TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 11 January 1899, Page 2

TEMPERANCE CONVENTION.

Mr W. J. Macdermott's paper on 'Work Amongst the Young' was discussed at some length at the Temperance Convention after we went to press yesterday. During the afternoon a few" more friends attended, so that 25 were present before the Convention adjourned. Amongst the visitors were the Key. J. Parker, of Beresford-street Congregational Church, Pastor Bull, of the Church of Christ, Ponsonby, Mesdames Daldy and Main. The Rev. W. J. Williams presided. In discussing the paper Pastor Bull expressed regret at the small attendance as the paper just read was worthy of a large audience. He deprecated the growing tendency of Band of Hopes to drift into mere entertainment.

Mr Copeland said he took the temperance pledge 60 years ago. He did not believe in alcohol sither for food or physic. They should get literature for the young pointing out the evils of alcohol. Mr Morgan said he knew intimately MrJabez Tunnecliffe, the founder of the Band of Hope movement. It was not till 1851, however, that he signed the pledge. He always regretted not having joined the first Band of Hope that was started. What they wanted was more earnest workers in connection with the Bands of Hope. The Chairman said they would require to use the press more extensively in the future than in the past. He would like to see a temperance column once a week in the daily press. Mr Macdermott advocated the establishment of senior societies on the lines of Mutual Improvement- Societies in connection with Bands of Hope, so as to keep the older members interested in the work of temperance. Mr Hazeldean spoke in favour of blackboards and object-lessons in the training of the young in the Bands o_£ Hope. . Mr B. French repretted that the hall was not crowded by people tp listen to Mr Macdermottf's paper. He strongly believed in the utility of Bands of Hope. Mr French referred to the recent prohibition vote in Canada, the result, he contended, being satisfactory. He advocated definite temperance teaching in the public schools.

Mr C. Hill, President of the Auckland Temperance Society, contended that Sunday Schools should be teachj ing the same as Bands of Hope. It ! was the children outside of the Sunday | Schools that they required to look after. He was strongly in favour Of temperance teaching in the public schools. It was disheartening to see so few present. The Chairman said he was glad to see that a few more friends had dropped in. Mrs Main also spoke in favour of temperance education in the public 'schools. She was sure the W.C.T.U. Wouid assist in that matter. She considered they also should endeavour to teach mothers the principles of temperance. ' A-vote of thanks was then accorded Mr Macdermtott for his instructive paper. REVIEW AND FORECAST. The Chain-man next read a paper forwarded by Mr Frank W. Isitt, which was a review of the' work in the past_ and a forecast of the future. The writer quoted statistics to show the magi^tude of the evils arising out of the drink traffic. He pointed out that 70 years ago a Commission in England reported the public-houses were the nurseries of vice and crime. He considered in this colony they had reason to be thankful for the hold the Temperance movement had already obtained. All they required was proper Organisation to ensure success in the near future. Looking backwards they found much to encourage them. For the fight of 1899 they must close their ranks and fight in perfect unity so as to make memorable in the history of New Zealand the closing year of the century. The paper also created discussion, and the writer was accorded a vote of thanks. THE PUBLIC MEETING. At eight o'clock in the evening there was a better attendance at the public meeting. The Rev. W. J. Williams ! again presided. The Rev. Hugh KSlly, i M.A., of Knox Church, Parnell, deliverled an address upon the 'Logic of Pro- } hibition.' He referred to the testi- j J mony of Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, land other English Judges, that drink I was the chief cause of crime. He con- [ tended that wherever Prohibition reI ceived a fair trial ij proved a marked j success. What they .wanted was that j statesmen should give Prohibition a | fair trial. They could not call it a I fair trial at Clutha while wholesale licenses existed. He appealed to the moderate drinkers to assist in this matter. It was for the moderate drinkers that the Government granted licenses, because they were not given for the sake of the drunkards. The onus of the existence of the liquor trade, | therefore, lay with the moderate drinj kers. In conclusion, Mr Kelly urged 1 the workers to continue their efforts, ■ and success must be the ultimate reI suit.

Rev. J. Hosking, D.D., spoke upon Prohibition and the Bible. He argued that the. Bible was on the side of temperance. He was prepared to argue that point with any man in Auckland. He admitted that the Bible as read bysome Christians seemed to favour moderate drinking. He contended that the Bible was on the side of good and against bad. In the original there were 14 different words which had been translated into the word 'wine.' It seemed to him that the authorised version was faulty in that respect. Mr Hosking then, quoted various passages from the Bible in which the 14 different Hebrew words were translated in the English version into the single word 'wine.' In 37 passages the Hebrew word that had been translated wine was referred to as to be eaten and not drunk. In the 38th passage it was referred to as to be drunk. The Greek term translated wine was used 141 times, and in 71 was branded as a •curse that they were warned against. In 33 passages where this word occurred it was doubtful or neutral. In several other passages wine was used for religious observances, but in those cases the win was poured out as a libation and not drunk. In the case of the word translated strong drink, that also had to be poured out. Another word occurring five times referred to the freshly pressed juice of the grapes. He contended that the weight of evidence in the Bible showed that strong drink was cursed by God, that it was a bad thing, gave examples of its corrupting power, and promised a blessing to those who abstained from it.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers before the meeting dispersed.