BLUE SPUR TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 13 October 1870, Page 6

BLUE SPUR TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above society was held in the Schoolroom, Blue Spur, on Friday evening, September 30th. There was a very good attendance.

The Bey. Mr. Menzies occupied the chair, and in addressing the meeting said he was glad to observe the hold which the abstinence movement had at the Spur, as well as at Lawrence. All this seemed to say that the people were getting tired of the drinking customs. The movement showed its good effects in various ways — for instance, a member of one of the societies, who had not written home for seventeen years, had, since he became a teetotaller, written to ascertain if any of his friends were still alive, and to know their history. The steps adopted by that man were the same as adopted by many others. He (the chairman) had great faith in home ties, and believed the drinking customs had much to do in severing those ties. The speaker illustrated this point by several very applicable anecdotes, after which he read an extract from the " Spectator," showing how people are bound by the tyrant custom, whether reasonable or not, and how some people are a sort of apes, who neither think nor act independently, but according to habit. He was told that a person could not show a greater insult than by refusing to drink — it was said to be " taking a shingle off the roof," and so on. He did not believe in such mercenary talk. If they did not cherish a more independent mind, they would become a set of serfs, instead of free men. He saw no reason why he or any other body should make his stomach a convenience for any man. The rev. chairman then addressed a few practical remarks on moderation. What was one man's moderation was another man's excess. He illustrated this point by the story of a man who got drunk regularly every month, and was reprimanded by his minister, who said, " Why, John, you quite disgrace yourself. You should do as I do — take a glass in the morning, one after breakfast, one before dinner, two tumblers of toddy after dinner, and four or five after supper." "Well," said John, " you are a bigger drunkard than I am." So he would say to those who advocate moderation, that their moderation may be excess.

An invitation song was then sung. Mr. Carey was called upon to address the meeting, but was not to be found.

Mr. M'Lelland then rose at the call of the chairman. After a few preliminary remarks, he asked, Have teetotallers told you that drink is a bad thing ? When you are cold and wet, does it not make you warm and comfortable ? In sorrow, can't you take a drop to cheer you ? If you lose your wife, will a drop not console you? and if you get married, should you not get drunk with your friends? Speaking for himself, he never did his duty better than when he left off drinking altogether. The speaker then, in a humourous manner, referred to the various plagues which attend the drinking habits of society. With all deference to the bard who had said with regard to grog that <: It kindles wit and wakens lore," he would say that it was a devil to the soul, a thief to the purse, the beggars companion, the childrens' sorrow ; it makes the strong man weak, and the wise man a fool and worse than a beast. The man who drinks to the good health of otheis often loses his own. In looking round the Spur, he had seen men whose abilities might have adorned the senate, but whose manliness was at once shaken if a nobbier was sticking out. He would say to the young men of the Spur, Take care of your cash — you'll need it byand bye ; remember that " Old age and want are an ill-matched pan-." Let them look after their spare cash, and the publican's will look after theirs. The supporters of the abstinence cause were not trying to take the bread out of anybody's mouth, but rather to put it in. A great deal had been said about the difficulty men in business had in adhering to the total abstinence cause. He found, however, one of their butchers was a cold water drinker, and he did not think his business was in any way injured by his abstinence principles.

Another Band of Hope song was then sung.

The Bey. Dr. Copland, on rising, said he must take care of what he said, as there were some men at the Spur whose high-soaring genius had the power of creating facts, side by side of which the researches of illustrious men of science were as nothing. Dealing with scientific facts in the way the gentleman referred to appeared to do, reminded him of a person who endeavoured to demonstrate that a clog had only three legs when it held up one. Although some aspects of the subject under consideration excited the risible faculties, yet the subject was a very grave one. Some very good religious people say that this total abstinence is put in the place of religion, but he would ask those people, if such were the case, why so many ministers and others were taking part in it. He, on the other hand, considered the movement a great assistance to l-eligion, as it sought to further some of those very principles which it was the object of religion to carry out, and removed many of the hindrances to a pure religion in

their midst. The rev. gentleman referred to dancing saloons, and the like, in European countries, which he also looked upon as hindrances to religion. These entertainments were generally prolonged to a late hour on Saturday night, and those who had been patronising them awoke on Sunday morning in anything bxit a fit state to enjoy the Sabbath, and more inclined to resume the drinking on a smaller scale. The Rev. Dr. referred to the great amount of time, money, and health that were wasted by the drinking habits. He knew in the old country, in cases where wages were paid on Saturday evenings, there was generally a day or two at the beginning of the week spent in drinking, and thus tk& time -was utterly wasted. It should be remembered that time and health were given them by God, not for themselves, but for His glory. He regre+ted that it was too much the custom to make a mock of drunkenness, but it should be kept in mind that it was fools who made a mock of sin. To his mind the great and strong attraction of total abstinence was the means or sphere it opened up of a wide-spread benevolence. Supposing any of those present had a friend whose great evil was drunkenness : if you could induce him to abstain, you would be doing a benevolent action, which would be pleasing to yourself and greatly to the benefit of your friend. That was just what those societies were endeavouring to do collectively. The movement had further a strong recommendation on the score of philanthropy. It is a good feature in any man who will forego some of the luxuries he is accustomed to, when such a course will benefit his fellows. Kitis a sacrifice of your comfort to give up the drink, your example is good — if it is the means of saving even one from the drunkard's doom, your sacrifice will be well compensated for. The Bey. Dr. then paid a high tribute to the benevolence and charity of the monks of St. Bernard, and the many plans which had been suggested by the philanthropic to save and prolong human life. So the great object of these societies, he considered, was tc protect not only those in possible danger, but those who were otherwisf really almost certain to go down to c fearful end in this life. The speakei resumed his seat amidst great applause

Mr. Whiteside then addressed th« meeting, and testified to the benefits c total abstinence. He had tried boti sides of the question, and found abstain ing altogether the best. After a few remarks by Mr. Manue. the meeting was brought to a close.