U. I. M. E. Conference and Tobacco.
THE following resolutions against the use of tobacco were adopted by the Upper Iowa Conference of the M. E. church at its recent session at Charles City:— Whereas, Tobacco is an acrid, narcotic poison, ranked by Orfila, and other eminent toxicologists, with such poisons as bohun-upas, poison hemlock, belladonna, &c., and whereas, the human system can never demand the continued use of such poisons to promote its healthful action, but their effects are to deaden the nerves, destroy the finer feelings, weaken the intellect, cause imbecility, derange the circulation, injure the heart, frequently causing paralysis and even premature death; and whereas, the odor of this filthy narcotic is exceedingly offensive to many, and its use so impregnates the system that the smell is exhaled from the lungs and pores of the skin, thus rendering the user an annoyance in the cars, in the parlor, at the table, in the chamber of sickness, and even at the sacramental board; and whereas, the use of tobacco costs the people of the United States more than is expended in the promotion of the cause of Christ, the preachers and members of the M. E. church alone, in all probability, expending more for that luxury than is contributed to all our benevolent enterprises; and whereas, crime, intemperance, pauperism, and tobacco, are intimately associated, many expending for this article alone a sum which, if put to annual interest, would afford them a comfortable support in their old age; and whereas, the higher the position a man occupies the greater his influence for good or evil, and as ministers of the gospel are expected to be examples of piety, temperance, and purity, we cannot afford to be addicted to a practice heathen in its origin, and corrupting in its influence; therefore, Resolved, That we earnestly request all our preachers and people to abstain entirely from the use of tobacco. Resolved, That we receive no one on trial in this Conference who uses tobacco, unless he promises to abandon its use as long as he remains among us. Resolved, That we will elect no one to deacons’ or elders’ orders who uses tobacco, and that the chairman of the committees on examination be requested to report on that subject. Resolved, That we respectfully request the bishops not to transfer any one to this Conference who has used tobacco within two years previous to such transfer. Resolved, That as the presiding elders, from their position in the church, and being called upon so frequently to administer the sacrament, have a greater influence than any other class of ministers, we request the bishop, if it can be done without detriment to the work, not to appoint any one to that office who uses tobacco. Resolved, That as a pledge of our sincerity, we, ministers of the Upper Iowa Conference, promise to abstain from the use of tobacco in any form from this time henceforth and forever.—Mitchell Co. Press.