The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-17
PREACHER SCORES aDRY" LAW
THE REV. DR. WISSON RESIGNS
IN FIGHT PROHIBITION.

RvERHEAp. l.. l.. May 10 The Rev. Or
William A. Waa.oa hla rendered his resiG-
nation a. rector Of Grace Episcopal Church
Of this place 20 take effect on September 1.
Ne gives a. his reason for resigning that
he desires more time 10 lecture and
write against prohibition.
The Rev. DR.. WATSON IL a brother Of the
Rev. James R. WATSON. who was for several
years connected with 81. Thomas's Episoo-
pal Churchot New York city. He has been
pastor Of Grace Church Tor eight years
Before coming to Riverhead he was pastor
81 Grace Episcopal Church Of Brooklyn.
For the last five years Dr. WaSson
has taken an active part In the licenss
campaign. He has written and ioctlred
much in advocating license In fact has
become a national figure because Of his
opposition TO prohibition Ne has lee
tmsd In various parts Of the United States
and because he has 40 openly advocated
hcense he has been rebuked and ridiculed
m local pulpits and by church and tam
perance people all over the country.
Although his activity In the defence Of
license has been distastsfu 10 his parish
toner's DIT. WATSON Is rssigning Of his
own accord.
The Rev. Dr.. Wasaon owns a aistv-arra
farm at Mattituok and after hls retire
ment from the passionate Of Grace Church
he intends 10 spend most of his time on
the farm when not leOturing
The Rev. Mr. Wasson's letter to the
bishOp is a. follows
TAs RiSAL Rev Ersdsrtek Borgess.. q. D.,
B,sA0B 81 LoES isiaRd.
MT DEAR BIsHOP: I hereby tender you
my resignation OF the rectorshlp OF Grace
Church. Riverhead. TO take eject on septem-
Der / next
This IL a step I have had under serious
confederation for some months Il does
net mesh that ! have leas regard for tho
Cnlfch or her work or less appreciation
~ my duty and privilege a. her minister1
ON The contrary. ID IA these very cOnnldera-
tiq1a that are determining my course
that ] may serve the Church more ehsc-
tually. see an amplsr opportunity than a
locnl paetOrate can AFFORD Of preaching the
0QRnpl a. this Church hath received the
taine, and ! feel that am -thereunto
caiAd-
NhR supreme immortality that congronts
cotnfry Ia that which masks and mis-
reports Itself under the Euiae Of that noble
wQfd temperance The prohibition move
men4 3 more dangerous than commercial
Ism Cor the latter. at least. makes no pre-
teace, ~ IL drmoraliKea. II does not deceive.
1hN;foi9Dnous influence Of this humbuE.
-uhporance. IL more disastrous than that
~ NFnnkennsse. for the latter is seen and
lo4'1ed for What IL h. whereas the prohibit
tidng propaganda parades in the livery Of
heaven.
Ehis spurious temperance slurs, not
altRYs coveFtly, our Lord Jesus Christ.
beeense in his own words he came drink
inFil A COPY u the ProAibi6oaisi. the
orhcial organ 81 the national Prohibition
party. IL before me containing an editorial
IN this very strain. the Eist % which IL that
u laeus did drink wine he was ignorant Of
WhNt He was doing. ignorant Of the fact
thar We was setting q bad example 70 an
fut4ee ages. Jesus Christ must sit AZ the
feed 81 these blasphemers 20 take lessons in
good morals And these modern scribss
snd PhArisees have the braRen nerve 70 call
themselves Christians,
Calling the master % tho house. Reelra-
hub. how much more them Of his house.
hold This perhdious crusade denies and
whSfe can. tears away and destroys the
laval liberty wherewlth Christ hath made
us free Our own branch of the one uni
vennal church. in agreement with al the
other ancient divisions Of the same. sA-
presaly and formally places the vine Gun
IN the hands Of every communicating mem-
Der and commands. DRINK this Indeed
looks on this sacrament a. al onre the
conaummation ana the Wellspring Of the
Christians spiritual life. Our Churrh IN
10 many words In the catechlsm teaches
thar vine and by analogy other alroholr
beverages that may be more dangerous
than vtnei has an even stronger claim than
that Of legitimate Indulgence II teaches
that wine is food. our bodies are
Strengthened and refreshed by the bread
and wine. How far. or whether At all. the
individual member Of tho church shall
commonly use these beverages the church
leaves 20 the conscience and the good sense
Of the member
The monl influence Of this tyrannical.
unfsrrtptural and un christian prohihi-
ton propa gnnda & wholly snd many
fdediy had. While the masses Of ts ad-
hefents are no doubt sincere and honest.
. proia gonisfs ~ class ASA w an who
dlner from them with savage and venomous
judgment. Even 10 question their viadom
sfries moral depravity. In addition thsv
SANDER and falsify. They hrowbeat They
~ wicked traps 10 cntice 10 sin Whore
ttey prevail there begins an orgy Of hypoc-
rBy and lAwbreakinE, and the last state Of
~ commnniiy N worse than the first.
' begieve There \ a great and urgrnf
work for the Church AMI her Master TO 10
done In exposing and combating this threat
end reign of terror In this work 1 pro-
pose 70 DO my little share by giving up my
whole lime % Il. I shall oppose that
menaoe 10 true religion with voice and
pen With my brother am nov collabo-
rating on book aiming At once 10 show
how tntemperance can be- met and over
come, here a little and there a little. by
methods that approve themselves 10 the
reason and invade no Inherent rights 1
am writing for The periodical press a. well. |
And ] am prepared 10 speak wherever men
VII listen 10 The voice Of the Church and |
the message Of the everlasting Gospel that
has been entrusted to her care
Henceforth I shall give my time and |
thought 70 lighting temperance falsely /
90 called and advocating the true TEN. |
pernuoe which means moderation and SELF /
control.
Yours sincerely
WILLIAM A WAsa0v
Grace Church Eectory. Riverhead. l..
Nay ~. 1910
While always openly opposed 20 the
prohibition 81 liquor sales. Mr. WATSON
Jour years ago deploring. as h. said /
TIE conditions which obtained IN River.
head AZ dry town. published a letter
m me kyerhead NeWe advocating licenas
-. ~
ZONE members % his church quit h
hiverhead went wet Two wears laf.sr