The record-union., 1899-05-20
The Permanent Temperance Committee
Submits a Report.
Asks the Assembly to Consider the
Availability of Recommending
That All States Amend Their
School Laws So as to Prohibit
Employment as Teachers of Per-
, sons Addicted to the Use of In
toxicating Beverages.

MINNEAPOLIS, May 19.-The
only excitement of the morning session
of the Presbyterian General Assembly
was caused by the West Point commit
Ntee report This committee was APP
pointed by the last assembly to lay be-
fore the President of the United States,
the Secretary of War and other officials,
protest against giving permission for
a Roman Catholic chapel on the West
Point reserve.
The committee stated that, although
the President, the Secretary of War
and the Chairman of the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs had given
assurances las to their interest in the
subject and their qualification at the
action of the assembly, the Roman
Catholic bill had subsequently passed
both houses of Congress and had been
signed by the President. The assembly
took no formal action, but Indignation
was expressed on all sides.
After religious exercises the Chair
men of the standing committees were
announced.
The Vice Moderator is DR.. Royal L.
Graham, D. D., and the Chairmen of
Overtures, Rev. Wallace Radcliffe.
Judicial, Rev William McKibben, D. D.
PolHy, Rev Hughes d. Gibbons, D. d.
Home Missions. Rev. Robert D. Coyle,
D. D. Foreign Missions, Rev. Matthias
L. Haines, D. D. Educational, Rev. w.
R. Kirkwood, D. D. Publication, Rev
Andrew Meldrum D. d. Church Free
ton, Rev Douglas P. Putnam, D. D.
Theological Summaries, Rev. John w.
Dinsmore, d. D. Ministerial Relief,
Rev. William H. Penhallegon, D. D.
Freedmen, Rev. Charles Herr, D. D.
Aid for Colleges Rev. John Malcolm
Shaw, d. D. Correspondence, Rev.
William S. Fulton. D. D. Benevolence,
Ray. Cameron Mackenzie, D. D. Mar
rative, Rev J. Wilson, D. D. Temper
aace, Rev. John n. Boyd, D. D. Leave
of Absence Thomas B. Broughton.
Mileage Samuel Harrison. Finance,
Samuel G. Scott.
Following this announcement the spe-
cial committees on reduced representa-
ton, West Point Chapel, charter of
boards, digest, reprinting of the min
utes. Sabbath observance and the
boards on systematic beneficence re-
ported.
The Committee on Reduced Represen-
tation reported alternative resolutions,
one making the number of Commission
ers 422 and the other 300. The former
number is based on ratio of one Com
missioner to eighteen ministers, and the
latter one minister and one elder for
each 600 communicates. John F. Pat
terson of Orange, n. j.. is the Chair
man of the committee.
James Yeareville, Chairman of the
Sabbath Observance Committee, pre-
scented a memorial on Sabbath observ
ance and resolutions ealing for in
creased respect for the day and the en-
actment of Sunday laws.
The reports of boards and committees
Were presented.
The permanent Committee on Tenn
perance submitted it's report, which was
in part:
THE committee has labored to cult
vate a sentiment in favor of total alb
stinence from intoxicating beverages
by the individual, and the complete
suppression of the traffic by the strong
arm of the law. In the year now clos
ing. as heretofore, the endeavor 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 CO.
operation as seemed competent to a
church temperance committee we have
rendered to efforts for securing Gov
ernmental action either in better legis-
lation or enforcement of the prohibttory
features of existing laws
1.-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
addressed ecclesiastical bodies or other
public semblages. but the limitations
imposed by depleted treasury have
usually confined such efforts to narrow
territorial bounds. The small sum fur
nished for the prosecution of this work
has therefore been mainly expended IL
the printing and distributing of liter
AZURE and in correspondence through
the mails.
Though our temperance mission
work among the colored people of tbs
South has not been abandoned. it has
been found impossible to continue 1T
except upon a very limited scale and il
rather desultory way.
I'VE ask the general assembly Il
consider the advisability of recon-
mending that in all States such amend
ment of school laws be sought as shall
prohibit the employment of teachers O.
persons addicted even to the occasional
use of Intoxicating beverages. Wha
railway companies demand even in the
engineer or conductor of freight train
will not surely be deemed an excessive
requirement regarding those intrustec
with interests so infinitely momentous
your committee would also invok,
action by the assembly emphaticall,
protesting against the fragrant defianc,
of the will of the people and of tn,
plain meaning of the laws of Congress,
in retaining the beer canteen in tn,
army and appealing to the Presiden
for it's suppression
The report of the board of relief TO
disabled ministers and the widows ant
orphans of deceased ministers shove,
the following receipts: