Evening journal., 1913-09-15
PREACHERS
DENOUNCE
LAWYERS
Methodist Pastors Take Action
About Men Attacking Hazel
Law in Court
LAWYERS WITHIN RIGHTS
IS CONTENTION OF DR.. REED

In stormy session this morning,
In which the practices of attorneys who
accept the business OF liquor interests
were sharply attacked, the Whining
ton Methodist Episcopal Preachers
Association approved Of letter writ
ten by District Superintendent T.. l..
Hoffecker and the Rev. S. NJ. Morgan,
of Mt. Salem Church. The letter
stated that the constitution of the
Methodist Episcopal Church condemn
ed the use of liquor in any form, and
protested against attorneys who are
members Of the church selling their
legal knowledge and skill to the
liquor trade. It futher declared that
the liquor trade should seek its own
kind TO represent IT in the courts of
the State. None of the preachers in
the course of their speeches mention
ed by name the two lawyers who are
attacking the constitutionality Of the
Hazel law in the courts as the legal
counsel for clients who retained them,
those two lawyers being the particu-
lar target for the wordy shafts Of the
ministers.
The paper adopted contained a gem
eral condemnation of the liquor bust
ness and the men in il, and also read
Resolved first, that we commend the
attorney general and his assistant in
their effort to enforce the temper
ance laws of our State, and we as
sure them OF our most cordial SYM
pathy and pledge them our most
earnest cooperation and support.
Resolved second, we enter ouI
solemn protest against the members
of the legal fraternity who are mem.
bers Of our church selling their legal
knowledge and skill to those engaged
In the liquor trade to aid them in
their business. We say deliberately
that the liquor trade should seek its
own kind to represent it in the courts
of the lands"
But two members Of the association
who wefo present took a stand against
the approval OF the paper. They were
DIR. George Edward Reed, pastor o.
Grace NJ T.. Church and the Rev. T.
Sunfcld, a conference missionary. Boil
Of these men said they we're opposed t
the paper. DR. Reed voted against il
and asked that the secretary Of thu
meeting record his vote Dr. SunfelS
did not vote on the final approval of th'
paper.
The paper was presented BY com
mittee this morning who had been ap
pointed at the last meeting of the as
sociation to consider il. The committee
was composed of Dr. George Edwar'
Reed Dr. Hoffecker. Rev. w A. Wise
Rev. s. NJ Morgan and Rev +. c. Mac
Sofley y
When the paper was presented by tn
committee and read by Dr. Hoifccker
Dr. Reed stated to the meeting tina
while he did not approve of some of tn
things in the paper he had assented q
IL and that he would state his reason
for opposing some OF its provisions dur
inc the debate.
The members of the association De
nounced the attorneys no were member
OF the church and who are testing tn
constitutionality of the law as men VIII
were aiding the liquor interests of IN
state for the money that will come q
them, and said that the church did no
propose TO tolerate such actions.
DR. Reed and Mr.. Sunfeld claimed
that the attorneys should not have thei
characters arraigncd by body Of mcl
WHO were in no position TO Judge wheth
er the law is constitutional 90 not an
that in testing the constituticnaht
these lawyers. who are among tine mos
prominent and respected in the Dels
ware legal fraternity, were not doin
anything against the morals cf III
church on the ethics Of their prof ,ssiol
Il cannot see why lawyer VINO al
tcnpts 90 test the consttutionglity {
any law snould bc branded vita an
stigma and we have no reason to attac
zen who 60 before the highest court
the state and test law SAID d
Reed. 81 can see no reason why the
should be considered to be in sympsth
with liquor interests or put upon Il
plane of the saloOnkeeper."