Smyrna times., 1893-10-04
TEMPERANCE LESSON RETAINED.
ACTION OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION
AT sT. LOUIS.

On Friday, September 1, Rev. DR..
Warren Randolph, secretary of the in
ternational lesson committee presented
an elaborate written report and de-
fence ofits work. His reference to the
temperance lesson was as follows:
1--WE have found it specially difficult
to give satisfaction in the special les
sons which you have required rs to
provide. Our own plan, as frequently
announced, vas to select lessons on
particular topics only as such lessons
are found in our regular progression
through the word. But three years
ago the convention directed Us to de-
part from this course and select tenn
perance lesson for each quarter What
we have always maintained others
have felt compelled to join us in say
ing. One of the most competent of
biblical scholars, who is a warm friend
OF the temperance cause as we'll, has
lately said: No lesson committee can
iind in the Bible four lessons a wear.
for five or seven years, that squarely
teach total abstinence. The attempt
at anything Of this sort tends to bring
total abstinence into disrepute by its
misdrected endeavor. On the con-
trary, good teacher can find the duty
of total abstinence implied in a dozen
lessons every year, coming in the or
binary course of study Of the Bible ac-
cordlng to the international system.
Compelled by your action at Pttsburg,
yet limited by the poverty of Scrip
lures on the subject we have been
forced to select some lessons, which.
for Sundayschool use, our judgement
aid not approve, aud other lessons we
have had to repeat so often that they
have become monOtonous."
After the report had been read op-
pOrtunity was given for discussion.
! The interest was almost wholly con.
centrated on the question whether the
lessons system itself should be main
tanned, although it very soon appeared
that only few in the convention, only
one of the speakers, were not the
friends of the present plan. Even the
speaker who criticised the plan, DR.. C
r. Blackall, the Baptist lesson writer
announced that all he would ask the
convention to do was to cancel all the
instructions by which the committee
was restricted in it's work. Mr.. NJ. c
Hazard, one of the Congregational les
son writers, offered "a resolution thai
all institutions be cancelled. Rev. Will
bur f. Crafts began the defence of the
temperance lessons, the Pittsbure
action which would have been Cancelled
by adopting the Blackall- Hazard pro
posal, by offering this amendment
Except that the number of temperate,
lessons snail not be reduced" Ht
argued against any action that woult
even seem to be lowering of the TEN
perance flag by the the Sabbath school
and churches, since the church of Go,
should be the chief reform organization
On Saturday morning when the con
ventiOn heard the report of the com
mittee on resolutions, composed Of on
delegate of prominence from each stat
: it was found they had Compromise
between the Blackall Hazard propose
to cancel all restrictions aud tn
r amendment of Mr.. Crafts to continu
t the Instructions as TO temperance les
1 sons so far, at least, as to maintain tn
f present number of four per year.
The resolution Of the committee o
temperance lessons as follows n,
3 sOLUed, That this convention release
! the International Lessons Committe
: from the instruction hitherto givei
l and only suggest that it shall furnis
3 the best course OF lessons possible 70
/ the remainder of its exstance, trustin
t to the wise judgment Of the committe,
4 to give full quota Of temperance an
o missionary lessons"
All other resolutions were passe
y without debate, and then the above r,
e solution was taken up for discussio
y which Mr.. Crafts introduced by pr
r senting an amendment to make tn
u above resolution read as follows: "R
soLUed, That this convention releas,
t, the international Lesson COmmitte
% from the instructions hitherto give
J, except that the unanimous action
a the Pittsburg convention on tempe
ance lessons, based on the unanimo
lg recommendation Of the executive COZ
le mittee, shall remain in force" II
Id earnest and prolonged debates in sta
n. and international conventions by viii
the w. @. T. y. had secured ppanimo
le action en the subject was recalled, al
Is it was urged that to cancel such acti
ID so soon, especially 10 do so in the o