Temperance Items

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 151, 11 January 1902, Page 1

Temperance Items

[advertisement.]

0 (Published by arrangement.). THE OTA(X>; *NO SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD TEMPERANCE REPORT. On 'V'jh'er 30 b the Rev Mr Wrigh'v ■:u', t\:;- foil-.--.i■>•• rop'ji'b of the Yiiiir !nvf> io report thfct they drov up ;t. ser'-os of q m :e% a copy of whfi;h wm st«ir. to ministers ami s- ssi-ms. hYmu t*>«■*. ans-vei,v o hand, W 3 ' .(iKiplt: v'p'-unti for inferring that oi.r iri>ni-:ti*irf 'iirid" office bfiror-'! jreuora'ly are in sy;ii]vi!hy with 'the Tempe an'ce in 'voine- 1., and In n,i\ on th • whole, a fai'hful t.estiiivny on behalf of the c;>.ihg' whjle others hwe thrown themse'vei head and sou! hit i the prohib'ti'TJ cimpjuurt. All ;h<- r'tunv 'end to shovr that mov. or Jess is heini; made A hind of fr.-sh n d hopeful spiri* pe'-vsidcs sothH of thorn -a s.pivit which ewi he foil, n'her th;m * ibu'atcd—a-'spirifc that, inoimtos (hat so:/ie of the ministers have s;ot their beans op, and anticipate in noxfc year's camp-<iir!i that the shouts of victory will he hoard in noma of the electorates, and thut the "abomination that desolate" will be swept from beyond their boundaries. W* append the follou-'ng statement as a fur surarj'ary of the snpvvora received : (1) A fo>,w mi is'Wa report that thev hsul not preached oa temperance 1 hf; yeu.r, while others h r .v« fnquontly referred to '..he eul>j<-c't in the course of theii-addresses'; the pre it mass ot our ministers devoted ao entire discourse to this very important rna'.tur of social reform.

(2) As to the question whether office bearers g.-moially take an interest, nob merely in temperance, but in the siir>r»e~pian of (he liquor traffic, the 1 answers receive:], as may be expected, are somewhat mix.jd, nevertheless, it ii gratifying to state that 35 return; declare that the office bearers generally favour the movement ; eight declavo a majority for the same ; d'-lit that they are aboufi equally divided ; throe that thiy are iri the min'iiity; and six that they ate geneta-ly oppi'Rod. (3) Tii9 to the question as to whelhcr is iocrea:ir.g ani various, and in not a few cases of a hesitating character. Wo note that fiftwn rv-fcunis state definitely " Yes " j 43 (and some of them hesitatingly') say " No." A"> to increase of the drinking habits amnng t':c young people, thd returns arq about rqually divided, with a slight balance in favour of a neg :, .tivd character.

(4) In reference to laxity of administration of law re the liquor traffic, 2"? returns speok of such laxity; some o' tbern report that the breaches are of a flagrant character. We find such answers as' these occurring, such as "Selling after hours," *' Sunday trading," " Supplying liquor to men already intoxicated," " Sly groggeries,'' etc.

The counter activities of such a of things are Bands of Hope, Good Templar lodges, lectures, pledge signing enrried out by individuals, C.E. Societies; and aro by Sunday School teachers among tiieir schola-s. Tae cqm.rtit'.ee" bulioVii thi-t the Gm;p I of God's grace is really the g;t-at power that can p.nccessfuliy cope with the evil, and that to the cbu:ch belongs the privilege of leading the van. (5) As (o the results noticed in the prohibition electorate of Clutha, we not<3 such answers: "Results good,'* " Prohibition corny to s'ay," "That the conviction ih deepening and spreading that it has be«n a gre.it blessing to the electorate," "That tho people ar£ contented and pro!-p?rous," " That business is increasing," "That the new condition of t'-ings is such that the people" who have won the victory in the Clutha would urge their fellow-electors to sfriivd for the same goal, and bo where they now are." In conclusion, your committee, white thanking God fnr progress that has been made, wou'd fun make past success a spur to present endeavour, seeing thafi the evil of.intemperance is still powerful, ' a'.ill keeps many souls in thrall, sti}{ : . blights many a promising life, and brings dif grace to many a heart and home. Let. bur Church not be backward in pointing out, nor in seeking to remove an evil that !s undermining her influence, binde ing her work, and.destroying?souls. Let ru i listen with attentive ear to the Master 9 commands, and show unswerving loyalty in obedience i hereto. " Cast ye up, cast yo up, prepare the way ; take up the stumbling block out of the way of my" people." We have the following tions to make : (1) That organised efforts be made td get pebple io the poll when the licensing vote is.taken. That more attention b& given by the Church to total amongst oli and young. (2) That niiaisters, office bearers, and. members be urgml to take a deepei? intcre?t in the corning local option vote.