The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1910-10-21
REPORT COMMITTEE
ON TEMPERANCE
BEFORE CONFERENCE
METHODIST CHURCH GOES ON
RECORD AS FAVoRINe PRES
EMIT LIQUOR LAWS.
HAS WAGED RELENTLESS VAR
James !. Finney, Chairman Of Com
mittee on Temperance, Report Is
Adopted by Conference Without OPP
position.
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
GAINESVILLE. Tenn, Oct. IL
The report of the committe on tenn
perance was submitted to the confer
ence by James l. Finney, chairman
of the committee. The adoption of
the report was made unanimous. The
full report follows:
For years the Methodist church
has waged relentless warfare against
the liquor traffic. No compromise be-
tween the church and the traffic has
been possible. 1t has been a right
eous war of determination. Under the
influence of this and other churches
and in answer to prayers of Chris
tian men and women the crusade has
resulted in the complete outlawry OF
the liquor traffic in Tennessee. There
is no longer a legal partnership exist
ing between. the church and this
blighting curse.
But if prohibition laws are to be eff
fective and prove what they are de-
signed to be, a protection to society
and a bulwark of our Christian civil
ization, they must be enforced. We
believe that wherever they have been
enforced they have proven a blessing
to our people, a protection to cur
homes and a means of promoting the
kingdom of God in this world
Having won the first great contest
with the allied forces of evil and' Sc
cured the legal outlawry of the liquor
traffic the church must move on to
the next battle, that for the enforce
ment of the laws. Official connivance
at law violation is not to be tolerated
among a self-respecting people, for
disrespect for the laws must inevita-
bly, lead to anarchy. There can be no
compromise upon this question, for it
threatens the very foundation of gov
eminent. If the laws are not enforced
the peace end happiness of the peo-
pie are threatened, and the security
of human life and the protection OF
property are menaced.
/ "The Methodist church, through it's
highest legislative authority, stands
committed to the wisdom and right
eousness OF prohibition laws. The
church has borne an honorable part
in the crusade which resulted in the
enactment of our legislation on this
subject. and it must encourage and
foster the enforcement of the laws.
These laws cannot be enforced unless
executive Officials charged with the
enforcement of the law are in sym
Hathy with the sentiment which Sc
cured their enactment and are reso-
iutely determined to do their duty.
Therefore, we hold that no candidate
for any Office which has to do with
the enactment or enforcement of the
law should receive the support OF
Christian men unless he is willing to
place himself in an attitude of open
hostility to the whole nefarious liquor
traffic. Only by the correct use OF
our ballots may we hope to secure re-
forms so vital to the cause of good
government and civic righteousness.
THE Methodist church is now, as 1t
has always been opposed to the union
of church and State, but it does be-
lieve that this is Christian nation
and that laws which are the express
sion of the best sentiment or It's
Christian men and women should be
enforced and upheld by those who are
! In thorough accord with that senti-
ment. And we believe that it Is not
only the right. but it is the duty OF
our ministers to advise their members
touching their duties and responsible
tiles as citizens of this great Chris
tian republic. We believe that the
kingdom Of God in this world means
something real and that it is the sol
emn duty of the church and of it's
ministers and members to wage
ceaseless warfare against evey insti-
tuition which retards the progress and
full development of that kingdom. Re
solved, therefore,
1. THAT the Methodist fnhurch rec
ords its hearty approval Of all laws
now on the statute books for, the out
lawry Of the liquor traffic and favors
such additional legislation as may be
necessary to effectuate the purposes
of those laws. Any backward step
upon this subject will meet the deter
mined opposition of the church.
2. 1.-THE Methodist church stands
for the fair, just and impartial enforce
oM lame and aanacfallU the