CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 3343, 6 November 1873, Page 2

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

Wednesday, November 5. INTEMPERANCE. The Rev. Mr Stanford moved—“ That, looking to the extension and continued prevalence of the sin of intemperance in this diocese, , the ( /lunch of England, as charged with the spiritual and moral interests of the members of her communion, is bound to put forth special efforts with a view to its removal.” There was not more drunkenness in Dunedin than in any part of this (Vlony or of any other; on the contrary, perhaps there was less. But had not the sin of intemperance extended its roots amongst them -was it not doing harm to thenwork as a Church, and was it not causing misery amongst the various strata of their social being ? The resolution was not one for which he could take credit to himself as the originator. It was simply copied from one proposed by the Bishop of Lichfield at a Church Congress held in the library of Lambeth Palace, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was the first of a long series, and in explanation of its objects he read the definition of those purposes for which the Church Temperance Society at Home was constituted. They were as follows For the promotion of habits of temperance, for the reformation of the intemperate, and for the removal of the causes which lead to intemperance, mainly in accordance with the recommendations of the reports of Convocation. The Society is to be open to assistance from nonabstainers ns well as from abstainers, and seeks aid in explaining and enforcing the provisions of the law ; in the formation of a sound public opinion as to the connection between intemperance and the undue facilities and temptations provided by the present public-house system ; in the progressive diminution of the number of public-houses and beershops as public opinion may permit ; the alteration of the character of ‘ tippling-honses, ’ by bringing them back to the original form of ‘ victualling and refreshment housesin the closing of publichouses and beershops on Sunday (except to travellers), and the limitation of the hours of sale on weekdays, as public opinion may permit ; in the dissociation of music halls and dancing rooms from public-houses; in the strengthening of the hands of the magistrates in the exercise of their power for the curtailment of facilities for the sale of intoxicating liquors ; in giving to local public opinion its due share, in conjunction with the existing authorities, in the granting or refusing of licenses, and in the regulation of public-houses or beershops ; in the removal of benefit, friendly, and burial clubs from public-houses, and the discouragement of the payment of wages at those places ; in the promotion of ‘ British Workman’ public-houses, recreation grounds, and other counteractions to the ordinary publichouse ; in the discouragement of the present system of ‘treating’ in business and commercial transactions, and the ‘footing’ custom among workmen; in the preparation of lesson books for reading in the national schools of the country, with special teaching on the moral, social, and physical evils resulting from intemperance ; in the diffusion of correct and reliable information by temperance literature, tracts, and other publications, by sermons, lectures, and readings, by addresses to members of the Universities, theological colleges, and training colleges for teachers, and also by missionary efforts in prisons, workhouses, and other places where the victims of intemperance are usually found ; and in the promotion of union for special prayer throughout the country for the Divince blessing upon the temperance movement. Both classes, nouabstainers as well as abstainers, are asked to aid in these purposes, and in addition the abstainers are requested to aid in the establish - ment of parochial temperance societies, guilds, and Bands of Hope, based on the principle of total abstinence, under the superintendence or with the sanction of the parochial clergy, as the proved and most effectual human means of bringing the intemperate under the teaching and power of the Gospel, and so setting them free from the bondage of their sin, and of preserving others from the abounding temptations of the day.” If this resolution had come forward at an eailier period, he would Lave been prepared to advocate something of the same kind here, and propose that they should institute a guild or temperance society. In proposing some declaration of opinion on the subject of temperance, he was very far from wishing to propose anything like an increase in the number of teetotallers or total abstainers. For his part, he was not an abstainer, and hoped hq never should be. If he thought his iqoticft would draw one more intq their ranks, he should be loth indeed to move it. He conceived that the dictum of one of the most illustrious prelates in the English Bench was as true here as in England. He said that he “ would rather see England free than sober.” For his (Mr Stanford’s) part he would sooner see Otago free than sober. He conceived that the pledge bs teetotalism constituted onq pf t.h'q worst slaveries, and that''the legislation of which thq Permissive Bill was taken as the representative, was only one degree lighter in its chains of bondage. Mr H agoitt seconded the resolution, _ The Lev. Mr Coffey supported the resolution. lint did not,agree with the mover iu Ida fjondenuiqtioil qf teptatalism. There were many whose only hope of cure lay in total abstinence. As for the Permissive Bill, its main object was to remove the temptations cast in the way of so many round about them. The Bey. Mr Oldham heartily supported the resolution ; but did not agree with Mr [Stanford's definition of total abstinence. That system had rescued hundreds and thousands of individuals and families from misery and destitution. He would be in favor of a proposal recently made by the Bishop of Melbourne far an alliance between moderate drinkers ami total abstainers. The Bey, Mr Oippoiui sq fay agreed with the principle of the Permissive Bill that he himself bad signed and obtained signatures to the memorials in favor of the measure recently submitted to the General Assembly. The Bev, Mr Dewe also spoke in favor of the resolution. .Referring to the numerous grog shanties to be met with throughout the Province, he said that the police were utterly powerless to deal with the evil. The feeling against informers was so strong up country that the police could get no information against offenders. He knew of one instance where the people of the district subscribed to bring up a lawyer to defend a person who had been informed against, while a Magistrate and another man nearly frightened the life out of the informer. An inquiry into the conduct of this Magistrate was to have taken place, but it had been quietly burked. ’ Archdeacon Edwards thought the clergy might do a great deal towards diminishing intemperance if they resolutely set their faces against every instance of it, and ceased to regard if as though it were in many cases a mere ” amiable weakness,” The President believed he was merely expressing the general opinion when he said that were it not that they were all so anxious to bring the Synod to a close, the importance of this subject and its great bearing upon their work would have drawn forth a much more lengthened debate. But this introduction of the subject would doubtless call forth on a subsequent occasion more practical measures. He said this lest it should appear from their present meagre discussion that they had not the consideration of this important subject closely at heart. The resolution was unanimously agreed to.