Blue Ribbon Temperance Union.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1682, 12 April 1886, Page 2

Blue Ribbon Temperance Union.

(Continuation of Beport.) Mr Bruce went on to observe^thit some people say that a drunkard is his own enemy but that is not the truth. No man can sin or suffer alone. The sins of the lathers are visited on the children to the third and fourth generation. It was transmitted to their descendants. This was indelibly engraved on the book of nature. He would urge on them all id the name of God and their children to rise: up and put the devil under their feet. Morally and religiously, last but not least. The Old Book told them that those who tarried long at the wine had sorror and woe. One remarkable thing he noticed the Temperance movement of late years had taken a Gospel stand. It was the Gospel Temperance movement now. The majority of prominent Tern* perance men worked on the Gospel ticket. Gough, Murphy^ Moody, .and many, others united the Gospel with abstinence. The speaker here quoted a number of extracts from a book entitled "Talks on Temperance," by D. L. Moody and would recommend all to get it. He further, as an .illustration of temperance without godliness, spoke of Marshall^ brilliant speaker m the American Congress at one time. This man was once a great temperance advocate, one of the great movers m the cause of total abstinence. He said' that religion and temperance should be kept separate ; but this man ended his daya'in a drunk* ard's grave himself. He exhorted all present to link themselves to Jesus and s-et salvation front not only drink but every other evil. Before concluding he hoped that both their Chairman and tht Rev. Mr Wright would sign to-night. Mis 3 France, junr., then uang, "No one cares for me," and was followed by Mr Gilbert Carson, of Wanganui, addressing the meeting. Mr Carson thought it a very difficult thing to address atemperance audience. There was such » mixture of feelins;, one did not know whether to laugh or to cry, or to feel terribly indignant. He had felt indeed during Mr Bruce's address that all three were coming into play. When ona thought of the hundreds, aye millions of people who were daily hurrying on to their ruin through the evil, of drink, did it not arouse them to a sense of their responsibility. r The magnitude of tfcii terrible evil, .jtoo, the amount of money expended voluntarily upon it, the scorei of thousands of lives that art lose through it. All this need not be gone over, but individually they could recall the past fenown to themselves. He had himself: often looked back on the year? gone by and' remembered the days of childhood and the boys he bad known, and mixed with, and how many of then* he had seen grow up and tarn pat drunkarks notwithstanding -their bright prospects. Men of his acquaintance, too, who had had every opportunity and prospect, he had seen thrown all away, aye when the ball was at their feet turn away and go the downward path and end m a drunkard's grave before they had reached 30 years. One he had seen at his end m the Wanganui Hospital sit up m his bed and cry with his last breath for brandy and then fall back to rise no more. Another had started by just taking a little and by degrees the habit had grown on him until he found it impossible to, restrain himself, and/ those friends who had led him on began to find him a nuisance. He would call at jthsir houses and wait and wait until he 'got the drink. In fact he became such a nuisance that a lady at one house where he called had to get him outside the house by a singular ruse, viz. j by bringing the jar of whisky and allowing him to smell it: and then drawing it away, and so getting him to follow her till outside, the house. Such is the terrible force this cursed thing has over man. Another illustration of the speaker's personal experience was given and he pro* ceeded to say that he believed there were thoonhds who would be buried alive "than* liW and undergo the miseries, degradation, shame, sorrow, and sin, which their drunken lives. were surely preparing them for. If there was a power which was sending men down to perdition let them put their feet on it and stamp it out. The men who are harrying themselves down this road to ruin wanted their help. If a -woman or a man were m danger of their lives and a fellowman could save them, would he not be considered inhuman if he did not put out his hand to rescue tiem, and what wai it that was daily happening around them only m a different shape. .. They say a young man is only sowing his wild oats; that, he ia only hurting himself and should therefore be left alone. This wai not true, however, the young man wag making a rod for the backs of his children and his children's children. The evil seed brought forth fruit of its kind. Consumption m parents was a good illustration of how the drinkine curse was transmitted from father, to son, and what were thoy going to do. Had they any responsibility, any duty to perform? They had Ions: enough stood off and .looked on saying that if people would be fools, let them. But they had had time to see the awful effects of the liquor traffic and were now putting out their hands to save. Long ago it -was fonnd a difficult thing to stem the tide. A few had worked hard, very hard ; their zeal had animated others, and now the organisation was becoming firm and united and was doing a grand work. Without wishing m any way- to offend their minister present he could safely 8«y that at one time, not very long ago either, over every public. 'house door might have been put the motto " Under the patronage of ihe Church ot God." The trade had been patronized by ihe Ministers of the Gospel, but a great change*had taken plaoe, and now one aeot could boast that every minister belonging to it was a total abstainer. For the sake of these who were becoming drunkards, would they not become ab>stainerg. From the Christians they expected more. The speaker here quoted from Scripture the passage ciotioning man not to eat or dring whercbv hii brother might be caused to stumble. Further, moderate drinkers could not do anything to Help the cause ; they could not go to their fellowmen and advise them while indulging m the accursed thing themselves. And you. cannot guarantee any man stopping at modern* tion,' therefore the safest way is certainly to abstain entirely. Looking at the subject m a reoressive light, people say that we have no rip-ht to interfere with the liberty of the subject. Such an argument was ridiculous m the extreme. Why should they interfere with a man if he wants to drink ? Well, hut yon murtit as readily ask why should we m. tej-fere with the subject for doing anything he pleased, and yet every day man is prevented from committing acts calculated to endanger the peace of the community. If a man wanted to ex* hibit an obscene picture m the publio thoroughfares, he would not be allowed to do so, He might like to look on the picture himself , but the* law wai made for; all; not for one man, and so he was prohibited making publio what the .Government of the country considered distasteful to the majority. If he (the speaker) were given an autocratic power that evening to close all the public houses, he would not do it. No, the thing would be too sadden. It must be carried by the voice of the people. It was argued that wearing the blue ribbon was a ridiculous thing, and done m many cases for show. But then, again, why should they object to let people Knp^f their principles. If a man were going up for the position of Mayor, be adver* tiaed m the papers the names of those who supported him. The temperance supporters then by wearing the blue ribbon let the outside public ieewhowert

on the side of total abstinence. He remembered once when a young man during the Waikato war' -and m the company he belonged to amongst others standing out and refusing to accept the proffered spirits for which he was sound • Jy,hißsed. The cause, m his opinion, was going; to win m the end. Tfieife^ had lately been a great fight-i n Auckland. It was a good sign to see the drinksellers show fight. It meant that they saw the threatened danger; and after all it was natural that thay should be annoyed and frightened too.. .The. 'tern? perance men fought them, fdught their business, and when a man's business is attacked it was natural he should set hia temper up. He would not be human if he did not. At the back of the publicans are the brewers, and -when the hotels are closed the brewers have no place to dispose of liquor, and they will be as much trigbiened an the publicans. Then, again, there were the inercbants at the back of them, and they would feel the shock also. The temperance movement was travelling all down the Colony, and would eventually » and not very far distant, make a tremendous stand' The question bad been ; asked Sir Julius ■Yogel lately m Auckland, whether he would be agreeable to an exteusion of the franchise. Just now only those, who are ratepayers bad a vote. He replied yes, and this means, if carried, that every one will have a vote, including the members of the fair sex. As soon as that day came, the publicans could get ready to put up their shutters. And why | Bhbuld not the women have a voice m the matter? She who was brutally treated by a drunken husband. The Jtandhe had taken m connection with 'temperance had cost him m business and other ways, but he had the satisfaction that his actions were sincere, and that c^ouscience approved the course he had |ake;n. Some men pride themselves on their "moderation, and look heedlessly on while their b'ro.ther is hurrying on to th 3 graVe. Christian men, too, did this very same thing. They felt safe < them - •elves, but they thought not of the influence they were causing over their fel- : Ibwmen. If they wished to, have their : skirts clean of the blood of those who. "were going down to the grave through! ■ drink, tHey should come out and leave the accursed thin?. He would ask them to do so, not merely for their own sakes, but t for thoue others who were weaker tlran, ' they. Might God help them to decide. : i The Chairman next called upon the; "Hingers to "give the "quartette "Sign . to-night," which was v«ry pleasingly! rendered, after which he informed the; meeting that if it would do any good he would! sign the pledge*, and hoped a number of those present would- follow suit. ;Mr McKenna led the way, and having "subscribed his name, was followed by .others." • Mr Wingate, Chairman of the Society, moved a vote of thanks to the chairman : and Messrs Bruce and Carson, which iWas carried unanimously. The singers • were also mentioned, and also Miss Linton, who had ably presided at the piano. „ The meeting then closed.