A Commendable Decision by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1915

A Commendable Decision

By Editor

FOR long years Seventh-day Adventists have refused to receive into church membership those who use tobacco in any form. Some of their brethren in other churches have felt that they were altogether too strict in taking this stand. But little by little, we are glad to see that other denominations are coming to follow the lead set by this denomination with reference to this question.

Several years ago, we believe, the Methodist Episcopal Church decided not to ordain men to the ministry who were users of tobacco. This was the position taken by the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and now we are glad to see that the Wesleyan Methodist General Conference has taken a step farther, and adopted the same stand taken by Seventh-day Adventists.

At the last General Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church the committee on revision of the church constitution, recommended that the provision against the use of tobacco be applied not only to those seeking admission to the ministry of the church, but to those seeking membership in the church as well. The constitution was revised to read: “We will not receive as members into our churches, nor will we ordain or license to preach or exhort, persons who use, cultivate, manufacture, or sell tobacco.”

This was passed by the necessary two-thirds vote of the General Conference of that denomination. It now becomes necessary for the question to be voted on by conferences and churches, requiring a two-thirds vote of the members of those organizations. We certainly hope that this action on the part of the General Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church will be heartily indorsed by their churches everywhere. It is a commendable action, and deserves unqualified support.