The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-15
"Politics in the Conference"

Editor of The meS-Dlspatch:
The above headline appeared in II The The
port Of the Committee on Temperance
at the Petersburg Conference, II work
ing or speakingf for one individual as
against another, entirely apart rom ra MOI 81,
politics in the conference. But II, by
the word politics" is meant a considera-
ton Of the duty Of Christian citizens on
a great moral issue. then there were pol POI
tiles in the Petersburg Conferences The
conference enunciated distinctly the MS
toric position Of the Methodist church In
reference to the liquor tralttc. ny resoe
the church Of Christ and called upon all
the members of the church to line up In
the conflict. whether the conflict be in
the Legislature. The conference de-
manded that the officers of the state,
from the judge on the bench to the con-
stable of the district. enforce the llquor
those officials who had tried to multi
fy the law, either by misintcrpretalion on
the bench or by ignoring the violations OF
It, were Denounced as st lalre Wer 20 caed
upon to withdraw their support from an
such officials. The conference further
more placed itself on record as iIr favor favor
bill" to apply 10 social clubs" and dis
tlleres. and while taking no stand as
between Democrats and kePu9llca me
did call upon GnTistan Gzf h
Legislature because he was in favor of
the Mann bill" If the organized liquor
traffic is striving to defeat man be-
then the church. as, a great moral organ
2ation. should resist through its indl-
vdual membership this assault upon NOR
ais. and so this conference sounded note
ship to oppose with all its power this
movement of the liquor traffic to punish
men for their attitude on moral issue:
in this course. It is in line, with Meth
odlst legislation and discipline, Para
graph 2i5 OF the Discipline of the NJ. y.
Church, South. is as follows:
abstain from the manufacture or sale Of
Intoxicating liquor to be USED as bey-
erage' from signing petitions f9 OR such
person as condition for obtaining license
and from renting property to be used
for such sale, If any member shall vo-
late any of the provisions or this para
graph crap n,, he shall be deemed guilty Of
This legislation is not recent. made
for the state Of Virginia, put IS OF many
yeenrs standing ana IS r ioF 'h o sym Mnole
petition for license, or REM properly ior
the sale OF liquor and continue as a mem
Der OF the Methodist Church, It is en-
Conference to take the position taken
BY the Petersburg Conferences, II it is
immoral to sign a petition f tor , license, It
aus who are fayert OF l nsrrew r aSS
fanatical, but Siethodism has never been
sshasd Of tia. KIND Of pRd
in the conference' meant an outspoken
position on great m nsope s to ra INA tor
the battle, then certainly the expression
Is GoTrec1 and more tha p t MEET ba liberal
penditures of the Anti-saioon League IN
Carrying the campaign fsF the dsktTne
dism calls on Its members 70 "a, take their
religion into the realm 81 potltl ,,s as well
tivty. 49,,
j have written this letter b, because ia,s
to Know wi What lisG Sort Of politics we had at
the Petersburg Conferemcaer.,s n nnu as ,
pose si that tte it H q proper for to make h
statement OF the me aLn * SitS report
Blackstone. va. August 9th,