The Washington times., 1926-02-05
CHURCHAGA|NST
BEER Plea
~ international News service

NEW ION1Ay EEUe - A1AAS4MA
ocally repudiating the assertions
Of the Rev. DR.. James Empring
ham on the subject of the modi-
fication Of the VoIstead act, the
Rev. Charles x. Gilbert, secretary
Of the Social Service Commission
Of the Diocese Of New York, to-
day issued 4 statement saying
that DR.. Empringhan has no
right whatever % speak for the
Episcopal church on any subject. I
The Social Service Commission
is the official board Of the Epis-
copa1 church in the diocese Of
New York.
Others Repudiate Views
Concurrent with the diocesan Of
ficiaI's statement. similar repudia-
lions Of the action taken by the
Church Temperance Society were
made BY s. E. Nicholson. secretary
Of the AntiSaIoon League or Amer
lea since 1898, and orville s. Po-I
land, head Of the legal department.
Of the Anti-saloon League Of New
York.
Stating that DR.. Empringham's
opinion OF the Churchman's Assoc
citation, the Rev. Mr.. Gilbert char
acterized them as irresponsible
declarations with regard to the
Episcopal Church and prohibition"
The Churchman'S Association Is
an Organization Of Episcopal clergy
men meeting for social purposes
only said DIR. Gilbert, "and one
of its rules is that publicity shall
never be given to matters which
come before it."
ut would therefore be unfortu-
nate II the impression were given
that the association has In any way
Endorsed DR.. Empringham's senti-
ments."
Declares Society Defunct
DR.. Gilbert expressed the belief
that the Church Temperance Soci-
ETY., represented by DIR. Empring-
ham, had been defunct since 1913
Commenting on the possibility of
action on the prohibition question
by the social commission. as init
mated in DIR. Empringham's report,
DIR. Gilbert said:
"As executive secretary of that
commission in the diocese of New
York, / can state that the matter
has never come before it., in any
way, nor have any Of its members
been consulted. I can also state
that the same is true of the De-
partment of Social Service of our
national council.
"Our general convention is the
only body that has the right to
speak for the Episcopal church on
subjects of this kind.
Thoughtful Episcopalians will
recognize the right of any man to
seek by legitimate means the modi-
fication of the Volstead act. but it
does not follow that the sentiment
OF the Episcopal church favors such
modification"
His Sources Challenged
Officials of the Anti-Saloon League
challenge the sources upon which
DIR. Empringham and his associates
in the church temperance society
base their appeal for the modIf1ca-
ton of the Volstead act.
1.-THE report of the Episcopal so
ciety by no means represents the
universal views of the membership |
of this great denomination" said
S. r. Nicholson, secretary of the
Anti-Saloon League of America, to- |
day. Nor does it possess the adj |
vantage of presuming to reflect the |
results of a scientific survey Of pro- |
conditions
1.-THE Anti-Saloon League is con-
vinced that the bulk of the Amer
can people believes, and will con-
tinue to believe, that the liquor
legal or illegal. is too danger
ous and vile an institution to live
n our American life.
Statements Are Denied
The specific challenge of the Anti
Saloon League is directed against
certain contentious in the statement
ssued by DR.. Empringham and his
associates, to wit:
THAT prohibition has resulted in
increased drinking among young I
,eople, increased demand for distilled
liquors which are mostly poisonous,
lisrespect for all laws, class discrim
nation in favor of the rich and in
creased intemperance."
VI