church, sign liquor petition, en-
dorse the bond of a liquor dealer, rent
property to be used in the liquor traf-
tic, or do anything whereby this ne
fariOus business is encouraged or pro-
NOTED. The supreme law of love, as
laid down in the Scriptures, most
positively forbids the encouragement
of the liquor traffic, for Glove worketh
no i'll to his neighbour" and the awful
catalogue of sufferings, disasters and
crimes tell us that intemperance is
the most horrible evil that can be put
upon him or his children. The un-
speakable love of God to us calls for
our most strenuous efforts to deliver
our fellow-men from this monster de-
strOyer.
No Christian man can rightfully re-
main silent or inactive. We must agi-
tate the subject in every proper way.
Intelligent agitation is the life of
every great intellectual and moral
movement, the life blood of reform.
If preachers should cease to preach,
and teachers to teach, the doctrines
and assert the claims of our holy re-
ligion even for single year, where
would the church be? Let US speak
ont and work cOurageously and pru-
IDENTIFY against the saloon as a crime
against civilizations; let us SOW the
seeds of temperance beside all waters,
and raise harvest of public opinion
that shall demand and sustain whole
some laws for the suppression OF this
potent source of ruin; for the defense
of our homes and the protection of
our loved ones from the curse ofstrong
drink. We have the assurance of
Gods help, and we cannot fail if we
measure up to our duty. We would
not carry politics into our religion;
but we would carry our religious con-
victions, sympathies and activities
into our politics. We would not con-
meet our work for Christian temper
ance with party politics; but we would
by all means nOn-partisan, work to
uIlNt tuo odiOOil tuC
our State. We would hold to the
'local option" law, and use it with
all energy where it will serve the in
terests of humanity.
We would affcctiouately and strong
ly urge all our members to give their
influence toward securing statute by
the Legislature fOrbidding the manu-
facture and sale, as beverage, of in
tDxicating liquors in this State.
We offer the following in conclusion:
Resolred, We stand by the directions
and requirements of our Discipline.
Resolred, We give our prayers, our
sympathies, our earnest efforts to the
prevalence of gospel temperance.
Resolved, We bid our noble women
God-speed in their temperance work.
Res0lred, That committee be ap-
pointed by this Conference to memo
rialize the Legislature, at its approach
ing session, in favor of a statute pro-
hibiting the manufacture and sale of
intoxicating liquors as beverage with
in the State.
The following committee was elect
ed by the Conference on this matter:
r. NJ. Standefer, w. T. j. Sullivan,
j. d. Cameron, j. b. Streater, HI. L.
| Fly, Rowan Thayer and r. w. Jones.