Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-16
OPPOSED TO POLITICS
Presbyterian Body Believes the
Church Should Hold Aloof.
ACTION OF THE PRESBYTERY
Issue Arose Over the Report Of Com
mittee on Temperance.
CAUSES ANIMATED DISCUSSION
Colored Applicant Given License to
Preach the Gospel-New Mod
orator Chosen.

That the church of Christ should not en-
ter politics in any way. even in the IN
terest of such a worthy cause as temper
ance, was the decision of the presbytery OF
Washington. representing all of the Pres
byteran churches in this vicinity, at the
opening session Of its annual spring meet
ing in the First Presbyterian Church this
morning. The expression of this opinion
was had on a vote to lay on the table two
recommendations from the committee on
temperance. involving approval of tract
! issued by one of the general boards of the
denomination on the subject of temperance
and of a plan to organize an interchurch
council for the purpose of actively fighting
the alcohol evil. The opposition to the
report was led by Rev. DR.. Wallace Rad
clifre pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church. whose motion to lay on the tanie
| was carried by a good majority.
| In presenting his report Rev. I. ii. Rich
| ards of Germantown. Md, chairman or tne
| committee on temperance stated that IL
| had not been seen by any one Dut MIN
| self the other members of the commltLee
| having failed to appear at the meeting. Inc
report deplored the fact that 1ntemperance
| is still 50 noticeable throughout the coun-
| try and characterized the saloon FORCES as
| an enemy that shows no mercy ana oo-
| serves no rules of warfare
Mr.. Richards then gave resume oi
| tract on the temperance question issued by
the general church boards, which told or
| a contemplated concerted action against
saloons and the liquor traffic, ana asked
that the presbytery approve 1t.
DR.. Radcliffe Objects.
It was explained by DR.. Radcliffe that
an active campaign of the church author-
tiles in Pennsylvania before the state legls-
lature against the liquor trafhc hao IN
volved the church in politics and haa
aIty
from its friends and enemies. Inc same
thing. he said had happened In Illinois. II
his memory was correct. DR.. Radclne IN
sisted that 1t Is not the junction ol .alI
| church of Christ to fight any specuic e s
| by forming an organization expressly ioh
| that purpose but that it is the duty OF Tue
! church to train men and women TO We
! Christian citizens and then let them 30 out
into the world and affiliate themselves we. DO 90
| individuals with any organization that IS
/ working for the betterment OIL HahNAio
| that they may choose. -. ,,oo,
He held further. that the Antl-SaIoo,n
! League IS already doing good ~oih
| alnno tho lines suggested by the commit
! tee and doing 1t under lntelhselit ha.s ,,
! ment and that, therefore. CHRISTIAN peeps
! should Identify themselves win inns VI ST. ST.
| ganlzatOn and leave the churci ~ Lam
| care OF spiritual matters ..,
| IF we as churchmen should enter tnlS
| field. we would of necessity become ponIii,
| clans he declared Such a thing would
| he a bellttling of the church. lowering OF
| n',r standard Let us emphasize the spir-
! itual nature of the church and the liberty
/ of the Individual.
Defense by Chairman.
Chairman Richards defended the report
| on the ground that there was nothing &C
| tually in the tract about political ACTIVITY
IN the part Of the church. He believed
| the church should take a practical stand
| on the temperance question.
| What should be the attitude of the
church on this question:" he asked of Dr.
| Radcliffe.
| of the pastor of the New York Avenue
! Church.
Il do not think that is an answer"
| said Mr.. Richards.
Il think it is a very direct answer,
said DIR. Radcliffe.
on the table was then made by DR.. Rad
| cliffe and. after rising vote the mod
| orator. Rev. Walter H. Stone of barnes
town, Nd. announced the motion had
| been carried.
! The Recommendation of the COM
mittee that approval be given to plan
| to organize inter-church council to
| fight the liquor evil, was also laid on the
| table on a motion of another member of
! the presbytery.
Licensed to Preach.
The presbytery. after an examination
! licensed John L. Small, colored to preach
The committee on education reported that
| the presbytery had two other candidates
for the ministry under its care-Mr d.
| A. Reed, who is carrying on religious
| work at Berwyn and Riverdale, Md. and
Mr. ]. S. Ellis, colored. The scarcity of
candidates for the ministry was noted
by the committee.
| Other reports received this morning
were those of the ommittee on minis
| teriaI relief, Rev DIR. Thomas c. Easton,
| chairman, and church erection, Rev. DR..
John Chester. chairman.
| Luncheon was served to the delegates
| in the parlors of the church at 1890
| o'clock, and at o'clock this afternoon
| business was resumed.
Session Last Night.
| The first session Of this annual meeting of
| the presbytery was held at the First Pres
| byteran Church last night Rev. Charles
| Alvin Smith of the Peck Memorial Church,
the retiring moderator, delivered a sermon,
and Rev. w. H. Stone of Jamestown, Md,
was elected moderator for the ensuing
| year.
More than thirty Presbyterian pastors,
| and more than. ten ruling elders of this
| city were present. Aside from the address
| of the returning moderator and the roll
| call and the election. the only business
| transacted was the adoption of report