A WAR-TIME PERIL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3084, 15 May 1917, Page 7

A WAR-TIME PERIL

THE NATION AND DRINK

• AN INTERESTING SERMON

At the Brooklyn Baptist. Church on Sunday night the Rev. W. S. Rollings delivered a. rather striking sermon. Ho took for his text the words of Hosea:—"Strangers have devoured Israel's strength. Grey hairs are here and there upon him, hut ho knoweth it not." Tho prophet, said trip ■speaker, pictured the nation oF his hirth, which he loved and served with the devotion of a strong and nohle manhood, in a state of moral and political decay. A. man whose vitality has heen undermined by indnlgenca may be seemingly strong and healthy. But let a fever invade hie blood or an accident lay him low, ho cannot pass through the ordeal. In that crisis his past life is judged, often fatally. So was it with Hosea.'s nation. ' There bad been in lone years of prosperity a prodigal expenditure of the nation's strength. Grey hairs, the signs of decadence, appeared on the nation's head. But of the ebbing of its national vitality the nation was tragically unoonscious. The ordeal of war would ; reveal the fatal truth. And so it happened. The nation, under the shock of war, went under, never again to rise They might, psk: "What, has this to do with Britain?" John Bull's arms on land and sea are mightier than ever before. His teeth are firmly set, and his eye flashes fire. But the size of the nation's arms does not measure always the strength of the national arm, nor • does national bulk indicate the degree of national vitality. The speaker claimed that the ordeals of war had made it clear that the nation needed a tonic, and was in dagger' of taking an opiate; it needed a spur and the drink trade was putting a brake on the national energies. Millions of devout hearts who believe in.the justice of Britain's cause were praying for victory for the hosts of freedom assembled under their flag. A war-desolated world was hungering for peace. But as an Irish clergyman said:—"How can we expect God to answer our prayers when drink rules the Empire, blocks the way of reforms, and is 1 actually made a. temptation and a snare to men who are going out tc give their Jives for their country?" Draitiatlo Attempt to Spur Legislators, Two yearn ago, Mr; F. N. Charrington, the son of a millionaire brewer, who renounced his father's business and fortune, invaded the House of Commons, seized the maoe (the symbol of authority), which he felt had been dishonoured by the Parliamentary refusal to follow the King in legislative action. He was ejected, of course. It was a dramatio attempt, to apply the spur to legislators, whom millions feel have refused to use the greatest opportunity for national reform that ■ has been presented to any Government. The Government which refused to follow the lung and suppress the drink trade in tho interests of national efficiency hat gone under. Dr. Saleeby has " not hesitated to' say that. surrender • tc alcohol paved the way for itg failure and fall. But the power of the drink trade remains unbroken and insolent and is doing the national cause irreparable harm. What a tragedy it will, b( if our children in generations to come have to say that their Empire rnothei staggered to her fate under the incubui of drink! Leading medical 6aVants : such as Dr. Saleeby and the late Sii Victor Horsley, have warned tho nation that alcohol is destroying its manhood, its womanhood, its chivalry, anc its childhood faster than ever in this time of war. The whole body of medical science endorses such, protest; it doe; so not on moral grounds, but in the name'of physical and intellectual efficiency. And it is surely treason against knowledge to let such protests go unheeded'. A historic memorial was presented to Mr. Lloyd George or his return from the House of_ Commons as Prime Minister, praying foi the total suppression of the drink traffic during the.war to secure the highast degree of national effipiency. Among tho signatories there are nearly lOC idmirals and generals, and 7( Fellows of- the Royal Society Every name on the memorial stands t< be weighed as well as r counted. Thii letition is another attempt to wake uj fohn Bull by digging in the spur o: ;ruth. Russia, France, _ and Italj lave already done what Britain is ask :d to do in this memorial. _ And th( iquor interests in these nations hav< mcomplainingly submitted to the sacrf ice. Opinions of Naval and Military Experts. In England the "Brewers' Gazette' : aid a while ago: "Wehave suffered nc ;reat casualties se far." Tho mobilsation of alcohol has not only defeatd repressive legislation, but has usee he war to "boost" the trade. And the avoc wrought by alcoholism among he wbmen, the children, tho workers, lie soldiers, and sailors of tho nation, hen overy ounce of man-power they iuld command was vital for the naonal life, was appalling. _ The speakr quoted military authorities showing lat not only tho abuse but the use ol Icohol by our sailors and soldiers learned their efficiency and prejudiced jr chances of victory. Lord Kitchler, in a triumphant campaign, won lok tho Sudan for civilisation with a imporanco army; for ho allowed his oops nothing stronger than Nik ator. ' Lord Roberts averred that an •my of 13,000 abstainers was worth an •my of 15,000 non-abstainers. Adiral Jollicoo declared that tho rum .tion q-educed the shooting efficiency 1 the Navy 30 per cent. Field-Mar-lal Lord Fronch, % who has succeeded 3rd Roberts as president of the Royal rmy Temperance Association, General iffro, General Nivelle, and a host of 'her responsible military loaders, ;rco on this point. Tho lato Sir Vicr Horsloy declared that drink was it only lessoning the efficiency of our rmy and Navy, but was the chief use of the intellectual and political capacity of our statesmen, which has lamed us in the oyes of the nations, e said:—"Our gross failures and studity are, in my opinion, duo to drink fecting tho intellectual organs and aarness of our leaders. Of course oy do not'-'-realise that alcohol in mil doses acts as a. brake upon their ains.«" Tho speaker concluded his dress by saying that ho believed that e principles for which Britain had unea.tb.ed the sword would not. go unr. But at tho close of the war, unis their legislators dealt docisivelv th tho liquor peril, their Empire iglil not take the place in the lead which it would be entitled br the if airy of its heroes and the sacrifices its wives and mothers. He appealfo them to do all that lay in their wor to inscribe temperance prin>les upon England's ancient banner.