The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1920-11-05
ANGLICAN BISHOPS TAKE
ADVANCED DRY POSITION
Lambeth Conference Urges that
All Churchmen Consider
Intemperance
BIG PROBLEM IMPENDS
Christian Church Throughout
World Called Upon to
Support Temperance

Recently there assembled in Lam.
beth. England, a conference made up
Of $50 bishops OF the church OF Eng
land. The committee on the church
and social problems" drew up resolu-
tons, which we're adopted, dealing
with the liquor problem. The posi-
ton taken by the conference has been
assailed in some quarters and openly
on Christian grounds in
others But to the unprecedented OBJ
server the protests are not convincing.
The resolutions in fact are most en-
giving unmistakable signs
that the leaders in the Church of
England are casting their influence
on the side of those who are fighting
the drink evil The adoption OF these
resolutions is really the most en-
couraging bit OF temperance news
that has come fiom England in many
years. The report of the committee
referred to above concludes with these
words:
We desire with all the strength
and earnestness which we pos
sess to urge upon our fellow
church men in every part Of the
world the imperative Importance
of giving gravest consideration
to the entire question of intern
perance.
The Record, Glasgow publication,
commenting lpon this declaration
says:
"A plea al this kind should be ir-
resistible by those to whom the
bishops had every right to speak and
which comes at the end OF an exceed
ingly careful and we'll balanced re-
port on the whole question"
The Record recognizes the fact that
the problem in England presents two
aspects to those who recognize the
evil of intemperance. Some would
merely restrict the manufacture and
sale of intoXicants while others be-
lieve they should be prohibited alto
gether. The Record continues its
comment upon the bishops resolu-
tions:
The problem faced in detail is one
beset with many difficulties, but IT
seems to us the Lambeth resolution
approaches it in entirely the right
spirit 1t records that the conference
notes with deep interest the Prohibit
ton by the will OF the people OF the
sale and manufacture of Intoxicating
drink in the United States and of
their sale in most of the provinces of
Canada and 'comnends this action to
the earnest and sympathetic attention
OF the Christian Church throughout
the world We break off our quota
ton at this point in order to empha-
size the extrao- binary significance OF
this commentator Earnest and
sympathetic-these are words of real
emphasis and they give, as we venture
to think they ought to give, the key
to the rightful attitude on so im-
portant a measure of reform.
There may be and there must be
strong differences Of opinion concern
ing the wisdom and the rightfulness
of Prohibition, but it is difficult to
see how a Christian Church can be
otherwise than sympathetic towards
the purpose of a movement promoted
admittedly in the interests of social,
moral and religious life. 1t would
have been DISASTROUS il the bishops
had taken any ether line and we re-
greet that this part of the resolution
has not received everywhere the sup
port to which it is entitled.
Support Drys in Scotland
Nor is the constructive clause in
the resolution any less definite.
The conference Urges members of
the Church in other countries so il
runs, % to support such legislation
rs will lead to speedy reduction ia
the use of intoxicants ~ to recog-
nize the duty of combating the evil
OF ntemperancc by personal example
and willing self-sacrifce.' These
clauses carry US very long way and
if it were possible that they could be
adopted by the Church of England
as whole it would put the Church in
the front rank of temperance REFORM
ers. By this resolution the bishops
cast the weight of their influence and
authority on the side of legislation
designed towards "a speedy reduction
in the use Of intoxicants,' and il
would not be strained or improper
application of their words to quote
them as supporting the local option
campaign now in progress in Scot
land"