WEDDING BEVERAGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1019, 9 July 1930, Page 16

WEDDING BEVERAGES

PRESBYTERY’S CONDEMNATION IMPORTANT MORAL ASPECT The neglect of education on the benefits of abstinence and of the cultivation of a moral sentiment against the use of alcohol as a beverage, was remarked upon by the Rev. W. J. Comrie, president of the New Zealand Alliance, at the meeting of the Auckland Presbytery last evening. He said temperance speakers had laid too much importance on the result of the vote. In order to increase the public sentiment against the liquor traffic and in favour of the observance of the existing laws, Mr. Comrie asked for the cooperation of members in stressing the moral aspect of the question. It was asserted that drinking at wedding ceremonies caused many young people, including some belonging to the churches, to start taking intoxicating liquor. The temperance committee is to be asked to consider whether a circular should be prepared, and supplied to ministers concerning this custom. A report on the question of capital punishment is to be presented to the next meeting of the Presbytery by the Public Questions Committee. The convener of the committee, the - Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, said that a letter on this topic by Mr. N. M. Richmond, and subsequent thought, had considerably influenced his ideas.