THAT BIBLE LESSON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 52, 26 March 1909, Page 4

THAT BIBLE LESSON.

To the Editor

Sir,--Tlio heading of this is a misnomer. J. do not want to deal with that Bible lesson; a Sunday School teacher has explained, after a fashion, the time and history ot the lesson to the satisfaction of the bulk of your readers. I do not think be did it exactly in the most complete way, only let that pass. What 1 see is that Mr. Enroth is not satisfied. I did not expect he would be satisfied with anything less than a tilt at ileelotallers direct. It seems that is what he wanted; the lesson might he good, had or indifferent; it was a chance to attempt to discredit that hateful "ism." Now, I do not mean to answer the Bible, arguments, or so-call-ed, arguments—let theologians. Bible com ilators and Sunday School teachers do that. L do not go to the Bible for all my rules of hygiene; any more than ldo to find out what sort of illumiiiiint I shall use in my house. If it could be provwl that St. Paul advised Timothy to drink intoxicating wine, and also that he did drink it; and I will say, further that if he got better afterwards. 1 should iiot be satisfied that the alcohol was the cause of the cure or change my opinion and practice as to the use of intoxicating beverages. "After that, therefore, because of that," is not sound reasoning. I write as a representative of "that system" which Mr Enroth says "the Yankees only invented last century," the teetotal system. Further, 1 don't mean to call Mr. Enroth, or any else, hard names; I have, learned my Bible and my Shakespeare too well for that;..besides that, I give Mr. Enroth full liberty to call inc all the hard names he pleases; my friends will not believe him, ami as for my enemies- -if I have any—l do not expect their good opinion any way. Mr. Enroth says that total abstainers "arc oWssed with Hie craze that total al>slineiice is the panacea of all the ills of life," in which statement he is quite wrong. This is only a bit of Mr. Enroth's hyperbole; he does not mean it; lie knows we never said it or even thought it; thougli it is a very large proportion of the ills of life that the best authorities in law, medicine and philanthropy attribute to the use of alcoholic drinks, which, of course, would nut exist if our "system" held sway; then Mrs. Klenner would he here doing her dutv to home and family; Dr. Goode would be a free man and a benefit to society; that a large percentage now in asylums (see Dr. Leathani's evidence) as a consequence of drink would in the ordinary affairs of life, bo a profit instead of a loss to the State. .1 could fill pages with such instances of where total abstinence, if adopted, would be a benefit. If total abstainers were the oiic-si%d creatures that Mr. Enroth snvs. how is it that (hey are always found, at Hie front in all reform and philanthropic movement*? Who are the leaders in the great movement in the Old Country for the betterment of the nation's workers? Why. I lie teetotallers, such as Iturns, Crooks. Henderson.. Lloyd-George; in fact, nearly all the leaders are on our side. Who lead in the anti-Kainbling crusade in New Zealand? The same teetotal people; ■opposed alwuvs hv the drinkers and drink-seller*. 'Mr. Enroth advoeatesthc cause for the 11. and P. Bible Society, ami i am glad he doc*, onlv lei him look down the lists of the supporters of that good work, ami lie will find Hint tliev arc verv largely teetotallers. T wisii Mr. Enroth would state a question for discussion- lay his hand on some ■■real" statement 'on our side to which he objects. It is no use saying, "Pharisee! hypocrite!" Thnt is no argument. Perhaps there are such among our bakers, for instance; but they make good bread, and we enjoy it. 1 will not indict a temperance lecture on vuiir reader-: they have .had a lot of (hat lately in the evidence laid before the Supreme Court, and everyone must have had his faith in alcohol severely shaken. I heard of one man who renounced it altogether in consequence, of what he heard, ami those who were previously -obsessed with 'the' craze" will, I am sure, be confirmed in it.—-T am. etc.. GEO. if. MAUNDER.

2S/3/«0. P.S.- -Since writing Hie alwvi' Dr. Trilby Kin" lms pivcn "An liileiwtin;.' Lccliiro." n'linvicd in 'ynnr columns, to which T would especially draw Mr. ''Knvotli's nUCiifcioii.-G'Jl.jr,