Present-Day Problems.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 January 1911, Page 4

Present-Day Problems.

$, —^~— DRINK, GAMULING AND XOX-Ci-ITTRCHGOING. iddrusses by methodist Ministers. The delegates attending the Primitive. Methodist Conference were entertained at a soiree in the concert chamber of ttic Town Mall last night. There was a large nt'tendiince. Later in tlbe evening a public meeting was held. Mr \\. Dodds ocupied ■the chair. Solos were given by Messrs G. Higgott and P. Cut forth, and the children of the "Weli'b street Sunday school sang a chorus, the solo part in which was taken by Miss Ida Snelling. The Rev, G. Henderson spoke on "The Drink Evil." Liquor eon'd have no place in the Kingdom of God. Every year 120,0000 por.so-is in the Old Country died through udulgence in strong drink, and 1,00').. 000' throughout the world. All the ravages of war, and ais ease were not near so ■damn *• ig :>s those of strong drink. The Rev. l<l. Drake dealt with "tl!;e Gambling Evil." Since tin timo of Henry VIT. legislation had le< u enacted to attempt to control the evil. On the Continent lotteries were prevalent, and workmen were always living in hopes of getting rich some day. In New Zealand the Act of 1908 was passed because the Government recognised that sport in New Zealand was being spoilt by gambling. If gambling was instructive then human instinct was goinn wrong. It was surely possible that men could keep horses for racing purposes without .gambling. Gambling ruined sport. Th? vice also made citizenship impossible. The whole being of a gambler was vitiated if be allowed ti':c passion to take possession of him. Gambling also injured industry. The evil of gambling was shown by the class of people who indulged ;i: it. The legislation put upon t!u> statute book had gone a long wa/ to curb the evil in Mio coimnuirty. and they ought to grateful to the Government of New Zealan:! for taking pains to limit the vice. The Rev. G. Knowles-Sniitb spoke on ''The Church and tihe Masses." There were two basic facts that must be clearly understood before entering upon a satisfactory discussion of the question. The first was that the churcfh was not, and ncvr •had been, essential either to God or man, and the second was that the '•nii-it of indifferentism rather tha • ihnt of antagonism was th pivvji.iing attitude of the vast nvi.;.."-itv o!' non-churchgoers. God had used the church to convey to the world the greatest and grandest revelations of His will and work, but more than once she had fulfilled the prediction that Moses made Tsrael. Wlien she had prospered she had for got ten the Lord and arrogated to herself powers not rightfully hers, <»r rested i>) some fancied, absolute and c!esp:)ti' authority. In all .such cases history declared how God had viu:'ir ate''! himself and raised up othei agents or agencies. Frances ol Assisi. Savniiarola, Know Wesley Whitefield. William Clawes am General Rooth were fill cases ii point. The church had no dain upon t*'ie people unless she was do livering the true message of Grid Non-ohurchgoing was a great evil The remedy lay with the church her self. She must speak out till? Divine message of God. Politics shnul' not be taught from the pulpit. Tin church should practice what sin preached. When she did tib.at tin people would listen t:> her.- Nev Zealand Times.