SOCIAL QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1078, 17 March 1911, Page 2

SOCIAL QUESTIONS.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR RESOLUTIONS. REPLY TO DR. SALMOND. J The problems of drink, Sunday trading, ' and »ocial evils were the subjects of tho speeches at a meeting held in the Baptist ! Church (Vivian Street) last night. Tho ] Ucv. B.' Hutson presided over a large audience. The Kev. K. H. Jludge, of 'Melbourne, I dealt with' "Drink." He said that among ' those who misquoted the Bible was Professor Snl.T.orjd, the author ol a pamphlet entitled "Prohibition a Blunder." Where Christ, turned the water into wine, the Professor held that Christ partook of it moderately, and that the wine wasintoxicating. He (the speaker) would show that it was impossible for Christ to have turned the water into intoxicating wine. The Professor said in one case that wine was referred to, but tho Scriptures said "fruit of the vine." The Prolessor had proved nothing whatever regarding tho teaching of Christ. Jlr. Jludge disagreed with the pamphlet in its reference to the medical profession, which the writer said was not conclusive as regards the effect of liquor, and read a quotation from Dr. Gorman, who had made a life study of the question, and who held that the moderate use of alcohol was injurious. The view of Sir Frederick Treves was that a young man could not be fit if he took alcoh6l. The Scriptures were opposed to tho moderate use of alcohol. If they asked not to.be led into temptation, they must understand that moderate drinking was one of the temptations of tho world. Mr. Mudgo quoted the New Testament in support,of his views. Men must be pure, and alcohol made on impure. "SOCIAL EVILS." Much.low literature, said the Rev. J. J.. North, was printed, and a person should not. read ,a. book; without Knowing who the author was. He who indulged in lustful, talk desecrated His temple. If one listened to or took part in scornful, violent, or suggestive talk, that person was. just treading on the very edge Of hell, and made a shipwreck of his life. If one wanted to escape from the perils lying about sensuality, he should work hard. There was nothing like it. He uioved the following resolution:— "That this meeting declares afresh its conviction that the future of the nation depends.upon the purity and chivalry of the relations existing between its men ,aud its women, and that -this audience pledges itself to discountenance such light talk and such low literature as obscures their ideals;", -■Jlr. G.vClarkc seconded' the motion, ■ which was carried unanimously. SUNDAY ' TRADING. The subjtct of Sunday trading was dealt with by-Mr. S. Martin, ■ who stated that tho question affected our national and individual life, and no one would deny its importance. Partly through apathy the evil was increasing rapidly. One had only to traverse the city on a . Sunday to ascertain the growth of the ■ trouble. He did not believe that this city was any worse than tho others. Ho i had stood in Cathedra! Square, Christ- . church, for a couple of hours, and had . seen hundreds of people laden with hampers and ready to go to picnics at differ- !■■ cut resorts. The trouble, might be due . to: relaxation of public sentiment, or . to ■ the -secular system of education, or it . might be'tbo fault of the churches in not ' "having- ujvto-dato methods of imparting . religious instruction. s At the close of his address, Jlf. Jlartin j submitted the following motion;— . "That this meeting of Endeav- r . .ourers deeply deplores the serious ; growth of Sabbath desecration and ■ evident' spread of Sunday trading, l , - and we would strongly urge all peo--; - .pie by word and' deed to" discounten-' anco in every possible' way the ignoring of the" claims of this \Mj day:" . ! The motion, seconded 'by Mr D. Jt'.Cal-, . lum, was adopted unanimously.-