AMERICAN CLERGYMEN

Evening Star, Issue 19724, 26 November 1927, Page 19

AMERICAN CLERGYMEN

VOTE OH POOHIBITIOH [From Odu Cokrespoxdext.] SAN FRANCISCO, November 2. A poll on Prohibition taken among clergymen of tho Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States reveals 1,0-32 of them favoring modification of tho Volstead Act and 593 against modification, according to Rev. Dr Charles Livingston, chairman of the Publicity Committee of tho National Episcopal Church Temperance Society. Dr Livingston, in announcing tho statistics in New York, said the poll showed that 1,13 S clergymen do not believe that Prohibition tho bestsolution for the problems of intemperance, as against 624 who do. Tho ministers, as declared Prohibition had had sufficient trial, and even gave a scant majority to the question of repeal of tho Eighteenth Amendment. They voiced their willingness to cooperate with the society to sccuro “ more practical legislation in the interest of true temperance.” Half of the 5,000 rectors and curates who were sent questionnaires voted in the survey. “The Protestant Episcopal Church is officially in favor of law observance,” said Dr Livingston, in making public the results of the survey, “ but our survey shows that the clergy as individuals aro not in fevor of the Volstead law. The answers from tho. South and West average the same as those from the East, They do not want the saloons, but in the interests of morality they believe Prohibition ought to go. Beer has been taken away, and distilled poison put in its place. “When Prohibition has been given time to demonstrate what a fallacy it is, its elimination will bo easy as well as lasting. The disgust with the law was never so much in evidence as it is now. and it is not confined to * any particular section of the country, but it is nation-wide.” Tho tabulation of tbo_ vote in the survey follows. Is Prohibition a success m your locality? Yes, 445; no, 745. Have we had this law long enough for a fair trial? Yes. 950; no, 621. Regardless of one’s attitude toward tho use of liquor, do you believe a Prohibition law offers the best solution of the problem of intemperance? Yes, 624; no, 1.138. ! ' Should the Volstead Act he modiified? Yes, 1,032; no. 593. I Should tho Eighteenth Amendment bo repealed? Yes, 825; no, 793. I After a similar survey more than a charged thta Rev. James Empringlinm, | national-superintendent of the society, 1 said tho poll convinced him “it was : impossible to legislate morals into tho 1 j people,” and that it showed an “ over- i [ whelming majority in favor of modifica--1 tion to legalise light wines, and beer.” ■ , Orville S. Poland, legal adviser of tho Now York Anti-saloon League, charged that Rev. James Epringham. ! secretary of the society that conducted a. poll _ on the liquor question among the Episcopal clergymen, was in tho jay i of tho Association Against the Prohibii tion Amendment, hut ho had nothing ’ to say regarding tho present result of • tho poll, announced by Dr Livingston. “I am not and never have been on 1 the pay roll of that organisation,” Dr . Empringham replied, “ but I wish I i were, for it js nothing to bo ashamed i of. and I would use the money,” Mr Poland said he had discovered that Dr Empringham was on the pay roll eff tho Association Against the Prohibition Amendment two years ago, while in Washington, where he_ was investigating an earlier questionnaire circulated by tho Church Temperance Society, the organisation which con- ’ ducted tho present poll. Bishop Manning, of New_ York, made no comment on the questionnaire, but i at tho time of the previous one ho was > outspoken in his censure of Dr Em- ; pringham.