The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-07
CHURCH OPPOSES
LIQUOR TRAFFIC
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED by
FSE or METHODIST DIFFERENCE

Especial to The Richmond Vlrginian)
Winchester. Va, Aug. 6-The Win
chester district conference of the
Baltimore Methodist Conference. in
recent session at Sheperdstown, w
Va. adopted strong resolutions In re-
gard 10 the Statewide campaign In
Virginia. part Of the district lying
within Virginia territory. The resoiu-
tons express the unfaltering opposi-
ton of the church 10 the liquor traffic
and express complete confidence In
the officers and superintendent of the
Virginia Anti Saloon league Rev. d.
James Cannon, Jr., and endorsed his
work without reservation. Following
are ~ resolutions.
Whereas, The prayers of Chris
tian people have for years been GO
ing up for the abolition of the saloon
and the destruction % the liquor
traffic. and the time seems TO have
come wher>their petitions are being
answered by an unprecedented change
in the sentiments " men and the con-
sequent enactment of prohihitory
measure; and
Whereas, The portion OF this dts
trict included in West Virginia is
al present enjoying the fruits Of a
glorious victory, and is experiencing
the joy that springs from prohibit
ton that does prohibit; and
Whereas, The other portion of the
distriCt--that included In Virginia.
is about to cast its vote either for
or against the enactment OF a pro-
hibitory law, and
Whereas. It Is the Arm conviction
Of the members of this conference
that the saloon IS the direct i'm
mediate and powerful enemy of every
effort and aim OF the church, and is
in no respect defensible upon either
social political, moral or economic
grounds, and has no just claim to the
support of any Christian man. and
Whereas the friends Of the liquor
interests. and those interests them
selves are spreading broadcast over
Nirginia--the mother of far-seeing
sta decentralization which, when
unveiled, a ~ spurious and destruc-
tive Of popular government. arguing
as they do: % that prohbitory laws
are an infringement upon personal
liberty. although they know as well
as we that not peaceful government
but anarchy. would prevail II there
were no such. infringement upon per-
sonal liberty: knowing. further, that
when a man retains his physical
personal liberty at the expense of
that which Is thousand fold more
vital. his spiritual liberty, his fell
lows have the right and the high
moral obligation 10 deny such per-
sonal liberty; arguing (2). that State
wide prohibition is a dangerous viola
ton of the time-honored and we'll
tested principle Of local self-govern-
ment, although they know as well as
we to- the essence of local self-gov-
crnme at Is to he found in local peace
and order and that the real enemy OF
local order is not prohibition laws,
but IL the saloon and the liquor
traffic; arguing go. that the saloon
paws for itself IN the amount of
revenue It turns over 10 the State, al
though they know as we'll as we that
q States true revenue IS not to be
found in tho vaults within tts treasury,
but IN the physical strength. the men
tai balance. the moral discrimination.
and the spiritual life OF it's manhood
and womanhood, its boyhood and Its
girlhood arguing 90, that prohibit
tion canpot and VIII not prohibit, al
though they know az well as we that
he who argues thus denies the eff
hciency. the efficacy, and the ex-
pediency OF a government by the peo-
ME; for II prohibition does not pro-