New Britain herald., 1926-02-08
Bishop Fiske Differs and Says That He Is Clergymen Take Trip to "Rum Row" and Think Atlantic Is Being Dried Up, Alcoholically Speak ing.

New York, Feb, 8 RN--A chorus Cf disavowal and denial from Epis- copalian pulpits and the church in general went up in Sunday sermons against the stlnd of pr. James Empringham. national secretary of Church Temperance society of the Episcopal church, in favor of light wines and beer.
 few voices supported him but rom Bishop William T. D. Manning at the Cathedral of St, John the Divine, came definite support of the Nolstcad act and emphatic deniel Dr. Empringham' position is that of the Episcopal church.
 Undue importance has been at tached to the statement of the so- ciety," Bishop Manning said. it has no official authorization and no right whatever to speak in the name ot the Episcopal church"
 Questions Accuracy
 Bishop Manning questioned the accuracy of the society's report that 6 prcponderanCe of it's 10000 mem hors favored modification of the Nolstcad act. He also questioned Dr, Empringham's right to speak for the society itself.
 'I do not hold that 10 drink wine or other intoxicants in moderation is in itself sin," the bishop said but I believe that the prohibition law. properly enforced, will make us Il healthier, stronger and better people"
 'I believe that the law can be and ought to be enforced and is being more and more generally observed in tho country as a whole"
 Again he said:
 "Thcrc is not the slightest likeli hood that the country will ever re- peal the prohibition laws and We all know this"
 In concluding he said
 "I wish that the clergy of our church and of all churches all over our land would join ill q crusade for voluntary and noble action in sup port of the law and that the people of all churches and all good citizens would unite in such a movement.
 I'i>llc Wants Charge
 Endorsement of Dr. EmprinEnam' 3 stand, however, came from the Rev, Charles ,'iske, bishop of the Epis- "upal diocese of central New York. Bishop Fisllr, who said he spoke purely in personal capacity, plcad- rd in Utica for temperance by edu- cation rather than force, The rhurch'S function, he said, is to be q. moral teacher, no, T moral police lna44 e..
 If havr como to tho conclusion" IiiSfIop Fisko said. 'thnt tho Vol stead act has resulted iH wors" lrinkin% conditions among young proplo than we have before, that it has increased enormously among 1h.m tho uso of strong distilled hIMUrs often poisonous and danger rus. that it llaS corrupted officials, h:,4 brought about an increased dis [. ;I"ct for law and is class lcgisla- tjnr."
 Tn" Rev Dr. Percy Sticliney Grant. former rector of the Church r, the Ascension, defended the Vol stead law at New York, He expressed admiration for the IS Episcopal Iishops who stood by the dry law v hen Dr. Empringham's stttement first was made and added;
 "But wait until the 100 per cent lrotcStants--the Prcsbytcrians and Mcthodista and Baptists-get hold of t1is question at the polls and the enemies of prohibition will see a sight to trrrify them"
 Billy" sundays View
 In Binghamton, x, Y., the. Rev. William A lBilly) sunday also I.ned that Dr. Emrringhanl rep resented the Episcopal constituency. \ former president of tho church temperance society, the Rev. James N..Chalm"rs. said that Dr. Empring- ham had "backsliddcn" and had act ed without the authorization of tha .society's board of managers.
 Tine Night Rev, F. C, Aechson, suffragan bishop of Connecticut, at Bridgeport yesterday expressed his opinion that th" 18th amendment and the Tolstcd act should stand without modification.
 Tn" Key. nr, Gustav A. Carstcn sen, who was elected president of the church temperance society last January, has aligned himself on the side of Bishop Manning and said yesterday that ho would not accept The presidency until he has better ii,u of the socicty'S aims.
 Last wecI; Dr. Christensen said tn4t when he told Bishop Manning 1In had h"en offered the presidency, ,ur latter tod him 10 go to it."
 br. Christensen said h" did not like th" way several meetings of the society were postponed when he was 10 hc given information he consid trcd yital if h" were to accept tho preferred s rNico.
 Dr. Carstcns"u has always been a ,.rong ally or Bishop Manning in liuIam nalis'-mod"rnist controver- .toS.
 gNIl4 E.I Mo-, ,,o