counteract the efforts now making for the promotion of temperance.". Minutes, 1830, p. 298.

b. “Resolved, That the traffic in ardent spirits, to be used as a drink by any people, is, in our judgment, morally wrong, and ought to be viewed as such, by the churches of Jesus Christ universally.”—Minutes, 1834, p. 445.

C. "It is with the utmost surprise and pain that we learn from the reports of two or three Presbyteries, that some of their members, and even ruling elders, still manufacture and sell ardent spirits. These things ought not so to be. They are a stumbling-block to many, and have a manifest tendency to bring overwhelming calamities, both temporal and spiritual, on society at large. No church can shine as a light in the world, while she openly sanctions and sustains any practices, which are so evidently destructive of the best interests of society."Minutes, 1837, p. 510.

4. Total Abstinence from all that will Intoxicate.

"The Assembly would also recommend to all the members of the churches under its care, to be found the fast, unflinching, and active friends of temperance; abstaining from all forms and fashions which would countenance to any extent the sin of intemperance; avoiding even the appearance of evil; disentangling themselves from all implication with the traffic and manufacture, and especially presenting in their whole lives a standing and unvarying exemplification of the only true principle of temperance,―total abstinence from everything that will intoxicate.”—Minutes, 1840, p. 15.

5. Prohibitory Laws.

a. "The following resolution upon the subject of temperance was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That the General Assembly continue to view, with deep interest, the progress of the temperance reformation, most intimately connected with the vital interests of men for time and eternity; and they do especially hail its new phase through the action of several State legislatures, by which the traffic in intoxicating liquors as a beverage is entirely prohibited. They commend this new system of legislation to the attention and support of all ministers and churches connected with

this body, for its blessed results, already experienced; and as able, if universally adopted, to do much to seal up the great fountains of drunkenness, pauperism, and crime, and relieve humanity of one of its most demoralizing and distressing evils."-Minutes, 1854, p. 503.

b. "The resolutions upon the subject of temperance were taken from the docket, adopted, and are as follows:

"Whereas, Intemperance is the great antagonist of domestic peace and social happiness, of sound morality and pure Christianity, and at war with all the dearest interests of man for this world and the future; and whereas, the experience of two hundred years proves, that this evil can never be removed or effectively resisted, while the traffic in intoxicating drinks is continued, it being necessary if we would stop the effect to remove the cause; therefore

"Resolved, 1. That this Assembly, as lovers of our holy religion, of our country, and our race, and as office-bearers in the church, can but feel a lively interest in the progress of the temperance reform.

"Resolved, 2. That we here record our devout thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the recent unparalleled progress of this reform, ast evinced by the action of the legislatures of thirteen States and two Territories of our Union, in the passage of laws prohibiting entirely the traffic of all intoxicating beverages.

"Resolved, 3. That, in the opinion of this body, laws prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks, can interfere with the rights of no man; because no man has a right of any name or nature, inconsistent with the public good, or at war with the welfare of the community; it being a well-known and universally acknowledged maxim of law, that no man has a right to use his own to the injury of his neighbor.'

"Resolved, 4. That we earnestly recommend to the ministers and congregations in our connection, and to all others, to persevere in vigorous efforts until laws shall be enacted in every State and Territory of our beloved country, prohibiting entirely a traffic which is the principal cause of the drunkenness, and its consequent pauperism, crime, taxation, lamentation, war, and ruin to the bodies and souls of men, with which the country has so long been afflicted."-Minutes, 1855, pp. 30, 31.

6. An Overture on Temperance. Relation of the Church to voluntary Associations.

"The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported an overture from W. F. Stuart, Samuel Polkey, Robert Barry, Joseph H. Leonard, and

Parker Earle, representatives of different temperance organizations in Illinois, praying that this General Assembly would 'give the temperance cause a proper prominence among the means of reform sustained by the Church;' and especially suggesting, that it would 'arrange or recommend that some proper temperance movement should sustain the same relation to the churches, as the tract, the Bible, and the missionary causes do, both morally and financially, it would be of immense advantage to the cause.'

"The committee report, that this overture did not come into their possession until near the close of the sessions of the Assembly, affording but little time for such action as the importance of the subject demands. In compliance with the request of the petitioners, the Assembly are. willing to assign to the cause of temperance a relation to our Church not dissimilar to that which has been given to the benevolent objects with which it is compared. But with none of these do we maintain any other connection, than that which their own moral power secures upon the free affection and esteem of our members. Very cheerfully and earnestly would this Assembly commend the cause of temperance to all the ministers and members of our Church, and urge them heartily to cooperate with every judicious effort in a Christian spirit to promote it; that pastors frequently preach upon the subject, and especially that no countenance be given to those social usages, by which great temptations to intemperance are thrown before their fellow-men."-Minutes, 1860, p. 262.

SECTION 4.-ON THE THEATRE AND DANCING.

1. Theatrical exhibitions and dancing condemned.-2. Dancing dangerous to morals, and to be condemned.-3. Promiscuous dancing calls for faithful and judicious discipline.

1. Theatrical Exhibitions and Dancing condemned.

"On the fashionable though, as we believe, dangerous amusements of theatrical exhibitions and dancing, we deem it necessary to make a few observations. The theatre we have always considered as a school of immorality. If any person wishes for honest conviction on this subject, let him attend to the character of that mass of matter which is generally exhibited on the stage. We believe all will agree that comedies at least,

with a few exceptions, are of such a description, that a virtuous and modest person cannot attend the representation of them, without the most painful and embarrassing sensations. If indeed custom has familiarized the scene, and these painful sensations are no longer felt, it only proves that the person in question has lost some of the best sensibilities of our nature, that the strongest safeguard of virtue has been taken down, and that the moral character has undergone a serious depreciation.”—Minutes, 1818, p. 690.

2. Dancing a dangerous Amusement, and to be discouraged.

"With respect to dancing, we think it necessary to observe, that however plausible it may appear to some, it is perhaps not the less dangerous on account of that plausibility. It is not from those things which the world acknowledges to be most wrong, that the greatest danger is to be apprehended to religion, especially as it relates to the young. When the practice is carried to its highest extremes, all admit the consequences to be fatal; and why not then apprehend danger, even from its incipient stages? It is certainly in all its stages a fascinating and an infatuating practice. Let it once be introduced, and it is difficult to give it limits. It steals away our precious time, dissipates religious impressions, and hardens the heart. To guard you, beloved brethren, against its wiles and its fascinations, we earnestly recommend that you will consult that sobriety which the sacred pages require. We also trust that you will attend, with the meekness and docility becoming the Christian character, to the admonitions on this subject of those whom you have chosen to watch for your souls. And now, beloved brethren, that you may be guarded from the dangers we have pointed out, and from all other dangers which beset the path of life, and obstruct our common salvation, and that the great Head of the Church may have you in his holy keeping, is our sincere and affectionate prayer. Amen.". Minutes, 1818, p. 690.

3. Promiscuous Dancing calls for faithful and judicious Discipline.

"Resolved, That the fashionable amusement of promiscuous dancing is so entirely unscriptural, and eminently and exclusively that of 'the world which lieth in wickedness,' and so wholly inconsistent with the spirit of Christ, and with that propriety of Christian deportment and

that purity of heart which his followers are bound to maintain, as to render it not only improper and injurious for professing Christians either to partake in it, or to qualify their children for it, by teaching them the art; but also to call for the faithful and judicious exercise of discipline on the part of church Sessions, when any of the members of their churches have been guilty."-Minutes, 1843, p. 14.

Reaffirmed, Minutes, 1853, p. 340.

SECTION 5.-GAMBLING, LOTTERIES, AND BETTING.

1. These sins to be denounced and avoided.-2. Lotteries to be discountenanced, and, if possible, done away.

1. These Sins to be denounced and avoided.

"The vice of gambling has also been forced upon our attention. We indeed hope that few, or perhaps none of our actual professors, have indulged themselves in the practice of what they consider as coming under the denomination of gambling. But perhaps there are some addicted to this practice who have evinced a predilection for our Church and forms of worship, and who are not unwilling to receive the word of admonition from us. Such we would earnestly exhort to consider in the most serious manner the consequences of the course they are pursuing, and the awful lessons which the experience of the world is every day exhibiting on this subject. But it is our duty further to testify, that all encouragement of lotteries and purchasing of lottery-tickets, all attendance on horse-racing, and betting on such, or any other occasions, and all attempts, of whatever kind, to acquire gain without giving an equivalent, involve the gambling principle, and participate in the guilt which attaches to that vice."-Minutes, 1818, p. 690.

2. Lotteries discountenanced.

"The report of the Committee on the subject of Lotteries was taken up and adopted, and is as follows, viz. :

"That although so often sanctioned by legislative acts; although the proceeds of lotteries have not unfrequently been appropriated to benevolent and religious objects; although many wise and good men have in