Dealing with Tobacco-users.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE Seventh-day Advent churches are able to keep clear of tobacco by receiving none as members who use it, and by allowing none to remain as members who take up its use. This plan has proved a success in keeping out tobacco, and we have probably seen more persons converted from its use than has any other denomination, or perhaps than have all denominations in this country. The Methodists work on a different plan, the success of which is shown in the following which I cut from the N. Y. semi-weekly Tribune of April 15, 1873:— “At the Wyoming Annual Conference of the Methodist Church at Waverly in this State, the Committee on temperance reported a resolution declaring the habitual use of tobacco to be a sin and a shame. Some of the brethren who used the weed had no objection to its being called a shame, but protested against its being denounced as a sin, and after a warm discussion it was referred back to the Committee for amendment. The Committee then reported a resolution to the effect that ‘the habit of using tobacco by the ministry is wholly and necessarily intolerable and inexcusable.’ This brought out one of the clergy, who moved to strike out the word ‘ministry,’ as he insisted ‘we’ve as good a right to use tobacco as any living men.’ So, finally, the Conference resolved that it gladly recognized the fact that a more healthful sentiment is prevailing with regard to the use of tobacco, and recommended all to abstain from the use of the same, and to discountenance its use by all proper and legitimate means. This leaves the laity at liberty to chew and smoke, and only recommends the clergy to taper off.”