Church Action on Temperance [pp. 595-632]

on Temperance.
against the use, then against the manufacture and sale, of "distilled" liquors, sometimes called "spirituous liquors," but more
generally "ardent spirits," or "strong drink." There was, for
reasons before stated, a studied avoidance, during this period, of
all declarations or testimonies condemning all use of fermented
drinks. Thus, in their strongest deliverances, they avoided
even the appearance of collision with Scripture, the example
of Christ, and the ordinances of ltis house, while they also
declared that "they would by no means encroach on the rights
of private judgment." In 1834 and 1835 they speak of the use,
manufacture, and sale of ardent.pirits as a common drink as
"immoral," and in 1835 recommend professing Christians to
set the example of "total abstinence" from "inebriating
drinks," for the first time.
After this we find, with a single exception, that the declarations of the Assembly related to intoxicating liquors universally,
and not to distilled liquors exclusively. The church having
been divided, each branch, prior to reunion, had its own way
of dealing with the subject. The N. S. body strenuously
urged on its members abstinence from all intoxicating beverages, and from all implication with the traffic and manufacture. It also recommended prohibitory legislation, with earnest
efforts to promote it. In most of this action we heartily concur.
But the deliverances which, in our judgment, declare the
truth of God in respect to intoxicating drinks, and by which
we intend to abide, God helping us, until he gives us farther
light, are those of the General Assembly (O. S.) from 1840 and
before 1865. These are as truly authorities for our guidance
within the order of the last Assembly as any others that may
conflict with them. Conformity to these is as truly conformity to the action of that Assembly as is conformity to any
other deliverances of either body inconsistent with them. One
is as much reaffirmed as another. If the deliverance of 1865
was included in the order to print, so were those of 1842-3-8.
Digest, the words " earnestly recommend" are used by the Assembly in place
of "enjoin." A considerable difference. Dr. Baird is right. "Enjoin" is
wholly a version of the compiler.
605