Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-03-27
CHURCH VS.. SALOON.
DECLARATION OF RELIGIOUS BODIES
ON THE TRAFFIC.

Churches OF America VIII Unto at the
Ballot Dox Against the Saloon?
The Northern Presbyterian general as
sembly at their last meeting said: while
it is not in the province of the church to
dictate to any man how he shall vote, no
political party has the right to expect
the support of Christian men so long as
that party stands committed to the IL
cense policy or refuses to put himself ON
record against the saloon"
The Southern Methodists resolved
that: 1--WE are emphatically prohibit
ton church. We stand out squarely and
before the whole world, certainly in the
ory and for the most part in practice,
for the complete suppression of the liquor
traffic"
The Reformed tDutch) church said:
"We call upon our fellow citizens to re-
fuse all alliance of every sort whatever
with the saloon power in local and gen.
eral elections"
The United Presbyterian assembly
said that: Every Christian man should
teach the politicians that only that party
that will wash its hands of completely in
the awful crime Of the licensed saloon
traffic by taking positive ground against
it can expect his support and vote"
The United Presbyterian synod of Iowa
resolved:
"That we earnestly exhort the voters
of the United Presbyterian church to use
their ballots at the coming election in
such way as most effectually to check
and rebuke the unholy traffic, and would
call attention to and indorse the action
of the late general assembly in declaring
that only that party that will wash its
hands of completely in the awful crime
of the licensed saloon traffic by taking
positive ground against it can expect our
support and votes"
The general conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church took the following
action: 1--WE recommend all members of
the NJ. E. church who enjoy the elective
franchise to so use that solemn trust as
to promote the rescue of our country
from the guilt and dishonor which have
been brought upon it by q criminal COM
plicity with the liquor traffic. We do
not presume to dictate the political con-
duct of our people, but we do record our
deliberate judgment that no political
party has a right to expect, nor ought it
to receive, the support of Christian men
SO long as it stands committed to the Ii
cense policy or refuses to put itself on
record in an attitude of open hostility to
the saloon"
The Rock River conference of the NJ. E.
church: "That we readopt our resolu-
ton of last year that we emphatically
declare ourselves in favor of that politi-
cal party, of whatever name or title,
that will incorporate in the party plat
form the principle of prohibition of the
liquor traffic, and that we will not cast
our votes for any man, however solemn
his pledges to aid the cause of temper
ance, who will permit himself to be a
candidate for Office in party whose
platform favors the liquor interest by
license or other method of regulation"
The national Congregational council
resolved at Minneapolis that: parties
seem to be necessary to the attaining of
common ends, but Christians should use
the party to do good, and not let the
the party use them to do evil. They
must not permit party policy to draw
them into the support of bad measures
or bad men. They would sooner see
their party fail to elect than to see it
elect vile men. We would not dictate as
to any mans political affiliations. But
every Christian should keep himself so
far independent that he can make his
ballot effective for righteousness, tenn
perance and humanity"
The East Ohio conference of the Unit
ed Brethren in Christ lately said: 1--WE
denounce all political parties which ad-
vocate the licensing and protection of
this traffic as unworthy the confidence
and support of Christian people and call
upon all our members to prayerfully con-
slider their duty to God and suffering hu-
manity, and then enter their protest
against this evil at the ballot box"
The Friends annual meeting at Pough-
keepsie, N. Y, lately passed the follow
ing: 1--WE realize that the sale Of intox-
icating drinks as a beverage is sin
against God and is productive of nine
tenths of all the crime and pauperism in
our land. We also realize that the IL
censed saloon exists by reason of the
votes of many of our Christian citizens
being cast in favor of those who believe
in-legalizing the liquor traffic. Under a
sense Of our responsibility before God,
and that we are in large degree our
"brother's keeper" we would earnestly
recommend that no man be supported for
Office by our members who upholds or
fosters encouragement to traffic so sim
full, SO deadly and SO productive of injury
to our fellow men,"