The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-19
THE ARMY
CANTEEN.
1t Leads to Warm Discus
sion in Synod This :.
= Morning.

formal deciso on in the appeal case
of N. N. Mccullough from the Will
mington City Presbytery, followed.
1t affirms the decision OF the lower
court 1t is a question whether an
appeal can be taken.
Il. Freeman Dickson, of Balti.
more, for Rev. Thomas Chalmers
Easton, ID. D., of Washington,
chairman OF the Committee on Tenn
perance, submitted the report Of
that committee. 1t branded the
saloon as Gods worst enemy and
Satan's best friend. 1T shuts out
love and hope and heaven, and
thrusts the mortal soul at last out
in darkness and despair. The ad-
vance in crime in our country is one
| of the most alarming features OF
the age. n The increase
in crime is largely the result Of
strong drink. She who does some
thing to stay the powerof the Amer
lean saloon, does something to save
human life for time and for eternity"
The report concluded with recon-
mendations calling on the President
to abolish the army cantecn; urging
greater fidelity among the pastors
and elders in making returns con-
corning temperance work to their
Presbyteries and that temperance
day be set aside each year.
DR.. Moore. of Middletown, offered
an amendment directing that copy
OF the report be forwarded to. Pres.
ident Mckinley. The motion brought
out considerable discussion on the
canteen question. Rev. Luther A.
Oates, of Delaware City, put him:
self on record as against the reso-
luton and created somewhat of a
sensation. He said he had learned
from an army officer that the Minis
ters Of the christian church were
viewing the cantecn question in an
improper light. lie said the can.
teen was a source of great benefit
to the army instead of detriment.
1t is the source of a revenue which
Injuries the general saloon business
and benefits the soldiers, by provid.
ing them with necessities of life,
which they would not have other.
wise. 1t also provides the soldiers
with a good quality Of beer at a
small cost. He thought it would be
exceedingly unwise for the Synod to
pass such resolution until the
opinion of such Christian officers
as be had interviewed had been
consulted about the true standing
of the canteen.
DIR. Dickson, in defense of his re-
port, said the EXCUSES Tor the can
teen as offered by Mr.. Oates friends
were old ones. DR.. Moore also spolS
in favor of the amendment. Dr.
Miller was Of the opinion that SUD
a resolution would have no effect Oh
President Mckinley or Attorney
General Griggs.
o. b Brown, elder Of the Assem-
bly, Church of Washington, spoke
strongly in favor of the resolution.
He said the resolution might not
reach the President, but it would
create such strong public opinion
that Congress would eventually be
moved to act against the saloon.
Frederick l.. Moore, elder of the
Covenant Church at Washington,
said that while he wished all Intox-
icating liquor were destroyed, he
did not favor the presentation of the
resolution to President Mckinley.
He had learned from army officers
that the canteen system was step
toward prohibition and he was
therefore satisfied. There was no
further discussion. The amendment
was put before the house and car
ried. Only one vote, that of Mr..
Moore, was recorded against it.
The general report was subsequent
ly adopted.
Ben amin r. Bittinger, stated
clerk of the Prcsbytery of Wash.
ington City, presented the report Of
that Presbytery.
The committee on standing com.
mittees presented its report
Rev. Frank H. Moore submitted
the report of the committee on Min
isterial Relief. 1t concluded with
the following recommendations:
THAT the peculiar claims of the
Board be urged on the eldership Of
the Synod; that they may use their
best efforts to enlighten and inter.
est the churches in this cause.
THAT, as far as possible, each
session shall appoint one or more OF
its members, to cooperate with the
pastor in securing offers for this
cause" The resolutions were
adopted.
Rev. A. II. Scott and DR.. w. L.
S. Murray, of the Wilmington M. e.
Conference, we're invited to sit as
corresponding members Of the Syn
cd and accepted the honor, the for
mer with brief remarks, for which
he was extended the thanks OF the
gathering.
Rev. George A. Trull, chairman
Of the committee on narrative, pre-
scented the narrative for the Synod.
Rev. b. l.. Agnew. d. D., LID, CORE.
spending secretary OF the Board of Minis
terial Relief, made stirring address
along the lines laid down in DR.. Moore's
report. DR.. Agnew urgel that creator
work DO done for ministerial relief He
said that tho Synod Of Baltimore had
drawn last year twico tho amount con-
tributod to the fund and that the Presby.
tery of New Castle had contributed but 0
cents per communicate to the fluid dur
ing tho year. lie said that such support
to so worthy cause was really shameful.
The address produced considerable dis
Ma % Iynntni To know