SOUNDING BRASS OR A TINKLING CYMBAL.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2754, 25 April 1916, Page 6

SOUNDING BRASS OR A TINKLING CYMBAL.

Sir, —It is surely illogical for a loyal I subject of the King to, attack the loyal] subjects'of the King of Kings, Christians,- for the reason that their weapons are not carnal (Eph. 5 and 6). In his endeavour to have his Ming at them, "Jacliin" is most unfortunate, for him; in his choice of Scripture. Anyone reading the chapter, 1 Cor. 13 (revised edition), will at once see that he is hoist by his own petard. ".Though 1 speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." Love and peace, not tumult, are the personification of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This chapter is the crystallisation of Christianity ■ (Christ's Christianity, not the world's). In it we have the only solution of labcur troubles and every description of conflict, and when the great tribulation upon which ye have just entered lias - destroyed the ecclesiastical and civil governments, universal peace will reign, for all -mankind will be brought to the feet of Jesusi In view of tho fact that false teachers are bringing in "damnable heresies," as prophesied, teaching tho Pagan doctrine that the hero dying in batWe "goeo straight to the happy hunting ground," and in support thereof quote our Saviour's words, "Greater love hath no man than this, I would commend a verse of I Cor., 13, to the careful consideration and study' of "Jachin" and others, "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing." They worship Gfod in vain who put man's doctrines in place of Christ's (see Matt. 15, 7 to 9).—1 'am, etc., JOHN PLOWMAN. RUSSIAN SPIRIT MONOPOLY. Sir,-—-The cablegram'published in The Dominion the other day aroused my curiosity. It said that, "thanks to the abolition of the alcohol, monopoly," the national savings of Russia- had increased and the country's financial strength was growing. Russia is a country that interests me, not because she is one of our Allies in this great way, but because of tue evolutionary period as a nation the Russians are undergoing. Periodically the London "Times" publishes a Russian supplement, and it usually contains a statement of the financial position of Russia by the Russian ■ Government itself. The most recent one is dated February 26 of this year, and it instituted comparisons between the revenue of 1915 and the estimated revenue of 1916. The spirit monopoly was abolished! early in the war, but the language of the cablegram, 1 abolition of the alcohol monopoly," is misleading. According to the Russian financial statementreferred to, it appears that "the royalties from the spirit monopoly" are set- down at 49,860,000 roubles for 1916, as against 144,260,000 roubles in 1915— 21 millions sterling >s against 7$ millions sterling—a deficiency of 94,400,000 roubles. Tliis deficiency was more than'made up by an increase in indirect taxation amounting to 103,544,600 roubles as betwteen 1915 and 1916. Increased Customs duties was therefore made to recover the loss in the reduction in the spirit monopoly revenue. It is also noteworthy that "The limes" Russian statement gives the indirect taxation from liquor for. 1916 as 24,261,000 roubles, which, taken together with the direct taxation by way of royalties on spirits, gives a total Russian revenue irom "alcohol" as over 75 million roubles for 1916 —a sum which exceeds by 20 million roubles the Russian Government's'expenditure in maintaining all ' the churches and clergy throughout tho Russian Empire. In view of the alleged relations between liquor, the police, and. crime, it is remarkable that with a reduced revenue from liquor ihe cost of the police, law courts, and prisons is set down at six millions of roubles greater than was the case before the alleged "abolition of the alcohol monopoly." It is qtiite true that the savings of the people of Russia have increased since tho war began. In what country have they not? In ten months (Januarv 1 to' November 1, 1915) the increase in Russia, was approximately 15s. per head of the population, i.e., according to the "Times Russian Supplement, and £l-4s. according to your cablegram : and all this is due. to the alleged abolition of the spirit monopoly. 'But comparing Russia and New Zealand, where there has been 110 alteration in the licensing system, tho comercial banking returns extending over the same period, show an increase of from 500 to 700 per cent, per head of the population of this Dominion over the savings of the people of Russia. These facts ought to be known to your readers, some'of whom might be misled inta believing that our savi-ng as a nation is ti be found in the abolition of "th 4 spirit monopoly," which, however, as far as Russia is concerned, does not siem t; bo quite abolished yot.—l am, ere., LA HUSS.