Milford chronicle., 1926-05-21
RESOLUTIONS ON PROHIBITION
BY BISHOPS OF M. f. CHURCH

bI blS1UFS UF M. I. C1UkCE
The Board of Bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, at it:
semi-annual meeung at Foundry NJ
h. Church, Washington, D. c., re
Gently adopted unanimously the fol
lowing resolution on temperance
prohibition and public morals:
The Methodist Episcopal Church
early in its history, saw the deleteT-
/ iOus effects of alcohol and the de-
vastating influences of the liqGol
traffic. 1t became it's impiacable foe
The more We have seen of it, the
more convinced are we that to IL
! cense it in any form is sin; to reg
ulate it is impossible. The only wise
course is to tear it up, root and
branch.
Notwithstanding the unpreced-
ented and unpatriOtic attempts OF
the vets at notification, and the
consequent difficulty of the enforce
ment of the Volstead Act, we are
convinced that prohibition has been
an overwhelming benefit to the
country. 1t has blessed thousands
of homes, proved a benedictiOn to
millions of women and children, en-
HANGED commercial prosperity, min
istered to cleaner politics and let
ter government, and has commended
itself to the great majority of our
people. We aver that there is no
discharge in this war. We have en-
listed for the duration of the con-
f1ict. We are pledged to see the end
of this traffic in both legalized and
illegal forms, and we believe this to
be the overwhelming sentiment of
our ministry and our membership.
I'VE urge upon our Board of Tenn
perance, Prohibition and Public
Morals, upon the Anti-Saloon League
the WOman's Christian Temper
ance Union, and all similar Organi-
cations, such a campaign Of educa-
ton as shall make the last voter to
be well informed as to the manifold
benefits of prohibition. The astound-
ing propaganda of the vets should
0pul uo " NCeloClCDo elCliNlAg III lA4AD
regard. Our victory here will slim
ulate the temperance forces of the
World; our defeat will dishearten
them and set back the progress of
the temperance campaigns Of many
nations for a generation to come.
I'VE deplore the apathy of all too
many good people which makes it
difficult to get out anything like Il
full vote of our normal constituency.
Loyalty to the Constitution of the
United States, and loyalty to our
Christ alike demand that every
Christian man, and every Christian
woman, should, at any reasonable
personal sacrifice, go to the polls.
No effort should be spared to insure
the election of dry representatives.
In the last analysis, this is a battle
of ballots. Silence in this regard is
a specie of disloyalty.
Realizing the strategic impor-
tance of our colleges and universe
ties, we urge our prohibition organ
izatiOns to give more earnest atten-
ton to the inspiration and the in
formation of these youth, from whom
the majority of our leaders in all
walks of life must be recruited.
I'VE extend our thanks to that
large majority of our representa-
of Representatives who with moral
insight, have properly appraised the
values of prohibition, and the real
sentiment of the people, and accord
ingly, have steadily refused to al
low any modification of the VOlstead
Act, any approach to the legalizatiOn
of beer and wine, or any weakening
of our enforcement codes. We are
unalterably opposed to any mOditi-
cation of the VOlstead Act, except to
strengthen it or to supplement it
with any legislation necessary to
make enforcement 100 per cent. To
this end we urge the early passage
of the legislative program of the
Prohibition Enforcement Depart
ment now pending in Congress.
1--WE rejoice that the actual votes
cast in the primaries thus far this
year as they have been held in many
states, prove the falsity and the
misleading character of so-called
straw ballots. The people are for
prohibition and enforcement. We are
not ignorant of the devices of the
enemy. Our call to the Church of
Christ is Awake, put on thy
strength. To falter would be sin"
We aimed to secure the extermina-
ton of the beverage liquor traffic.
We must continueto strike until the
victory is complete and final.'
The resolution was introduced by
Bishops Joseph F. Berry, Philadel-
phia. Pa. senior bishop and Thomas
Nicholson, Detroit, Mich, president
of the Anti-Saloon League. At the
board meeting forty bishops were
present from foreign countries as
we'll as the United States.