BLUE RIBBON MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1633, 13 September 1887, Page 3

BLUE RIBBON MEETING.

A public meeting under the auspices of the Blue Ribbon Gospel Temperance Misi sion, was held in the Volunteer Hall, Ternuka, last evening. Thera was a very large ntlcndance, and the Rev. T. A. Hamilton occupied ihe chair. Mr Proudlock presided at the organ, and there was a choir contributed from the various churches. The proceedings commenced by the singing of Hymn 66 Sankey’s collection, after whicli the Rev. W. G. Thomas read a portion of the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. The Rev, Mr Dickson then engaged in prayer. After hymn 42, “ What will the harvest be,'* had been sung, the Chairman in a few words introduced the Rev. Mr Elliott who he said was to be principal speaker that evening. He desired to point out to them that the members of the Blue Ribbon Army did not band themselves together in any rabid sense. They sincerely desired to do good to their fellow men by promoting ihe cause of Temperance and they should therefore avoid sayirg harsh things of anyone. The motto of the Blue Ribbon Army was charity towards all, malice towards none. The reform that they desired to bring about must be done gradually, and in order to form a sound public opinion it was necessary that persons should be trained, and taught to believe that intemperance was really ruining their country. England’s drink bill last year was £120,905,785, and in thinking of this vast amount it would be well to consider what it had bought. Briefly, all England had to show were pauperism, insanity, vice, and death. The money which might have been the means, if properly applied, of elevating the nation’s morals, had been squandered. During the past 50years —the Jubilee which they had jiistcelebratod—£4so,ooo,ooo,ooohad been spent in drink ; a sum sufficient to have extinguished the National Debt five limes over. People were daily speaking of retrenchment, but it was in the matter of drink that they should retrench. It had been computed that every day in England £370,000 was spent in liquor while only £192,000 was spent in bread. These were figures that spoke for themselves. Personally he believed that it was the bounden duly of every baptiz d Christian to take his stand against intemperance. They should not require a pledge, but cash should throw m his weight in the cause of temperance when they found the country gradually drifting into such a deplorable state. Many people bad already joined the Blue Ribbon Army for the purpose of setting an example, and it was by displaying their strength that good could be done. But they should remember when they made a pledge to ask Divine assistance to enable them to keep it. In the language of David let them pray, “ Create in me a clean heart, and renew e right spirit within me.” Hymn 418 was then sung, after which The Rev. Mr Elliott, who on rising was greeted with app[außo, said that he had been asked by the indefatigable Secretary of the Blue R'bbon Army to address them that evening. He had, however, no idea that he was to be the principal speaker. He thought he was only expected to put in an appearance, just to sliow on which side lay his sympathies. He was, however, very pleased to bo present that evening, and thought it a very significant fact that so many clergymen of various denominations appeared on the platform for a common purpose. Each, no doubt, was waimly attached to his Church. He for one was an ardent Presbyterian, but nothin? pleased him more than to see this combination against a growing evil. “ Union was not always strength,” as the man said when his whiskey was mixed with water, but in this case union was strength and it was a good thing when men grieved at heart combined to show by strength of their opinion their appreciation of the evils of intemperance. Ho cordially endorsed the remarks made by the Chairman about gentle measures. A great deal of harm was done to the temperance cause by speaking of intemperance in an intemperate way. Let them speak the truth in love. The pulpit had been called the “coward's castle,” because ministers frequently from its shelter condemned many things in a manner which they would not have adopted if on common ground. He would not say anything offensive that evening of anyone, not even of his friends (be publicans. He quite recognised the necessity for hotels, but would like to see the drink banished from them, it was a case similar to that of the servant whose master asked her if she had swept out the office, and was told “No, sir; I’ve swept out the dirt.” That was what they wanted to do with hotele. Gospel temperance was a thing he always had believed in. Men required some restraining power, and he might illustrate this by a reference to heathen mythology. Ulysses on one occasion required to take his vessel past an enchanted island, and, knowing the danger to his men, caused them to be securely bound and their ears to be stopped w.th wax. In spite of this, as they passed the place of enchantment they heard the most enchanting sounds, which caused them to writhe and struggle to be free. Orpheus also, whoso skill ns a musician was so great that even the birds, the trees, and the rocks were subject to his power, had to pass the same spof, but was enabled to neutralise the power of the enchantment by calliog to his aid hia wondrous skil 1 , and by awaking the floods of melody from his lyre to so enrapture bis crew that they had no desire to leave his vessel. So it was will) a man whose mind was filled with the love of Christ. The love of Christ restrained them. Some men were able to resist temptation, but they were few. Once let the Saviour get hold of them and the temptation lost its attractiveness. To thejr Saviour only could they look for deliverance. The Blue Ribbon Army bad effi ctnd a wonderful amount of good. When first started it had been 8 iid that it was the ou’come of excitement. Ho thought it well to t,k<- advant gs of the excitement, and to urge forward the cuise of t nips ranee on the rising wave, in the early days of Romo slaves were very numerous, and it had once been proposed that they should w ear a badge of their s-if loin. This proposal was. howi-ver, negatived, fir it was p rioted out that’t wouit be dangeioua lo r vtiiil to ihe slaves theinseUos iheir numerical s to gth. Tire badge of the b tie ribbon was an adva t'g- in tins way. It displayed their strength. As an or-gams-.tion it w * fi like y lo he productive of a great deal of good. Ho was afraid from the appearance of his

audienc# that lo urge tlssm to temperance was to bring coals to Newcastle, but lie could at all events confirm them in their faith. He (ihe speaker) had been a total abstainer from his childhood. In fact he was boro one. (Laughter). But furthermore he had been educated at a school, the master of which always made as many of the scholars ns possible sign the pledge, and he (the speaker) desired the younger members of society to take the pledge, and induce as many others as possible to do likewise. The women also should use their interest. They possessed a mighty power and should use it. Let them consider what an insidious evil drink was. Beef, mutton, etc., produced a feeling of satiety, but the inordinate use of alcohol produced a craving. He need net tell ihrru of how ridiculous drink made men appear, and they should rather be inclined to pity and tears than laughter at the folly of a drunkard. The speaker then gave several instances that bad come under his own observation of the evils of drink, and proceeded to Bay th»t it was not a necessity. Imagination had much to do with it. Generals Havelock and Wolseleyhad each testified to the superior stamina of ths men under their command who were abstainers, and it was the same with Arctic explorers. He urged them to give it a trial. He was glad to see the rapid strides that had been made with the Licensing Act during the past few years, but further changes were needed. Women should be allowed to vote, and, in place of the being a poll taken in the ordinary way, voting papers could be taken round for signatures. The principle of good Government should be that it should be easy to do right and difficult to do wrong, and the Government should consider the greatest good of the greatest number. Individual effort also was needed in the cause of suffering humanity. Intemperance was an incubus upon the labors of their ministers. But (ruth was mighty and would prevail, but let them see that they fought oa the right side. “ Strike till the last-armed foe expires, Strike for your altars and your fires, Strike for the green graves of your sire?, Heaven and your native land.” Mr Elliott’s address was interspersed with numerous humorous and pointed anecdotes, and tho audience wore kept interested throughout. At its conclusion he was loudly applauded. Hymn 292 was sung and a collection was made. This was followed by the choir singing Hymn 138, after which Mr William Hayhurst sang an original temperance song, “ March of the Temperance Men,” which was heartily applauded. The Rev, W. G, Thomas then moved a hearty vote of thanks to the organist, Mr Proudlock, the choir, and more especially to the Rev. Mr Elliott for his address, Tho Rev. Mr Dickson, in seconding (h« motion, expressed bis entire sympathy with the movement, and his pleasure at seeing so large an attendance. Tho Rev. Mr Elliott b iefly returned thanks, and pronounced the benediction. Before the meeting dispersed a number of children and adults signed the pledged, and enrolled themselves as members of the Blue Ribbon Array.