Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-20

1llcs ubailttsd III T2ISS sl sssz
- part The .conlnIffee - labored
to cultivate public sentiment 81 fayoy
OF total abstinence from intoxicating
beverages by the individual, and the
complete suppressiom CT the traffic by
the strong arm of the law. In the year
now closing, as heretofore, the endeav3
has been that from the pulpit, in the
home and Sabbath school, and in all
schools and colleges sound instruction
should be given promotive of proper
personal habits, and of the correction
of social drinking customs. Such aid
and cooperation as seemed competent
to churc temperance committee, We
have rendered, to efforts for securing
governmental action either in better
legislation or enforcement of the pro-
hibitory features of existing laws.
The instruments by which your COM
mittee works are mainly the pen and the
press. In a few instances officers and
members of the committee have addrs ssed
ecclesiastical bodies or other public as
semblies, but the limitations imposed by
depleted treasury have usually confined
such efforts to narrow territorial bounds.
The small sum furnished for the prosecu-
ton Of this work has therefore been main
~ expended in the printing and fistribut-
ing of literature and in correspondence
through the mails.
among the colored people of the South
Though our temperance mission work
has not been abandoned it has been found
impossible TO continue it except upon a
very limited scale and in very desultory
way
I'VE ask the General Assembly to con-
slider the advisabllity of recommending
that in all States such amendment of
school laws be sought as shall prohibit
the employment as teachers of persons
addicted even to the occasional use of
intoxicating beverages. What railroad
companies demand even in the engineer
Or conductor of a freight train will not
surely be deemed an excessive require
ment regarding those intrusted with in
terests so infinitely momentous.
Your committee would also invoke ac-
ton by the assembly emphatically pro-
testing against the fragrant defiance of
the will of the people and of the plain
meaning of the laws of Congress in re-
tanning the beer canteen IN the army, and
appealing TO the President for its sup
preston"
The committee on bills and overtures
will hear the McG.ffert letter. The chair
man is the Rev Wallace Radcliffe, D. D.
The special commute on charters of
boards reported that of the eight boards,
six had charters that gave the assembly
full power of veto and approval but in
the cases of the boards of home and for
eign missions it was douhtfu,. The COM
mittee on digest recommended that the
permanent historical and administrative
documents of the church be gathered and
published IN a separate volume.
The only excitement of the morning ses-
son was caused by the West Point COM
mtttee's report. This committee was APP
pointed by the last assemb y to lay before
the President of the United States, the
Secretary of War and other officials, a
protest against giving permission for a
Roman Catholic chape! on West Point re-
serve. The committee stated that al
though the President, the Secretary of
mittee on military affairs had given as
surances las to their interest in the sub
ject and their qualification at the action
of the assembly the Roman Catholic
bill had subsequently passed. both houses
of Congress and Teen signed by the Pres
ident. The assembly took no formal ac-
ton, but Indignation was expressed on all
sides.
Sunday observance was the question
which took the major part of the long af-
terneon session. In the end the commit
tees eight resolutions were adopted with
slight amendments, and two more were
added In the discussion the Sunday
street car, the Sunday train and railroad
excursion, the Sunday newspaper, the
Sunday working Presbyterian and every
form of activity which is not in harmony
with the literal meaning of the fourth
commandment was condemned.
In the debate on the Sabbath resolutions
almost every speaker gave evidence of be-
ing imbued with the feeling expressed in
the words of the committee: THE Amer
lean Christian Sabbath is in imminent per-
il: in fact in many of our large cities and
in other parts of our land it is already
nearly lost. mis- means that American
liberty and American institutions are in
peril, for of these the American Sabbath
has been both the foundation and the
protection"
The McGiffert case, contrary to expec-