The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-15

Hardwick, j. Wiley Bledsoe, w. II.
Edwards T. Men. ,--mpson, j. c..
Reed, j. T. Mastin, r. b. Davis"
The original action OF the confer
ence was RECONSTRUCTED and this SUBJ
sttute was adopted unanimously.
DR.. Cannon read the report on tenn
perance. which paper was adopted by
the conference after addresses by DR..
Cannon and Rev. j. d. McAlister.
Report on Temperance.
The paper follows:
Our Lord and Master set forth our
duty to the State in his sweeping
declaration: Render unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars. and to God
the things which are Gods"
While citizens of the kingdom Of
heaven. we still bear relation to the
earthly government under which We
live, and we are responsible to God for
all our actions as citizens of Virginia
and of the United states.
Especially is this true In reference
to all questions pertaining to the moral
welfare of our country. The church
of God must cry aloud and warn the
people against the evils which confront
them, and must urge her members in
their capacity as citizens to bind them
selves in holy alliance for de-
structive and never-relenting warfare
against wickedness In social, commun-
ity civil and political life. The church
cannot sit quiet In the midst or great
moral and social ills and refuse to
speak or to take action lest she should
be accused OF violating the proprieties
or going beyond her sphere by those
who have q pecuniary or political or
heshy interest in the perpetuation OF
he 10 hat G n
boldly and denounced evil In the State
and called for its. suppression. So to-
day the church of God, in her warfare
against the devil and his allies, must
denounce evil and call upon her men,
bership to destroy 1t.
Enemy OF Public. >.
The greatest public enemy OF the
church OF God is the organized traffic
in intoxicating liquors. No statistics
will be quoted in support of this state
ment. They are familiar-too familiar
Ito all of US. In the home, In society,
in business, everywhere, the awful re-
suits of the traffic are found. The min
istry denounces the traffic from the
pulpit and pleads with men to give up
the business and to practice abstinence.
But we must go beyond this we must
preach to our people that they are re-
sponslble for their duties as citizens.
The liquor traffic is primarily moral
issue; secondarily, an economic issue;
but it is also political issue. 1t Is
not naturally an issue OF party poll
tics. 1t may be made sven by politi-
cal party in order to secure some tenn
porary advantages. But the liquor
traffic is intrenched in the legislation
and in the revenue system of our state
and country. 1t is licensed by the civil
law. and the revenues obtained from
penses of the government. The legal.
lied traffic cannot be destroyed. and
the disgrace of using blood money to
support our government cannot De re-
moved. without legislation by the State.
That legislation cannot be secured un.
less men are elected to our legislative
bodies who will vote to destroy the
license system and to prohibit the sale
of intoxicants for beverage purposes
The relation of the church to the legal
ICED traffic clearly energies at this
point. 1t is the duty, of the church
to call upon her members to do their
duty in this conflict, and to elect men
to public office who will deliver our
people from the disgrace of partner
ship with the liquor traffic: therefore.
be 1t
Resolved, first, That we rejoice In the
great advance of temperance sentiment
in our country and the recent VIC
tories in our own State of Virginia for
the abolition of the saloon.
Resolved. second. We rejoice In every
movement for the destruction of the
liquor traffic. Especially do we indorse
and commend the interdenominational
Anti-Saloon League move
ment. which in the spirit and power of
the evangelical church of Jesus Christ
is waging such an uncompromfsing and
successful warfare against the saloon.
Likewise we are in hearty sympathy
with the work Of our women In their
efforts to abolish intemperance. and es-
pecially through the w. c. 7. U. or
ganization.
Resolved, third, Twelve months ago
we requested the Anti-Saloon League
of Virginia to ask the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia to give to the people
the right to vote on the question or
state wide prohibition. We hereby eN-
press our thanks to the league for the
vigorous and able fight 1t made for the
massage of such a law.
We greatly regret the refusal of the
recent General Assembly of Virginia
to pass the Strobe enabling act. there
by refusing to give to the people Of
the State an opportunity to vote on
Statewide prohibition of the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating liquors
We cannot excuse the members of the
Legislature for their failure to pass
this enabling act upon the claim thai
they were elected on local option
platform The passage of the Strobe
bill would not have enacted State
wide prohibition law. but would mere
ly have granted to the voters of the
State the opportunity to exercise what
we believe to be their inalienable
right as citizens of Virginia.
Resolved, fourth. We urge the Anti
Saloon League of Virginia. regardless
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