Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-08

New York, Feb. 7.-(AP)-Prohi-
h,tion was the foremost topic IN
church circles today. Several min
,sters discussed the subject in their
,eruons, referring to the statemtnt
hst week by the Rev. James Emp
bingham. secretary Of the Church
T,mperance Society of the Protes-
,ant Episcopal church. that the So
e,ety now fayors notifications of the
yolstead act to legalize light wines
and beer.
Bishop William T. Manning. in his
sermon in the Cathedral OF st. John
the Divine, said the society had no
official authority or any right to
sneak In the name of the Episcopal
church and that the church as a
whole still maintains it's stand in
support of prohibition law.
The Rev. Hartly J. Hartman, pastor
Of the Methodist church of S~aclitf,
|. l., who took a trip to Rum Row
with three other ministers to see
how the coastguard was enforcing
prohibition, said in his sermon to-
light that the guardsmen were being
successful in their campaign.
Wayne B. Wheeler. general coun-
Gel for the Anti Saloon League of
America, speaking in the Central
Methodist church in Yonkers. dis
missed the statement OF Mr.. Emp
bingham as having no significance as
an expression of the Episcopal
churchs attitude.
Bishop Manning said undue i'm
portance had been attached to the
statement issued in the name or the
Church Temperance society.
Il do not hold" he said. that to
drink wine, or other intoxicant, in
moderation, is in itself a sin. But /
believe that the prohibition law pro-
perly enforced will make us a
healthier stronger and better people,
and | do believe that these laws can
be and ought to be enforced, and are
being more and more generally OBJ
served in the country as whole.
u do not believe that the Volstead
act should be modified at this time.
When the law is being SO observed
~ all that we can be assured that
Its modification would not mean its
practical notification; when it's
modification is desired by the sin
cere friends as well as by the
enemies of prohibition, some modi-
fcation Of it may and probably will
be made
He urged the clergy of all churches
IN this country to join in crusade
Tor voluntary action in support of
the law.
The good results of prohibition, he
said, were seen II. the present coal
strike with it's entire absence of
disturbance and disorder as a result
largely Of the prohibition laws
The Rev. DR.. Percy Stickney
Drant former rector of the Church
OF the Ascension and one OF the out
Standing modernists Of the Episco-
pai church, denounced the statement
issued in the name of the Church
importance Society, In a sermon at
o. Marks-on-the Bouwerie. He said
e-uVO,OO0,000 had been saved by the
Aation by prohibition ana expressed
aulhlration for the eighteen bishops
VINO scored the Temperance society's
move for iegalizing light wines and
beer.
=, Inc Society OF Restauranteurs of
new York announced To-Day. that at
Ns annual dinner Tuesday night it
would start a movement for modifi-
sallon OF the Volstead act. Congress
MAJ man Phillip ]. Hill of Maryland.
mayor James j. Walker Of this city
sla William H. Slayton. national
president of the Association Against
me Prohibition Amendment. were
announced al as the principal speakers.
t .aul Henkel, president of the Res
Saoa.r rs said the majority of the
HUsel and restaurant men in this city
favored modification.
~ austen G. Fox. chairman Of the
.,', League, Inc. today made
puplc a letter to members of the
ssae senate and assembly urging
s ~e,I, TO fight any attempts to pass