MORGAN'S HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE Page 181


CHAPTER V. 


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TEMPERANCE.

temperance principles, in order to secure the formation of a healthy and intelligent temperance sentiment, and also to secure general temperance reform;

Resolved, That we, the ministers of New Jersey Annual Conference, will endeavor to procure for sacramental purposes the pure, unadulturated juice of the grape; and furthermore

Resolved, That all the churches belonging to the New Jersey Annual Conference be instructed to use unfermented wine, manufactured by Mr. Lacy, of Vineland, N. J., to be had at our book store, 631 Pine street, Philadelphia, Pa.


R. J. M. Long, Chairman,
Henderson Davis, Jr.,
B. W. Timothy
.

TEMPERANCE.


To the Bishop and Conference:

Your committee appointed to write on the subject of temperance, beg leave to submit the following, as the result of our labors on that momentous question.

During the pressure of business, we have not had time to mature our thoughts upon so great a subject. We will therefore illustrate the evil of intemperance by the narrative of a sad incident given of a minister of the gospel, which we hope and pray will be a sufficient warning, not only to us as ministers, but to all who may read our report, that they may watch and guard against the bites and stings of the hydra-headed monster.

One of the committee was acquainted with a minister who recently died drunk in a place called Elkhart, Ind., who said, "I had a position high and holy. The demon tore from around me the robe of my sacred office and sent me forth churchless and Godless. Afterwards my voice was heard in the courts, but the dust gathered on my open books and no foot crossed the threshhold of my drunkard's office. I had money, ample for necessities, but it went to feed the coffers of devils who possessed me. I had a home adorned with all that wealth could make it, but the tyrant crossed the threshold and the light faded from its chambers. And thus I stand, a clergyman without a church, a barrister without a brief, a man without scarcely a friend, and a soul with-


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