GOOD TEMPLARISM AND ITS RESULTS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 255, 13 March 1875, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLARISM AND ITS RESULTS.

That there are two sides to every question is fully apparent in the following extract which we clip from the Charleston Herald of the 17th February. “ AVe have been rather surprised at receiving notices of withdrawal of advertisements from four out of the five publicans of Charleston who have hitherto favored us with theirsupport. The reason given in each instance for so doing being ‘ the dullness of the times.’ Had nothing else transpired such would have been received as a

genuine and satisfactory reason, but we know the persons above referred to have, in solemn conclave assembled, adopted this course to mark their disapproval of the conductor of this journal and the other members of its staff being members of a temperance society. The publicans seem to overlook the fact that this journal is no t a temperance organ, that it is conducted impartially, and that the private opinions of any one member of its staff have no more right to be called in question, as affecting the policy of the paper, than the private affairs of any other member of the community have to be called in question by the public. The proprietors of this journal, however much they may regret a loss of patronage, will not seek to coerce the conscientious convictions of their workmen — cially on the subject which the cans evidently wish them to do.” The folly of such an attempt at fanatical coercion to induce men to prostitute their moral convictions—to destroy the very germ of their life—is as useless in this age of personal freedom, as it is illiberal and unjust, and must recoil on the heads of. the perpetrators. But we do not forget thht in the ranks of Good Templary itself instances in which a sentiment, quite as illiberal as the above are occasionally to be found, the Gisborne “ Pioneer ” Lodge having withdrawn its advertisements from our columns because we have, in strict impartiality, admitted extracts from other journals, which have been accepted by the members as reflecting on the Order, and with which we must necessarily be identified. Still this does not prevent us sympathising with the Charleston Herald-, and we certainly think its position the more dignified of the two.