PROHIBITION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 85, 7 October 1896, Page 2

PROHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In a recent issue I saw a letter from Mr Cocker, in which he makes an insignificant hit at Benson's dream. He also says that Mr Patterson is a wideawake man. Now anyone need only look at his advertisement to see this for themselves, as he not only hat. charge for front seats, but also a c ction. When Mr Isitt was here he said t the drink traffic was the dirtiest ia existence. He might have added bar streetpreachers and ranters. He also said that if Prohibition was carried they had a right to stop us drinking alcohol. Now if Prohibition is not carried can we make them drink alcohol ? At Halcombe, where temperance lecturers are few we have very little drunkenness. I am a temperate man myself. William J. Clapham. Makiao Eoad, October 2, 1896.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — In reading the report of Mr Isitt's reply to Mr Bagnall, I could not bat be struck with the lameness of his arguments and pleas for Prohibition. I think that past experience might teach Mr Isitt the fallacy of such a scheme, and that he is simply wasting time and energy which might be more profitably employed. If he wonld sit down and calmly read his Bible, he could not fail to see that his scheme can never be realised, and that he is simply beating the air. Surely the words in Luke XVII, verses 26, 27, and 28, and 2nd Timothy 111, 13th verse, ought to be conclusive evidence that they cannot be made better by any reformation schemes which man can invent. It may be possible, in some places, to curb by legislation some of the prevailing evils, but it is only healing the wound slightly, and it will always be breaking out afresh, and possibly with more virulence than before. A man — a people — may be reformed, but the nature still remains unchanged. Does not Mr Isitt know this ? Does he not see that his efforts as a preacher of the gospel, are in the wrong direction ? If he has been called of God, was he commissioned to reform the world ? The Lord did not come to reform the world, but to save sinners who were in the world. And such is the commission he gives to believers. Mr Isitt, in throwing aside the gospel and preaching Prohibition, implies that the latter is the most powerful in raising mankind, and that the former is a failure. The apostle Paul declares the gospel to be the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Christ says, "I, if Ibe lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto| me. 1 ' If Mr Isitt wants to reform the people, let him preach a full, free, and everlasting salvation through faith in the blood of Christ, and those who truly believe will not need Prohibition or any other reform, but will be kept by the power of God. The world can never rise to the level of the believer, but it will do all in ita power to bring him down to its level, which, if successful, will rob him both of his testimony and his oommunion with God. The believer can do his duty to the world only as he keeps separate from it, and shine* brightly only when he opposes the darkness. He can beat benefit mankind when he is glorifying God. I am sorry that Mr Boots could not get a hearing, for as an earnest student of the word of God his remarks, no doubt, would have been very instructive. I trust he will take an early opportunity of speaking on the subject of the believer's position in, and his mission to, the world. I am, etc., C. Cureie. Pobangina, September 25, 1896, I The above letters have been uuavoidably held OTer.J