Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-04

| lutions took strong ground against the
/ license system, State control, and the
Gutenberg system of dealing with the
LIQUOR traffic, and condemned the Bal
timore Book Directory for allowing an
advertisement of brewing establish
ment to appear in the Methodist Pro
tcstant, the official organ of the church.
The resolutions provoked considerable
discussion and were taken up by items.
Rev. DR.. II. G. Cushing spoke against
the resolution pertaining to the Got
tenberg system, explaining the provi.
sion of the system, and declaring him
self in favor of it, and that III his opin,
ion it was the surest way to prohibi
ton. This system, although not the
best, is infinitely better than high
| license or low license.
Rev. F. T. Tagg, editor of the Metho'
dist Protestant, said that he was very
much surprised that the genial and
reverend DR.. Cushing should stand on
the conference floor and declare him
self in favor of the system. ''It is not
the business" said he, "of any church
to give it's sanction TO any regulation OF
the liquor traffic. The church can take
no middle ground on the question.
The church of God is pledged to the
complete overthrow of the power oil
the devil, not regulating him, but com
pletely demolishing his power"
Rev. J. B. Jones wanted to know il
the conference thought they could get
that. causing great deal of laughter
among the delegates.
Rev. ]. W. Kirk took decided ground
against the resolution and made a
forcible argument in support of his
position. Mr.. Kirk thought the system
only another f97m Of the high license
system:
| DR.. Cushing, in reply to the remarks
| of Mr.. Kirk, made clear defense OF
himself, and hoped that those VINO
| followed him would not be amazed
as was Mr.. Kirk, at the position he had
taken; or if they were, they would keep
their Amusement to themselves or at
least within reasonable bounds. He
believed in common sense dealing with
the traffic, and if one thing could not
be obtained, get the next best thing.
Rev. J. L. Straughn spoke in favor Of
the resolution.
Rev. J. B. Jones attacked Prof. Gould,
of the Johns Hopkins University, for
his book on the subject in which he
commends the Gutenberg system.
Rev. T. o. Grouse, of Chatsworth
Church, Baltimore, contended that the
system was not barren of results. He
was not prepared to declare himself,
however, entirely in its favor. He
thought that the conference was speak
ing rather iatemperatety on temper
ance subject.
Rev. S. R. Murray called for the
reading of the resolutions.
Mr.. j. r. Cation, the representative
from Alexandria, made strong speech
against the preamble to theresolutions,
He was opposed to the resolutions for
two reasons First, that they tried to
attach the conference as an appendage
to party-kite, and secondly, because
they branded all those who chose to
differ from the trainers of the resolu-
tions as criminals. Keep prohibition
out of politics.
Mr.. Cation moved to recommit.
Rev. w. NJ. Strayer spoke in favor
of recommitting the resolutions to the
committee.
DR.. ]. F. Murray, acting presiding
officer in the absence of the president,
put the motion and it was carried.
The report of the conference commit
Tee on finance was then read by the
secretary. The report provided for an
equitable plan Of distribution of assess
ments, and recommended the envelope
and monthly plan of raising collections.
On motion of Rev. ]. l.. Mills, d. D.,
the paper was adopted, excepting the
plan Of assessments, the latter being
referred back to the committee on
finance.
The conference referred the name Of
Mrs. McGregor, widow of the late Rev
E. R. McGregor, to the committee on
superannuated fund.
Adjourned.