Keith Drury,

I am one of the readers of your column of Feb. 26, 2008.

The column correctly states that the Wesleyan Methodists “condemned alcohol from the beginning.” (You could have added: the condemnation of all drinking from the beginning is perfectly consistent with the condemnation of all slavery from the beginning.)

However, your column contains certain statements that require your correction.

Firstly, your column unfortunately states, about the Wesleyan Methodist condemnation of alcohol, that it was “not yet for Communion for non-alcoholic wine had not yet been invented by Thomas Welch.”

As you know, Orange Scott organized the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion in 1843. Thomas B. Welch produced pasteurized grape juice in 1869.

Are you aware that the FIRST Wesleyan Methodist Discipline explicitly stated, “Unfermented wine only should be used at the sacrament”?
(Karen B. W. Tucker, 2001, American Methodist Worship, Oxford University Press, New York, page 151.) http://books.google.com.au/books?id=I1TDD5-CLlEC&pg=PA151&lpg=PA151&vq=unfermented&output=html&sig=53ghn0ULZjwIPbVJFdz5rSdgndY

Since long ago, many have boiled raisins (a method Jews use for Passover), reconstituted grape juice, added preservatives to juice, or used other traditional methods to preserve grape juice, without fermentation, for use at any time of year.

For example, in 1864, which was before Thomas Welch produced pasteurized grape juice, the Methodist Episcopal General Conference resolved that “in all cases the pure juice of the grape be used in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.” They also called each pastor to preach specifically to “urge total abstinence from all that can intoxicate.”
(Doctrines & Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Appendix: Orders and Resolutions of the General Conference, page xvii.) http://books.google.com/books?id=E3ba3d2Y4-8C&pg=RA1-PR17

Secondly, your column also incorrectly states, “The Wesleyan Methodist church was the first denomination in America to have such a stance” against alcohol.

However, Nathan Bangs quoted the Minutes of the 1780 Methodist Conference in Baltimore against slave-holding and alcohol: “By these minutes it will also be seen that the preachers of the day set their faces against ‘distilling grain into liquor,’ determining to ‘disown those who would not renounce the practice.’”

Bangs continued: “From this it may be seen that the Methodist conference set itself against the use of alcoholic liquors long before the temperance movements, which have so distinguished the present days, and which have conferred such lasting blessing upon the community. What a pity that there should ever have been any relaxation of this rule!”
(Nathan Bangs, 1839, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Vol. 1, page 135.) http://www.openlibrary.org/details/ahistoryofthemet01banguoft

Yet, in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, Orange Scott organized the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, which he called “a new anti-slavery, anti-intemperance, anti-every-thing wrong, church organization.”
(C. Prindle & L.C. Matlack, 1847, The Life of Rev. Orange Scott: Compiled from His Personal Narrative, page 202.) http://books.google.com/books?id=aN4EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA202

Thirdly, your column states, “A social movement outside our denomination had brought a new stance inside.” But Rev. Orange Scott has replied to such an idea:

“...Though public opinion commanded Mr. Wesley to desist through the medium of mobs, still he stood it out! Shame on his compromising sons! The Methodists in all parts of the United States have braved, and, finally, to a considerable extent, changed public opinion. Every man’s hand has been against us, and yet we have stood firm.
But now comes up the new doctrine of compromise! Let it be banished from the breast of every patriot, philanthropist, and Christian.
The advocates of temperance have braved and changed public opinion.
The same may be said of Wilberforce, and the English abolitionists.
And with all these examples before us, shall we succumb to an unholy public opinion, founded in the love of gain! Shall we turn our backs upon the cause of suffering humanity, because public opinion frowns upon us? No! Never!!”
(The Life of Rev. Orange Scott: Compiled from His Personal Narrative, pages 94-95.)

So the new Wesleyan Methodist denomination, rather than relaxing prohibitions, instead restored prohibitions against (1.) the “manufacturing, buying, selling, or using” of alcoholic beverages, and (2.) “slaveholding, buying, or selling…”
(L. M. Haines & P. W. Thomas, 1990, An Outline History of the Wesleyan Church, page 68.)

“The denominational periodical and the books and pamphlets which streamed from denominational presses were polemic in the extreme, attacking slavery, alcoholic beverages, secret societies, tobacco, and every other form of sin that had social consequences.”
(An Outline History of the Wesleyan Church, page 70.)

Likewise Rev. Adam Crooks stated, in his article “Duty Respecting the Temperance Movement”, that “by forces, both moral and legal, we prevent all others from the worse than murderous traffic in liquors that can intoxicate.”
(E. W. Crooks, 1875, Life of Rev. A. Crooks, Duty Respecting the Temperance Movement.)
http://www.nodrinking.com/en/1020.htm

Finally, I hope you will consider my response, and correct your column, as required to ensure your readers correctly understand that the WMC, from its beginning, restored the strong prohibition of drinking – despite a world of corrupters who would tell them, “Speak to us smooth things” (Isaiah 30:10).

I have researched this topic. You may request further information.

At a time when more and more people’s lives are being rapidly destroyed by what “bites like a serpent” (Proverbs 23:32), we must now continue to stand - as firmly as ever - against all drinking.

Samuel Enderby.