PROHIBITION AND THE BIBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1605, 18 November 1905, Page 3

PROHIBITION AND THE BIBLE.

[(To the Editor Gisborne TimfiHj

Sir,—-The public meeting recently held in Gisborne, at which several ministers of different ohurohee spoke strongly in favor and support of prohibition, must have caused pain and enrprise to many unpre-

judiced minds. The Christian Oburob, in its many seo

tions, is fonnded upon the Bible. In that Book, tho teachings of Moses, of the Prophets, and of the Apostles, as well as the Commandments of Jehovah, and the words and acts of Christ are apposed to the doctrine of prohibition. Prohibition seeks to forbid the nse or sale of intoxicating liquors by process of law. There are four principles which may bs considered as bearing upon the subject: 1. The moderate use of alooholio liquors. 2. Excessive art or abuse thereof.

8. Voluntary abstinence, and 4. Prohibition or compulsory abstinence.

Of these the first and third are permitted and have been permitted in all ages, both in Hewbrew and Christian ohurohes. Theaecondisforbidden andoondemnedfrom the beginning to the end of the saored writings. As regards the fourth: The word " prohibit,’’ is not found either in the Old or New Testaments, nor is any equivalent term used in relation bo the use of wine or strong drink. The word “ abstain ”is used in the New Testament in reference to the pollution of idols and meats offered to idols, and a few other forms of evil or forbidden practices. It is also nsed by Paul in his First Epistle to Timothy as one of the marks of the falling away of the ohurohes and the creeping in of evil doo* trines, “ commanding to abstain from meats which God oreated to bo reoeived with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the trnth,”

The first recorded instances of the use of wine is unfortunately also of ita abuse. The drunkenness of Noah is reoorded in the 9th chapter of Genesis, and that [ of Lot in the 19th. The evil con- : sequanoes of exoeaaive drinking were folly • known, and drunkenness was widely practised from the earliest times. Yet when Gad gave laws to the children of Israel and . through them to the world, not one word was Bpoken or written whioh could lead any of His followers to the conclusion that any man was commanded himself to abstain from the nse of wine or Blrong drink, or that he was empowered to force abstinence upon others. The ritual of the Tabernaoie servioes, instituted by Divine command, ordained the use of wine as a drink of offering on every oocasion of Worship. There never has been, since the day when the service* of the Tabernaoie began, down to the present day, any cessation of the practice of using wine in religions ceremonies. Thii was at first commanded by the Father and God of Israel, and afterwards continued by Our Saviour. The moderate übs and enjoyment o( wine is continually referred to both in the Old and New Testa* ments. It is promised as a blessing in itBelt, and is used in many parts of the Bible as a symbol of other blessings. In all the feasts and festivals of the Mosaio law, it was stated that men could, if they chose, partake of wine or strong drink. The first miracle performed by the Saviour was the turning of water into wine at the marriage feaet at Cana io Galilee. At the last supper, immediately before his oruoifixion, it is recorded that'Christ both drank and gave wine to His Disciples, saying, " This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many. Verily I say unto yon, I will no more drink of the fruit of the wine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdon of God.” He then commanded them, and through them the whole of His Ohuto’a in future sgoß, when they met in Holy Communion to drink wine—whioh typified His blood — in remembrance of Him. If these ministers had been living when the Saviour waa on earth, or if He wore amoDgst us now speaking and acting aB He spoke and acted theD, would they say of Him as the Pharisees and Hypoorites said : " Behold a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber, a 1 friend of publicans and sinners ” ? To only two olasses of men, under the Mosaio dispensation, was the use of wine and strong drink forbidden ; and in these cases the abstinence was etriotly temper- , ary and on particular occasions. The . first wsb in the oaso of priests daring the i time they were in the Tabernacle and > employed in tho service of the Altar ; the - aeoond was in the oase of the Nazirite who had conseorated or separated himself i for a time to the Lord, during whioh f time, among other things, be. was i, to abstain from eating or dtiokmg > anything that came from the .vine; 0 but after the period of his coosooration he i, waß again permitted to drink. Where is the foundation in Holy Writ on which there cau be built up this 11th Command-

mont ? These ministers, in commonwith great numbers of others, have added to tVo deoalogue, “Thou sbaH not drink wioe or strong drink." Th.e only religion in the world, of which I am aware, that prohibits the use of intoxicating liquors is that founded by Mahomet, Prohibitipn has existed among Mabommadons for morp than 1250 years, What has it done for the countless multitudes of peoplo wbo have lived and suffered under fehe rulo of Oaiipkß and Sultani ? The use of wine has been permitted and iu many oases enjoinod in Christian countries during the Christian ora; ooDtr-ist the condition to-day of the races which hold respectively the teachings of the Bibls and the teaehinga of the KoraD. I have often noticed that when Ohrißtianmursteiiandobnrobei identify themselves with this new dootrint of prohibition, thus " teaching as cheii doctrines the preoepts of men,” they losi much, and in somo eases all their iDfluenoi and usefulness as preachers of the gospe and as Christian churches. As this lette is already of great length, I propose 1' ask spaoe in your columns on.anolhei occasion. —Yours, eta., 0 ' w. L. REEB.