TEMPERANCE LECTURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1499, 5 December 1878, Page 3

TEMPERANCE LECTURE.

The Rev. Dr. Roseby, of Dunedin, last night gave a public lecture on Good Tomplarism at the Colombo road Wesleyan Church. About 200 persons wore present, and the chair was taken by Mr McConnall. In the absence of Dr. Roseby, who was delivering an address on temperance at St. Alban's, Mr J. T. M. Smith opened the proceedings, and spoke at some length on the subject of the meeting. On the arrival of Dr. Roseby shortly afterwards, that gentleman apologised for his absence, and proceeded to deliver a most pow rful and striking discourse on Gtood Templarism as opposed to the notorious drinking customs which existed in the present day. He referred to the drunkard as the weakest, who must go to the wall, and on the principle of the survival of the fittest he argued that unless a helping hand was lent to them by those who had the strength to abstain wholly from the use of strong drink, they must finally succumb. On religious grounds, he urged that it was the duty of every man to help his neighbor, particularly when he found him in distress, as those who indulged in tho use of alcoholic liquors must necessarily be, as well as plunging those belonging to them likewise into misery and wretchedness. Unless the drunkard gave up his habits, and altogether abstained, he must accept the defeat that was bound to fall upon him, and would no one stretch out a hard to save him. If none abstained but those who were compelled, then those who wore compelled would not. Let them beard King Custom and refuse to drink that which they did not want, when they knew that by so doing they would help their erring brethren. Was it those with strong or those with weak resolutions who showed themselves best in the world's race? Then what need they care for the opinions of the world so that they had tho commendation of a good conscience in a good cause. If the intemperate were left alone they would not abstain, they wanted the force of advice and example, and unless such advice and example were given to them, they must perish according to the laws of natural selection, but he trusted it would not be allowed that the fittest only should survive. Degraded as many of them were they had hearts as warm as the rest of mankind, and if the right string were only touched, it would be seen how they would respond. If not they must perish. If they saw a man would they not stoop down and pick him up, and not stand by and see him utterly ruined in body and soul. "When Dr. Roseby concluded his address he was most heirtily applauded. The Rev. Mr Smalley said he had very great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the rev. lecturer for the very admirable address he had delivered. Although he (the speaker) did not belong to any Q-ood Templar Lodge, he felt much inclined to give in his name that night. [Loud applause.] It was true he belonged to the temperance body connected with his church, which, he was glad to say, numbered some 200 members. That was their quarterly meeting, and the chairman and treasurer were present, and would be very glad to take any names at the close of the meeting. On the question of evolution, to which Dr. Roseby had referred that evening, he was not propared to go with him, as he had not mado the subject a study, but he was always open to scientific conviction, and he should be very glad if some evening before Dr. Roseby left he would doliver a lecture on the theory of evolution. [Applause.] With regard, however, to tho main question before the meeting, he was very glad to say that in Sydenham they intended, as far as possible, to put down the " drinking shops." [Applause.] And they intended to make it pretty hard work too for anyone trying to get a license in that district Thov bad, tried to get a Jiconse for a new building in that district that had cost £2OOO, but he was very glad to say they had been defeated, a petition signed by over 200 of tho inhabitants of Sydenham having beon presented against tho granting of a license. [Applause] Ho was very proud of tho Sydenham people who, in this matter, he considered, set an excellent example to tho rest of the community. [Applause.] Tho vote of thanks was seconded by Mr Smith, and carried by acclamation. Tho Rev. Mr Smalley said before separating there was one other matter he should like to mention, and that was that there was a nasty drinking shop in Sydenham which the women of that district, like their sisters in America, intended to try and shut up. [Loud applause.] This was, he believed, the first attempt of the kind made in the colony, and what could be done in America could bo done in New Zealand. [Applause.] The ladies of the church had talkpd the matter over and had quite mado up their minds, and beforo long there would bo something to report on the subject. [Applaueo.] Dr. Roseby briefly returned thanks, and in making final reference to the vice of iho ag<j, said it was tho drinking pustoms of the o mntry that v lire responsible jfor so much drunkenness. Tha usual vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.