The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-05-24
TEMPERANCE
PARAMOUNT
GENERAL ASSEMBLY At coLUM-
5IA WILL GIVE THIS CUES
TON EPEcIAL THOUGHT.

COLUMBUS. o., May 19.-Many in
portant Questions are TO come befor
the Presbyterian General Assembl
! during the present week, but non
has aroused more interest among tn
Commissioners than the work of tn
permanent Temperance Committee
The organization of the National In
terchurch Temperance Federation a
Pittsburg last January through the EFF
forts of this committee has aroused
the opposition of the Anti-SaloOr
League, which regards the new organ
ization as infringing upon its field Of
work. The league claims that it is
in effect, an interchurch federation
since it derives it's chief support from
the various churches, and that, there
fore. the new organization is unneces.
sary.
Several overtures have been sub
mitted to the General Assembly ask
ing that the new temperate move be
abandoned and that undivided support
be given to the Anti-Saloon League.
The question is to be brought before
the Assembly on these overtures,
rather than on the report of the Tenn
perance Committee. if plans of GER
tain church leaders do not fail.
The report of the Temperance Com
mittee is on the regular programme
for consideration next Friday. BY
that time it is feared many of the
Commissioners will be leaving for
their homes, and as it is desired to
have full expression of the Assem-
bly, on the subject, an effort is being
made to have the Committee on Over
lures submit the question Tuesday or
Wednesday.
The position taken by the perma-
nent temperance committee of which
Rev. DR.. John F. Hill, of Pittsburg, is
the Secretary and active officer, is
that there is field for both the
Church Temperance Federation and
the Anti-Saloon Leagues The com
mittee holds that it is not the prov
ince of the church to undertake to
enforce laws which it is the duty of
civil authorities to enforce. On the
other hand it does not question the
usefulness and necessity for temper
ance agencies which are in no way
officially connected with the church,
and it declares that it is not its pur-
pose to antagOnize them.
Rev. DR.. Roberts, the Moderator of
he Presbyterian Assembly, has
aiken a strong stand in favor of CO.
operation and harmony between the
Committee and the Anti
saloon League, holding that both ]
lave fields of usefulness. His opinion
S expected to have great weight in
he deliberation of the Assembly when t
he controversy is brought up for ad-
Every effort is being made J
0 prevent the discussion of the tenn
erance matter reaching the acrimoni-
lis stage, but there is every prospect /
{ a lively debate in the Assembly f
Other important matters to come up r
uring the week will be the reports v
the Committee on Marriage and I
ivorce and on Administrative Agen- t
les. The former committee is ex- h
scted to recommend more radical re- V
,rm in the matter of marriage and fl
vorce, and the holding of ministers fl
a more strict accountability under r,
lie standards of the church. The h
0mmittee on Administrative Agen- il
es is not expected to recommend ia
~ immediate action on the PROPOSE
On to consolidate the various boards al
the church. 1t is understood, how al
er. that it will urge important ad- la
changes, such as the Gre Il
ion of an Executive Commission in
It'll the Moderator as the official
ad, which shall be the representa- fir
re body of the church during the ar
term between the sessions of the tn
neral Assembly. Under the raes- be
[ system there is no body or official III
which questlcns can be referred for TO
mediate settlement between ses- be
ms. id'
- tn