p. 155 | The Tobacco Question

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 5, 1860

"The Tobacco Question."

SEVERAL of the Annual Conferences have introduced a "new condition of membership," viz., abstinence from the use of tobacco. The Maine Conference at its late session adopted the following by a rising vote.

Resolved, That no person shall hereafter be admitted into this Conference who uses tobacco.

Speaking of the Wisconsin Conference, a writer in the N. W. C. Advocate says:—

"The Conference holds fast to its position on the tobacco question, and receives none into full connection, or for ordination, who are in the habitual use of tobacco, until the Conference is satisfied they, by the grace of God, will abstain from its use. Therefore no tobacco monger need look this way for a field of labor in which to preach a gospel of purity, until he reforms from his evil ways."

Neither the British Wesleyan nor the Canada Conference admit any young men among them who use tobacco. If this course be correct, then the example of older members of Conferences who use tobacco, and especially Chairmen of Districts, and of Presiding Elders, must be more or less pernicious. We have men in B. R. Conference who will speak and vote against the use of tobacco, (just as they do against slavery) but who are nevertheless fairly pickled with it, as they are also with pro-slaveryism. And yet these men are fain to be the leaders (since to resist is vain) of the reform movements in the Church!