The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-17
HAVE FORMED A LEAGUE
Church Members Organize the
Christian Citizens League
To Work for Temperance and
Purity.
Delegats Meeting Held at the First
Baptist Church Last Night.

The Committee of Seventeen has been
reorganized into a larger body. to be
known as the Christian Citizens
League of Topeka.
Last evening at the First Baptist
church 100 delegates from the various
churches were present to form the or
ganization. Each church and each re-
ligious organization in the city has
been asked by the Committee of Seven
teen to elect a committee of five to
meet together and organize a temper
ance league which should be permanent
and which would fight the liquor traf-
fic in Topeka
Last evening most of the churches
and societies were represented, al
though some had not yet made their
election.
Jesse Shaw acted as chairman and
Robert Stone as secretary.
A. H Vance made the address of the
evening. Speaking of the condition OF
question in Topeka, Mr.. Vance said:
IF you take look about you, you
will see that we were forgetful after
our successful efforts. The enemy was
carefully at work and carefully fixing
themselves. We have today as execu-
tive officers for city, county and state,
ferent as to whether the prohibitory
law is enforced or not. Whenever the
enemy discovers that they have pos
session of the officers, they become i'm
pudent. They open up saloons and
joints and commence to say: You
can't enforce this law Men have come
from other states and walked up and
down our streets and did not see a sa-
loon, and they have been amazed But
recently it happened that which set US
on edge again. We discovered that the
enemy was at our door, was defying
the law and inaugurating a reign of
the old saloon in our state This
brought out the people against it and
this organization is the result of that
awakening. When we went to work on
this thing we We're met right on the
threshold with the statement by the
officers that it was not their duty to
proceed against these people, but that
some one else should take the initiative.
A short time ago [ met a gentleman
who is on the other side, but who is
not engaged in the liquor business. He
said to me: Mr.. Vance the town is as
tight as drum I told him was glad
you told me this law couldn't be en-
forced in Topeka He laughed. This
condition was brought about by that
order which is supposed to have come
from the state house. But L want to
say to you that the conscientious officer
can enforce the law at any time and
County Treasurer F. NJ. Stahl made
a few remarks in which he urged those
present to put their shoulder to the
wheel and do what they could.
The audience was then asked to de-
eide what name the organization
should be known by
u ID.
name should cover morals as we'll as
temperance. We want it to cover Sun
day games. We want all the saloons,
gambling denS and disorderly houses
closed up and kept closed
By unanimous vote it was decided to
give the new organization the name of
christian Citizens League"
The league decided to request all pas
tors of the city and suburbs to deliver
a sermon on temperance on the Second
in Septembe A collection will
ha NJ
for the pushing of the work:
Mr. S. E. Nicholson, author of the
brilliant temperance orator, will deliv-
er two temperance lectures in Topeka
next week under the auspices of the
league. Sunday evening he will speak
upon temperance, and on Monday ev-
ening upon good citizenship. Both lee
lures will be held at the First Presby-
terrain church and admission will be
free.
Mr.. Nicholson is president of the In
diana Good Citizenship league.
Judge j. l. Eldridge moved to send
temperance workers in Newton, Nc
Pherson, Harper and Kansas City. |
Kan, in their hard struggle against
the liquor traffic.
The following was the constitution |
adopted by the league:
section 1. The name of this organi- |
cation shall be the Christian Citizens
League of Topeka.
''Sec. 9 The objects of this organiza-+ |
ton shall be to awaken Christians to |
a more determined effort in the behalf |
Of temperance, purity, and the enforce |
nent of law.
Sec. 8. All Christian people shall be |
eligible to membership.
4sSec A. A committee of five shall be |
appointed from each church in the city. |
the local union of the Christian En- |
deavor the Y. NJ. c. A, the Y. W. G. |
A.. the Epworth League, the W. c. t |
U, the American Volunteers, the Sal /
walton Army, and all other Christian |
in the city and suburbs; !
the chairmen of these committees to |
form an executive committee, who |
shall out of their number elect pres t
dent vice president, secretary and |
treasurer: these officers when elected to |
be the officers of the league, and to |