TEMPERANCE ANNIVERSARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 997, 17 July 1883, Page 2

TEMPERANCE ANNIVERSARY.

A moat successful gathering of the members and friends of the temperance movement took place last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, the occasion being the celebration of the anniversary of the Ashburton branch of the Church of England Temperance Society. The hall was crowded, and the proceedings were opened by singing the Old Hundredth and prayer. On the platform were the Revs E. A. Scott, who occupied the chair, H. C. M. Watson and A. M. Beattie, also Mr J. E. Buchanan and Mr Sawle ; the latte gentleman being a member of the Blue Ribbon Army. The Chairman in his opening address stated that the Society of which he was the head in this parish, admitted both the abstainer and the abstemious, and that a perfect unanimity ot feeling and union existed between the two. No one would be asked to take any pledges at this meeting, as he had very little faith in pledges taken in moments of excitement, but he would ask them to think the matter over and come to the meeting to be held the following evening (Tuesday), at the Arcade Chambers. It was considered by some that they were the great enemies of the publicans ; they did not wish to he. The severe attitude they took was not against the publican, but against the evil effects of drink. The Rev A. M. Beattie said it gave him great pleasure to address the meeting on the temperance question. There were three great duties which we all had to perform—that to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to God. It was the duty of ministers to speak plainly ; and he, as one, must tell .them that all reformation must come from the heart. Let them pray to God to give them a new heart and then all excuses would be swept away. He. hoped that success would attend the movement. (Applause.) The Chairman then introduced the Rev H. 0. M. Watson, who, on coming forward, was very warmly greeted by the audience. He said it was ot unusual for speakers on being called upon to make some excuse for not being prepared with a speech, or for them to say that it was the happiest moment of their lives. It was not, however, the happiest moment of his life, although he was very glad to be there with them. He was pleased to see the healthy feeling which existed in Ashburton towards temperance, which was, he considered, the great movement o f the age. We had heard a good deal about pauperism and the different‘schemes put forward to remedy it. vVhile drink remained the world would be uo better than it is. The great cause ©f poverty was not the want of land or the absence of thrift—it was drink. They were often accused of intemperate speaking, but when, people saw their-personal friends suffer it made them speak out plainly. Scientific knowledge was en tirely with the abstainers. Sir Henry Thompson and Dr Richardson had both published the results of their experiments, and had shown the baneful effects of alcohol on the human system. It was considered by some that alcohol acted as food; but this was a mistake. Experiments had been tried, and the reverse proved to be tha case. The strength accredited to strong drink was simply moonshine, while the effect on the nervops system was considerable. The tissues were degraded aqd the functions impaired, as well as the work of the heart being greatly increased. These facts were bad enough when we had to deal with pure alcohol, but nowadays so much was made from chemicals and otherwise adulterated that the consequences were moat alarming. The rev. gentleman here quoted figures to 'show that amongst the members of a certain insurance society the mortality was twice as great among the drinkers as among the abstainers. He hoped they would do their best to remove the tempter out of the road, and recover back to society many who had become the viutis of this great and terrible evil. (Prolonged applause.)

Mr J. E. Buchanan was next called upon to address the meeting, which he did in his usual racy style. He treated his hearers to several anecdotes which he had heard related by the groat temperance advocate, Mr J. B. Gough, many years ago. He considered it only right that the Church should take up this movement, as the temperance cmse must, like the Ark of the Lord, be carried on the shoulders of the priests. Mr Sawle, a representative of the Blue Ribbon Army, was the next speaker. He had nothing at all to say against the publican—it was the drinking customs of society against which he wished to speak. It was this that was sapping the life blood of the fairest and ablest of God’s children. It was those people whose society we most c >urt and love who were by their constant sipping destroying their constitutions. The fairest of the land were being cub down by this terrible blight. He wished the movement every success.

During the evening Mrs Nixon sang very sweetly the two sacred pieces, “ The harvest truly is plenteous,” and “ He shall feed His Flock while Mrs Crisp gave a rendering of the old ballad “Darby and Joan.” Several hymns were sung, the choir of St Stephen’s leading in a very hearty manner, with Miss Gates, their organist, presiding at the piano.