New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-31
TEMPERANCE AT PRINCETON
PRESIDENT PATTON DELIVERS ShH-
MON TO THE UNDERGRADUATE.

RULES OF THE TRUSTEES TO
BE RICHLY ENFORCED.
Princeton. " j.. Jan. 50 (SpeciaD.--A fer days ago
President Francis l.. Patton announced mat ne
would address the undergraduate body to-day upon
the subject of Temperance" A. consequence
Marquand Chapel was crowded at O'Clock TINS
afternoon. There were more outsiders than STU
dents as 1t was expected that the president would
give full discussion Of the Princeton Inn question
and everything relating TO IT,
Among others in the audience were several siEncrs
OF the Princeton Inn liquor license. including cX-
President Grover Cleveland and Professor Charles
Woodruff Shields whose resignation from the Pres
byteIan Church vas caused by criticism growing
out OF his signing the petition. Or. Patton said in
part:
At their meeting in october the attention OF our
trustees turned 10 the recent agitation whcn
ton University \ committee OF which ! Was
chairman was appointed TO consider the whole sub
ject ana report subsequent meeting OF the trus-
tees That report was presented ana adopted al
the meeting held on December % II was resolved
that "a strict literal and impartial enforcement or
the existing laws respecting intoxicating drinks ne
enjoinet upon the faculty and that me president OF
students upon the whole question ht such t'me as
may suit his convenience.
come before you this afternoon for the purpose
OF carrying out the wishes o. the trustees IN respect
10 the second point In the report just referred
As we have lust observed the day OF prayer for our
could be chosen for the purpose of bringing this
important subject TO your notice.
PREVALENCE OF MODERATE DRINKING
bear grateful testimony to the high moral tone
Of the students of this University. 1 know that
they have been msreprcsentel and misunderstood.
Their hilarity. their bosterous outbursts OF ex
uberance. their sons-singing. which often las
more Bacchanaiian sound than / could wish and
In some Instances their ineXcusable acts Of wrong
doing Rave produced Impressions which he facts
vii not Justify and they have on many occasions
been charged with drunkenness for no other reason
than that. under the Influence of the gresarous in
s;.nct which sometimes assumes almost irrational
mode o. expression, animal spirits have been al
lowed too much freedom. ana speech and action
have not been kept within those metes' and bounds
wnlch mature men IN the busy walks OF NE. are
apt 10 associate with sobriety. ] sure that
iar as good behavior is concerned the Undergrad
u1se or princeton IS not Denind the Undergraduate
Dody Of any university In the land. and ! am proud
10 say. on what feel is good authority thar the
princeton undergraduate OF To-Day does not suHer
by comparison with the Princeton undergraduate OF
hygOEe days. There never was less reason for adj
verse criticism or princeton than during the period
In which X has been unsparinsy bestowed upon
US have taken pains 10 find out the truth, and
! am sun uhsAaken IN my CONVICTION mat me
tendency in Princeton is steadily IN the direction OF
ance for wilful MISREPRESENTATION or mistake am
constrained 10 believe that there Is far OF
what Is called moderate drinking among US than
the wisest and best friends OF Princeton could WISH
;oxcating drinks. Instances OF intoxication
cc con .c. rare oat they ocGar nevertheless
Of those who cannot be charged with it themsei es
sinai. discuss The general question Of ntenlper-
ancc, nor consider The relative degrees OF wisdom
W vads f'''4'''''1e Inc o"'F'"' modes o. dealing
am not here concerned with the general ques-
ton as 10 what Il wise legislative polo II Is
with the ethical side of temperance and not iis
political side thai 7 am dealing. Il r. not OF tenn
rerarce in general bat Of temperance In Prince
ton University that wish 20 speak. And speak
Ing even under these limitations IT IS not with the
deal in what say this afternoon There Is moth
INK unnatural in the desire Of the trustees for
cflfs q rlr4s
been the law of the University in regard 30 diCo-
holic liquors. That lev is wise and wholesome
Ing that the University man is not to be treated
as though he were in a preparatory hool. ! am
the report which. chairman ~ The committee
dealing with the question made to the Board Of
Of the trustees with regard to the enforce mcnt 81
tie existing law; and feel that the adniinisrstion
Of that law be wisely LEFT 10 tho good sense and
Christian judgment OF the dean OF this University.
THE RULES TO BE ENFORCED
There are two classes Of mon whom ! have par
ticularly in mind-thosc who have already fallen
into incorporate habits. and those who I'm
danger Of forming those habits / know that there
are some who do not make much Of the di,tinc-
lion between these TWO classes. and Who there
fore they happen to be habitually mean
we're IN their Judgments are apt to waste too
much pity OF the man who Is guilty of habtual
intoxication. else to treat tie moderate drnker
AS a drunkard But the distinction i o valid one.
and simple justice requires ~ 10 make it, Now.
wish to say that drunkenness is practically
objectionable sin in our academic life / do not
forget the duty men to counsel. to warn
them and to labor for their Improvement. There
have been men in all these years az my admins
traton who know how faithfully they have been
dealt with in regard 10 this sin which ruins both
body and soul. But with the utmost desire to
claim the erring and making every allowance for
the mistakes Of youth. IL must be understood that
cation and continue in this University II his Of
fence f. known TO the authorities.
! wish more particularly. however. to say
kindly word to those who are understood to he
Ing them some advice ana or course the basis Of
that advice | must find in the New Testament. I
reached the point OF superseding the Bible | can
not accept any conclusions OF tn" so-called Chris
tan consciousness that will contradict or tran
sccnd the ethics OF Jesus and ST. Paul.
St Paul. writing under The influence Of inspira-
ton makes his conspicuous contribution TO Chris
tian ethics in his great utteiance. II meat make
my brother to Offend l will eat no meat while the
yord b is iT ansq paIoo in which
spect to concrete matter in the light OF the
principle Of Christian o@pedicncy. Paul cnuuciatcs
he duiy Of having Il Benevolent regard for the
conscience Of the weak brother IN come ton with
offered 10 idols The apostle would Do moth
ing that would weaken the moral purpose shake
innocent IN itself. TO cat meat offered to idols
of some this might seem Ike concession to idola-
trv and under these ciscumftdnceS the apostle
other words. says Paul. We are 10 consider not
only what our conscience has 20 say. hut how our
ACT may affect the conscienccs OF others. ] must
not do what my conscience allows, II. IN doing so
I ,emnt my ncigNbor what his conscience con-
dernns since for him to act In violation OF his con-
eci,nce would be for him 10 sin. Conscience I
saw then not thine own. but OF the other" Now
/ yenturc 10 say thai Wa all recognize this great
sItr,istic principle For all TO whom the New
Testament IS authoritative the principle H. an OBJ
jcctive law.
The carving out Of tho law must. in the nature
of tho case BE- largely left 20 the individual cor
science Men apply this principle IN different
wa in regard 10 the use Of wing Some con
scieutioiielv abstain ~ al times. some az con-
scientouslv are governed IN their abstinence hy
con siderations OF time. place and circumstances.
We must not charge men with hypocrisy of intern
perance or fanaticism because they do not agree
with us in the application ~ principle which We
all alike recognize obligatory But you and I
should ask ourselves We question. How can !
best carry out this great principlc'' Speaking.