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land"; and "That, to bring about the reformation desired on this subject, it is important that we neither drink ourselves (except medicinally) nor give it to visitors or workmen." In 1844 the church divided, and then and subsequently the sentiment of the Methodists, both South and North, seems to have been for prohibition of the liquor evil in all its branches. At the first General Conference after the division, a report was adopted in which the Conference says: "We proclaim with peculiar satisfaction that we now have Mr. Wesley's rule on spirituous liquors restored to our general rules." "This was done by a vote of 2011 to 21, in the annual conference" (Dr. Buckley). In 1852, the General Conference rejoiced "greatly,” . .

especially "that

God has put it in the hearts of civil rulers to interpose the authority of the State for the protection of society against what we hold to be an enormous social wrong -the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks." At nearly if not quite every General Conference since that time, the same ground has been taken, and specific things prescribed to be done, having in view the greater efficiency of the clergy and the membership in the work of destroying the traffic.

Dr. Buckley writes, in "One Hundred Years of Temperance": "The ministry and active membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church are, almost to a man, zealous advocates of total abstinence. Among the ministers, it would be difficult to find one who is known to use even malt liquors as a beverage. Among the people, the general practice is that of total abstinence. Probably there is no body of men and women of any considerable size in the world who purchase and use so small an amount of intoxicating liquors as a beverage as the Methodist Episcopal Church and it stands to-day, in the United States, as an aggressive force second to none in the efforts to overthrow a system, with its dependent usages, which promotes every moral and social evil, and produces many misfortunes, vices and crimes, which, without it, would have no existence."

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THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

"The Baptist denomination is an archipelago. Each local church lifts itself independent of every other church.

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The denomination stands for State rights as opposed to centralization in church life." This remark of Rev. O. P. Gifford may explain the reason why in his sketch of the connection of this powerful and omnipresent denomination with the temperance movement, he quotes little from representative bodies in regard to its sentiments during the period of temperance evolution. But the general fact is apparent that the Baptists, in their several divisions, have been well to the front in the war against alcohol. Their representative men have delivered some of the earliest and most decided utterances upon the subject. Gov. Briggs was President of the Congressional Temperance Society.

President Wayland wrote to Dr. Justin Edwards in the year 1833: "I think the prohibition of the traffic in ardent spirits a fit subject for legislative enactment, and I believe the most happy results would flow from such prohibition." The Washingtonian movement was guided and fostered by and under the preaching of Elder Knapp. The first temperance paper- the National Philanthropist - was owned and edited by Rev. William Collier, a Baptist. This paper was established in the year 1826, as noted in the preceding chapter. It was a very great achievement to catch the spirit of the press, and yoke its mighty but somewhat reluctant powers to the car of temperance reform. William Lloyd Garrison, who was editor of the Philanthropist in 1829, then wrote as follows: "Prior to that period (1826) intemperance was seldom a theme for the essayist; the newspapers scarcely acknowledged its existence, except occasionally, in connection with some catastrophe or crime, and it did not occur to any one that a paper devoted mainly to its suppression might be made a direct and successful engine in the great work of reform. When this paper was first proposed, it met with a repulsion which would have utterly discouraged a less zealous and persevering man than our predecessor. The moralist looked on doubtfully; the whole community esteemed the enterprise desperate. By extraordinary efforts, and under appalling disadvantages, the first number was given to the public; and since that time it has gradually expanded in size and increased in circulation, till doubt, and prejudice and ridicule have been swept away." Dr. Justin Edwards re

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ported the First and Second Baptist Churches of Boston, in 1823, as having no member engaged in the liquor traffic, and the Boston Baptist Bethel has sustained a Monday evening temperance meeting, every week, for more than forty years, and has a pledge containing over 20,000 names ("One Hundred Years Temperance," p. 317). In 1835, a New Jersey association of churches declared "that it is morally wrong in all, but especially in a professor of religion, to manufacture, vend or use such liquors (intoxicating or alcoholic) as a common article of luxury or living." It will be observed that this early declaration also includes fermented drinks within its terms.

They also declare for total abstinence, and for the expulsion from their communion of all who make, vend or use intoxicating liquors as a common article of luxury or living, if they should prove to be incorrigible after affectionate and earnest efforts to reclaim them. From 1883 to the present time, the State conventions of this great denomination, all over the country, have been very emphatic for total abstinence and for prohibition. I quote from the resolutions of the Mississippi convention of 1884:

"Resolved, That we raise our uncompromising protest against the use, manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage; against the renting of property for the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors; the selling of the fruits and cereals to be manufactured into this beverage; the signing of whisky petitions or going on the bonds of liquor sellers, and against giving countenance in any way to the iniquitous traffic or use.

"Resolved, That the cause of Christ is greatly injured by churches retaining in their fellowship whisky sellers, whisky drinkers, visitors of saloons, and signers of petitions to sell whisky, and those who persist in lending their influence to Satan in these ways should be brought under church discipline.

Resolved, That we will use our influence to secure an enforcement of the existing statutes in regard to the traffic in intoxicating beverages, and that we will endeavor to bring about prohibition as soon as practicable. That we believe

"First, that the most effectual legal remedy for the manifold evils of intemperance is constitutional prohibition.

"Second, the licensed liquor traffic to be the enemy of the church, a disgrace to civilization and humanity.

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