The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
Will Become Secretary of Epis
Copal Church Temperance ,
Society.
FEELS HE is TAKING UP
LARGER OPPORTUNITY
His Departure Will Be Distinct
Loss to League, But Also
Great Gain to Reform Cause
For Which League Stands.

New York. Dec. Elm January Of
were surprised and temperance forces
thrilled when the announcement was
made that Rev. DR.. James Empring-
man, one OF the most prominent Epis-
Copai clergymen In this State had
resigned an influential passionate IN
syracuse to become Metropolitan Dis
sriet superintendent Of the Anti-Sa-
loon League Of New York The effect
was most unusual: and the entire
state echoed with the news.
ferhaps the thing which gave DR..
Emprlngham's action most of it's stir
ring effect was the generalness Of the
impression that he was taking a stand
far In advance of the Protestant EpIs-
copal Church itself. Now comes a de-
movement which. in all that it means
to the future struggle against the bev-
erage liquor traffic and in tho great
ness or It's scope and its significance.
surpasses even DR.. Empringham's ac-
tlon or eleven months ago. That was
the action of one man. This is the ac-
1on, in effect. of an entire church
That was startling because Of what
SO many people thought the Episcopal
Inurch was not ready to do and say
on this issue. This new event is start
ling because of what it reveals the
Episcopal Church is ready to do and
say toward assuming her proper share
IN the forwarding of this great re-
form. 1t is the open casting of a new
gauge into the anti-saloon arena. 1t
is the announced presence of a new
army on the field and new and I'M
expected resources in reserve. 1t adds
action to declarations and reveals the
Episcopal Church as abreast Of the
times and def niy1aS - ha
spectator of the impressive conflict
now waging. II is nothing less than
an invitation to DR.. Empringham from
the Church Temperance Society. the
official temperance organization Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, calling
MIN to the leadership of the church In
practical temperance endeavor
Dr. Empringham's departure will be
distinct loss to the leagues staff.
though offering him n yet larger field
IN which to serve the cause the Anti
saloon League Is set to advance. The
Ant-Saloon League of New York,
however, VIII even count itself happy
to have been instrumental in making
available to the Protestant Episcopal
Church a leader of power. schooled
and experienced in the practical tech
nique of temperance work: while, on
the other hand, the program which DR..
Emprtngham has announced for him
self In the Office TO which he goes will
make him still a comrade In the fray
The following Is DIR. Empringham's
letter of resignation as superintendent
OF the Metropolitan District of the
Anti-Saloon League of New York
Succeeding it will be found State Su-
perintendent Anderson's reply:
November 25 1916
William H. Anderson. Esq. State Su-
perintendent Anti-Saloon League of
New York. New York City.
My Dear Mr.. Anderson: | resigned
my rectorate in Syracuse to dedicate
| myself to the task of Influencing the
church whose orders I bear to an in
| creased part in the social and moral
war against the beverage liquor traffic.
Conscious that there had been lit
tie opportunity for testing the attitude
| OF the Protestant Episcopal Church
| upon this issue, turned to the Anti
Saloon League as the sanest and most
practical agency through which TO be-
| gin my work The gratifying develop
ments within the church upon this
question since that day have now
brought me call to be the official
leaoer or the church in this depart
| ment of her work.
The one immediate object of the
religious bodies federated In the Anti
Saloon League of New York is the pas
sage OF an optional prohibition bill
Tor the purpose of untying the hands
or the people OF New York upon the
license issue. A resolution calling for
the passage OF such bill was present
ed to the recent convention of the
New York diocese of the Protestant
Episcopal Church by the Rev. DIR.
James V. Chalmers. a member of the
board OF directors OF the AntI-SaIoon
League OF New York. This resolution
committing this great diocese to this
definite practical program, was re-
ferred to the Church Temperance So
ciety Committee of the Diocese, re-
ported to the convention for action,
and unanimously adopted with en-
thusiasm. Pursuant to that action
have now been invited to the secre-
taryship of the Church Temperance
Society of the Protestant Episcopal
Cnurcn to give force and effect to the
expressed desire of the church for al,
earnest participation In the practical
phases OF this reform. What / began
unofficially, SO far as my church was
concerned. l am now asked officially
to continue
With me there is but one purpose
while this struggle lasts: to put N.Y.
SELF Into 1t where and how I may best
serve 1t and my church. Little did 7
dream when | stepped into the loneli-
ness or the Anti-Saloon firing line that
my brethren OF the church would be
by my side so largely and so soon.
And, looking upon their willingness to
rally TO the fray l cannot refuse their
urgent call that l was henceforth. not
as an unofficial volunteer. but as
commissioned captain in the ranks of
the church. 1t is incumbent upon me-
therefore. not to change my work or
aims. but to transfer myself from off,
cial relationship to the staff of the
Anu-Saloon League of New York to
ofhciai relationship to this new army
come up to the help Of the Lord
against the mighty.
With appreciation for all that the
staff of the Anti Saloon League OF New
YORK have been to me and for the ex-
peflence gained in their fellowship, |
and with the strong purpose of con-
Quoting the work of the society to !
which l go in complete accord with |
the program of the other religious |
bodies of the State and nation as fed |
Grated In the Anti-Saloon League, I |
hereby tender my resignation as SUI
AS.3.