TEMPERANCE LECTURE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2341, 9 April 1892, Page 3

TEMPERANCE LECTURE.

On Thursday evening, in the New Hall, Temuka, Dr Lucas, one of the prohibition lecturers engaged by the New Zealand Alliance, delivered an address on Prohibition, which he entitled “ Thumbs up, or thumbs down.” The hall was well filled, there being a good attendance of the general public and nearly all the members of the local Good Templar lodge (who appeared in regalia). The chair was taken by the Rev. Mr Watters, and upon the platform were the Rev. Mr Dellow, Bro. Beaumont, C.T., and the lecturer. The Arowhenua Brass Band, under Mr Bryan, played a number of selections in front of the hall and on parade through the town, and also one in the hall prior to the opening of the meeting. Proceedings commenced shortly after eight o’clock, with brief devotional exercises, after which the chairman, in a brief speech, introduced the speaker of the evening. If our readers expect a full report of Dr Lucas’s address they will be disappointed ; his addresses—the prohibition ones, at all events —are unreportable to advantage, but those who had the privilege of hearing him must have carried away with them very agreeable memories of an entertaining and powerful speaker. Dr Lucas, in the course of his address, mentioned that he was born in a log hut, in the western forests of Canada, and that his early life was,spent in tree falling and the pursuits incidental to frontier life. The marks of this early training he carries with him in his physique, and a certain ruggedness of appearance that op ; occasion adds i : o his remarks. His accent is' decidedly American, and his stories, which are very apropos, are told in that quaint manner which we are led to believe by the writings of American hqmorists is characteristic of the New Continent. Upon occasion, however, this accent is dropped, and the lecturer rises to flights of impassioned eloquence that have a powerful effect upon his audience, as they are entirely free from “ staginess ” or rant, the faults with which many of the prominent temperance advocates of the day are afflicted.

Dr Lucas commenced by affirming that the liquor traffic was “ all bad,” and that it had no redeeming feature whatever. It could not he defended from the Bible standpoint, nor from its physical effects ; neither on the ground of political economy. It was ap enemy to religion, weakening to the body, and inimical to the State. It bad therefore to be put down. As the lecturer put it: “ This thing’s got to be cured somehow.” How was the cure to bo eliecte'l was the question the advocates of mgy. : hibition proposed to answer. ](«, the lecturer, suggested diyers ways.. He might appeal to Dm vpfcer, reminding him of the glorious privilege of the franchise, wau fos . him by many'a hard struggle of h| 9 * fathers. IlecnqVlibyW him analogy betvv'Oyii (.-hfi VC%? gull <• mentioned in ncYipturc, not to bo hidden, X v !Vs to cjirn more tiiJcnty. The voter should acquaint himself with the true facts

of the case, and think the matter out for himself, but, above all. take his conscience to the poll with him. He could also appeal to the Press for aid: to that powerful weapon which had done so much for them, but which, he regretted to say, was not always on their side. Hie school teacher also could do much, but the young girls could do more than all. ihe advocates lor the drink traffic did not scruple to use any means in their power to hold their oivu, and the prohibitionists would have to do likewise as far as their honesty and conscience allowed them. Jesus Christ had told them “that thildren of this world were wiser than the children of light,” but he (the lecturer) believed that remark was a hint that He wanted sharp, wideawake servants, who would leave no stone unturned to honestly help His cause. He did not want to force women upon the platform. Some there were who shone there, whilst others aided by their writings. Every woman, however, he claimed, could do something, and if they committed themselves daily, by prayer, to God’s guidance their paths in life would be mapped out for them. “ Girls,” said the lecturer, “ you can clean up the whole business in five years.” Speaking of the influence of wives, the lecturer told, very graphically, some stories of husbands weaned from drink by the rather rough method of blistering their feet, hands, and neck when intoxicated, the wife pretending that she believed her husband had a serious fit. He did not want them to think that he undervalued the effects of love, but he reminded them that Christianity could not always pat on kid shoes and gloves, but sometimes had to do what were apparently cruel deeds. The man who in after years realised that his wife’s apparent harshness had saved him from a drunkard’s remorse would bear her no illwill; rather would he clasp her more fondly to him, and say: “ Bully for you, old girl, I love you all the more.” Of course there were many obstacles. Some men really wished the cause w r ell, but by their conduct opposed it. Others had a certain mnleishness of character that caused them to oppose everything ; but all they had to do was to keep humanity thinking, and the right side would come up. Above all things, let them take an active part, and and not merely sit by and do nothing. He recalled the Roman amphitheatre, capable of holding 100,000 people, which would frequently he filled by all classes, who went to see two gladiators contend in mortal struggle. He pictured one, overcome, lying at his opponent’s feet. The conqueror glanced around at the populace. If he saw their thumbs pointing upwards he knew the defeated one was condemned to death. If, on the other hand, their thumbs were turned down, he was to be taken up and his life spared. Let them (his hearers) turn their thumbs down, for it meant a protest against the slaughter of their race. He reminded them that even if they failed the Almighty would not hold them responsible for results, but He assuredly would for their individual actions. The lecturer’s address was keenly appreciated, and the applause was frequent and prolonged. At its close a collection was taken up, after which the Rev. Mr Bellow moved votes of thanks to the lecturer and the chairman. These was seconded by Mr Beaumont, and were carried by acclamation. The chairman pronounced the benediction, and the meeting terminated.