Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-17
AGAINST PROHIBITION.
The Episcopalians Are Now Strongly
 Opposed To It,

Washington, Feb 17.-Congress and
 federal prohibition legislation are i'm
 mensely surprised at the very large
 number of prominent clergylnen who
 are now opposing prohibition. The
 developments show that leading
 chrchmen of two of the great churches of the country-Catholic and
 Episcopalian-are arrayed against
 sumptuary laws not only by congress.
 but by the states. The Hebrew
 church and its membership is even
 more solid than the other two, and to
 these three may be added the Luther-
 an and several other churches. Here
 tofore clergymen opposed to prohibit
 tion have had little to say, but for 1 some reason or other they are becom- f ing more outspoken. Private adyices
 are to the effect that many of the church leaders of the denomina tions named have come to the conclusion
 that in proportion as religious bodies
 press for prohibitory laws they lose
 the good will of liberal minded men
 and thousands of others who feel that
 the churches should accomplish what
 they desire in the way of temperance
 by moral efforts and suasion.
 Cardinal Gibbons. the head of the
 Catholic church in this country, has
 recently given two authorized inter-
 views putting himself on record as
 against the present movement, espec-
 ially in the larger cities. He favors
 high license and local option in rural communities and small towns. The pope at Rome has recently authorized similar statement to his opposition to sweeping sumptuary laws. Arch
 bishop Messmer. of Milwaukee, is not only out against attempts to reform men by law, but he thinks the army has been immensely harmed by the anti-canteen laws. Of the same church there is Rev Daniel J. O'Sul- livan, rector of St Mary's church at St Albans, Vermont. who announces himself in complete accord with Car dinal Gibbons.
 Bishop Donchue. of West vir- | ginia, recently wired friends in | the West Virginia legislature protest | ing against threatened prohibition | legislation in that state He asks for | high license with heavy penalties for violation.
 Stonger than the Catholics are the | headed by Bishop Pot ter. of New York: Bishop Satterlee. of Washington; Bishop Webb of Wis consin: Bishop C. C. Grafton of the | same church.: Bishop Hall, of Yer mont, and numerous others. backed by their clergymen. Bishop Potter declares that enforced total abstin- dhce has been, in America. the parent of immeasurable dishonesty and hy- pocrisy. From this it would seem that the best temperance movement was that which. fin free land, incul- cated the principle of self restraint" Bishop Satterlee denounces prohibi- ton, as it exists in most states, .es- pecially in Maine, as huge fraud. Bishop Webb says bis church is not radical in it's views. and Bishop Hall says prohibition drives the mischief sought to be corrected underground. Bishop Grafton declares that prohi- bition in the south may possibly turn out satisfactory. because of the negro question. but in the north if is diff ferent. Prohibition here is not prac- teal of clergymen of the same church there are dozens openly against prohibition, notably among them be- Ing Rev William \. Wasson. rector of l, Brace Episcopal church at Riverhead. L. l., who successfully lead a move nent that restored the license form of Whiskey control in his town after if had been dry two years: Rev Juseph r. Mc'omas. rector of St Ann's Epis- 'Jpal church, Annapolis. Md. who goes 5o far as to disapprove local option: ReT Walter C. Haupt. of phIladel- 1hia. Il
 The Jewish rabbis are so unanimous 'n the subject it is hardly necessary 10 pick out names. DF Emil q. UIrsch ,f Sinai temple. Milwaukee. is very lear in his views. He does not think , he appetites of people can be reg dated hy law any more than they can l ,e forced to accept any particular 1 aort of religion The Jew is Iainfei @ as a model of sotrietv the world 'ver. and the cIaim is made that ha . earns temperance while growing up 2 Is a child.
 In the Cities of Louisville. Iexfnz- l ! on and Newport Ev. there are said i. Q hn twenty ministers opposed to pro ] , Iihition. among tlem Rev James P. iarry. Dean Capsrs and Rev EsIvsrf | NHller at Lexington: Rev Thomas ? John. Rev C- ! Zimmerman. Rev tPnuis Murphy Rev L. F. Johnson Rev Chsries F Criak. Rev William luHameI. at L0uEsvfTe: Rev Thouss joo1ev.- Rev Jaues A Broermsn- Rev 'Fei Knapp. Rev Matthias LlefrS. at ! Seurort- s