The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
.L|QOUR TRAFFIC.
 IS BEFORE SYNOD Strong Resolutions Are Adopted
 on the Subject VISIT ANNIST0N TODAY Reports On Orphans Home and On Foreign Missions Full of Interest.
 Negro Problem consid-
 cred Informally.
VISIT ANNIST0N TODAY
BY BURR BLAckBU RN.

| | Talladega, November 15.-(Special. )-The
 day at the synod of Alabama was a rec ord-breaker in the number and variety of
 subjects which were discussed, and in
 the addresses from prominent workers.
 Dawning though it did with rain and l cold of the most indictment kind pastors | and elders numbering over 100, and many members of the local denominations. were l seated in their places at s:9O this morn | ing. The devotional exercises are always simple but impressive, and arranged to l prepare the minds of the representatives ] for their great work.
 The morning was occupied by a discus sion of universal interest, and one which aroused no little heated barley; whether the church should take formal stand
 and openly declare that the use of liquor is on the increase in the social functions of society in our state Many other and broad charges were made ir this connec- ton against the present position of civil | ization.
 Addresses were also made by the Rev. J. 0. Rovis, secretary of the general as- sembies home mission board; the Rev. O. thlrty-three years; and s. W. Summerville from the assemblies home and school at | Fredericksburg. Va
 Following are the clauses of the report os the temperance committee, which | brought out such difference of opinion: Text of Resolutions. "Whereas, Intemperance is the great l antagonist of domestic peace and social 1 happiness, of sound morality and pure 1 Christianity and at war with all the dear | est interests of man for time and eter- | nifty: and
 "Whereas, There is an evident increase of this ruinous habit, especially at so- | cal functions.
 1 Resolved, That the synod of Alabama recommend to the members of the | churches within it's bounds total absten-
 er ce from all intoxicating liquors" Sentiment Is Divided. 1 Whether intemperance should be called l the greatest antagonist of the church was l decided negatively, and the report so ! an ended.
 | On the second part of the preamble re- l lating to the increase of the use of liquor, | the synod divided itself into two parties, called by each other "optimists' and 1 ''res simists." both of whom upheld their | positions with forceful arguments. l Dr. Lander. Dr. Parks, Dr. J. w. Orr l and others believed that the increase is l alarming and said that the facts should 1 be stated boldly and forcefully. just as l much so as the words against sin are l spoken. But Dr. Stagg, Dr. Dean and oth- l CTS were more optimistic. believing that l the world in all directions is growing bet
 ter every day. It was noted that the sym l odival record some 100 years ago con | tained the statement that a prayer was | offered begging that the attendants be | constrained from getting drunk at fu- 1 nerals. Dr. Stagg believed that a great 1 tidal wave of reform Is sweeping the 1 country in the Anti-saloon league work,
 whcih would not have been possible ten l years ago, but that although Christian, it l is necessarily a political organization, and l separate from the church. He said that , we have come to the time when church 1 and Anti-saloon league teaching is bear | ing fruit to such an extent that all cor porations are drawing the line against liquor users, and politicians, who drink l al every opportunity, are swearing by the league because it is the only plea which 1 will do them any good.
 The report as finally amended and adopted in the afternoon, read:
 "Where as, the liquor traffic in its | various forms, is working so much ruin in our land. and is diametrcally op- posed to the mission of the church. which I is the salvation of the souls of men, and
 l "Whereas, the enternal God had de- 1 clared in his Holy Word that no drunk I ard shall inherit the kingdom of God. | Therefore be it
 Resolved. By the synod of Alabama 1 of the Presbyterian church, in the United l States, that we express our sympathy l with the work of the Anti-Saloon league | and bid it God-speed in its effort to re- deem our state from the evils of the iraf l fic in intoxicating liquors.
 Resolved, second, That our ministers | be urged to preach on this subject as l occasion may require, that suitable in- structions be imparted to the children | in the home and in the Sababth school | and that all our people exert themselves | in every way to stem the torrent that