New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
BISHOP HITS THE SALOON
Temperance Leading Topic in
Address to Convention.
GATHERING IN GARDEN CITY
Remarks Held To Be Significant
in View of the Rev. MIR.
Wasson's Letter.


Wasson's Letter.
Garden City. Long Island. May Il (spe-
ciaD.-Clergymen and laymen TO the num-
her of nearly four hundred from all the
Episcopal churches OF Brooklyn and all
the other parts Of Long Island were in at
tendance at the annual diocesan conven-
ton of the Long Island Episcopal diocese
in the Cathedral of the Incarnation to-day.
In addition fully five hundred members
of various churches of The diocese sat in
the rear of the convention and listened at
the afternoon session to the annual address
Of Bishop Burgess 10 the convention.
With the exception Of few remarks on
the Importance of the Book of Common
Prayer as a guide to worship, suggestion
that lengthy musical services be curtailed
and brief discussion OF the layrnen's mis-
sionary movement, the Bishop devoted the
greater part of his address to the subject
OF temperance. which he said was at the
present time one OF the most vital and
important questions in the state of New
York
Following so closely upon the heels of
the announcement of the resignation of the
Rev. William A. WATSON, rector of Grace
Episcopal Church at Riverhead, Long ISL
and. for the expressed purpose of combat
ing what Mr. WATSON called the "tyran-
nical. un-Scriptura1 and un-Christian pro-
hibition propaganda" the Bishops pro-
norncements on the temperance question
were considered as being of more than
ordinary Importance. He said, in part;
I intend only to express what I think
should be the attitude OF Christian people
toward the two questions of temperance
which have been most prominently before
tho people of the State of New York during
the last year: the Sunday opening question
and the question of local option. But let
me preface my remarks by few words on
the saloon.
This American institution as it exists
to-day IS, to my mind, almost wholly bad
in its effects, although, while 1 say this,
most frankly acknowledge that am not,
nor ever have been. in favor of state pro
hihtiCn. But that saloons are the breeding
places of ali kinds of crime, from adultery
to murder and burglary; that they cause
constant temptation TO the young, and cor
rupt far more than they can possibly
beneficial these things ought to make one
pause before commencing this institution
Nor will the -specious argument that the
saloon is the workingman's CLUB be very
convincing to those who know. We clergy
in our parochial life see more frequently
and we know too well the utter neglect OF
the home. the cruelty and car rI e;s
allegiance to the saloon
First. as TO Sunday opening: 7 believe
that Christian people stand reasonably or
the law. prominent Judge on the Su-
prene Court bench of New York said to
not long ago: You cannot galvaniZe
those old Sunday laws and put life into
them That is true. II they are really
dead. A law dies the moment 1t ceases
to accord with a strong minority Of the
people.
l think the attitude of Christian people
in New York has greatly changed toward
the Sunday. and that our Sunday laws
need restaternent. We no longer look at
M a
dav. nor do We constantly talk about the
Sabbath" We realize it is not an unnoly
bail on a Sunday afternoon. or riding or
stroling in the parks.
But none the less I believe that while
the Church may wei approve of the open
ing of museums and libraries and the in
creased facilities for travel or the Lords
B 2E Of E not or approve g IF the 0P BAN
games. or the saloons. And may | add, by |
way Of parenthesis, that trust the Chris
express its disapproval OF the enormous
aTount of real estate business now trans !
acted in the rural districts Of Long Island |
The local option question. on the other
fa nd. IS in my opinion mistake There /
should be one temperance law for the whole !
state. with perhaps exceptions made for |
the great cities. The introduction Of one /
of the most contentious subjects into local |
arouses wrangIing and leads oftentimes TO |
hard feelings which would have been |
avoided had the outlook beer wider
II the efforts of prohibitionists were d. !
rected toward limiting the number Of
saloons strictly to the size of the popula |
ton. making the number allowed. to each !
territory small as possible, it would re- i
suit in untold good 70 the community |
Many a man is forced to vote for prohibit !
ton now because 1t seems TO be the only |
way to bring about reform, Just as many |
citizen viii go over to free trade If no real /
reduction in the tariff can be accomplished |
without such reaction 1t may be a dream. |
tn vrh6n linn
tied trade in liquor shall be controlled by /
the state government and thus taken out of /
the hands of those who now make their |
living too often by the price of blood.
The nominations for the standing com
mittee, which will be elected tomorrow.
are as follows: The Rev Henry C Swent-
eel, the Rev. John G. Bacchus the Rev. st.
Clair Hester. the Rev. Townsend G. Jack
son, Alexander z Orr, Augustus Van
Wyck, Townsend Scudder and Henry E.
Pierrepont. Delegates-at-large: DR., W. C.
in place of the Rev. Joshua
Kimber; w NJ S. Ebling. in place of F. W.
Farham. and Walter Young. in place OF ".
H. Ford.
The appointments by the Bishop follow: Il
To the missionary committee and trustees
Of the diocesan missions of Long Island,
DR.. H. 3. Schenck archdeacon of Northern
'lpOhIA H. IL "NiiiA4A457t N44dCcNOlI VI
queens and Nassau: James W. Eaton, ARCH
leacon of Suffolk, and w. Scott Baer, in
place of the Rev Lindsay Parker. New
members. To committee on corporation
md admission OF churches, c. p. Aside;
IN diocesan fund, William H. Harris; on
he General Theological Seminary, c.. W.
7elter. on the Church Charity Foundation
md other benevolent institutions Frank
Page and the Rev William S. Watson: on
he salary of the Bishop the Rev William
C,I,,,-nl, r,..i1ai...-