SACRAMENTAL WINE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 137, 5 December 1911, Page 5

SACRAMENTAL WINE

AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT. BY NEW ZEALAND AIiLIANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. ■Wellington, Monday. At a -special meeting of the New Zealand Alliance Federation held this morningi, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—"Thai- this executive has read with deep regret the circular letter of Archbishop Redwood advising Roman Catholics to vote against Nar tional Prohibition on the grounds that possibly the repeal of the clause allowing alcoholic wine for sacramental purposes may follow the success of National Prohibition. We notice with pleasure thut the said declaration do:s not touch the issue of no-license, as no question of the need for any exemption for sacramental or other purposes can arise under that issue. The- executive desires it to be understood that the party has not only not entertained an\ such idea, but has, on the other hand given substantial cvi4enee to the contrary. The executive has taken a strongline safeguarding religious convictions. When the dra.ft of the famous compact waß presented, to the Alliance it did not contain a provision covering the sacramental question. The alliance absolutely refused to proceed unless the proviso ■were inserted, and Sir Joseph Ward declared that unless the alliance's demand were acquiesced in he would not proceed with the Bill.- The definite exemption of sacramental wine from the operation of national prohibition, was then inserted. The law expressly provides that if national prohibition is carried (section 21, clause 2), 'nothing in this section shall extend or apply to the importation, manufacture or sale, in accordance -with regulations made -by the Governor-Gen-eral in that behalf of intoxicating liquors for medieval, scientific, sacramental or industrial purposes exclusively.' " The Archbishop's dictum is an inference from the following statement attributed to the Rev. Mr. Hammond: When we carry prohibition, a few years after we will have a majority of the people .educated to the extent that doctors will throw alcohol out for medicinal purposes, the churches will not us© it for sacramental purposes (as, indeed, my own church does not now), and it will not be necessary for industrial purposes." Mr. Hammond appears personally to contemplate the revision by the medical profession, by the church, and by the manufacturing interests of their present use of alcohol. Such revisions voluntarily made by the interested parties themselves, is the very opposite of a tyrannical invasion of the right of conscience. The executive is satisfied that it speaks for the whole of the no-license party when it declares that that party would never carry the principle of prohibition to such lengths as would interfere with the rights- of conscience ofi our Roman Catholic fellow citizens, or of any other religious body, but would, on the contrary, oppose any such exi tension a violation of the principles of religious liberty. , SACRAMENTAL EXEMPTION CLAUSES. j Dunedin, Last Night. With reference to Archbishop Redwood's circular, Mr. Hammond despatched the following telegram to the Archbishop this morning:— "I respectfully draw your attention to the fact that your grace has been misinformed. I never said, nor have any prohibition leaders said, nor will we ever say, one word against the very right and proper exemption clause dealing with wine for f=acramental purposes. I hope your grace will take immediate steps to correct the statement in the circular."