THE TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 802, 25 May 1865, Page 2

THE TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE.

There were about forty gentlemen present at the opening of the Temperance Conference yesterday, in Bonnington's Hall. Written apologies were read from the Rev. L. Moore, Messrs. Ambrose, Sanders, and Taylor, for their absence.

Mr. Cutler explained that the Conference had been called to obtain the co-operation of the public generally in the temperance movement. He believed that if a proper stand had been made by the friends of the cause, Mr. Olltvier's bill would never have been passed. He would move the following resolution-— " That this Conference is of opinion that it is highly desirable to establish a Temperance Union for the Sonthern Provinces of New Zealand, and that the various Temperance Societies be requested to cooperate with us, in order to secure this object. " The motion was seconded by Mr. Dethier.

The Rev. Mr. Habeas thought that the movement was premature. He was of opinion that an open trade in liquors would not be productive of the many, evils that were expected from it. I Messrs. Tyerman, Broughton, Bennetts and Lee | then spoke to the motion, which was carried. The Rev. Mr. Xee said there was a subject he I wished to introduce to the meeting, viz., tha advisability of establishing Bands of Hope in connection' with Sunday Schools. Many people were against children signing the pledge because they did notl understand what they were undertaking. For his own part he considered that " prevention was better than cure." Children generally were very enthusiastic in anything they undertook, whether for good or evil. An instance had come under liis notico in which an infant of twelve months had become so fond of intoxicating drink from the fact of its having received it from its mother, as a soothing draught, that it waa always pining for it. He considered it highly advisable that Bands of Hope should be established in connection with all Sunday Schools. Tbe influence of the teachers was very great and they could use that influence in establishing temperance principles over a large number of the rising population. He would move— I

* That this Conference is of opinion that tho establishment of Bands of Hope in connection with all Sunday Schools, would be greatly conducive to the moral acid religious welfare of Sunday schools." "That a copy of this resolution be sent to the secretaries of all Sunday Schools ia the Province of Canterbury." " . Mr. Thompson seconded the resolution. Ittr. Cutler had seen the great benefit which arose from Sunday Schools, and was well aware of great influence possessed hy the teachers. The drinking customs of society, however, to a great extent, nullified their efforts, and he considered it their duty to assist the teachers by passing the resolutions. The Rev. Mr. Tyerman said the influence brought to bear on early childhood was felt throughout the whole life, "As the twig is inclined the tree i 3 bent." Parents unfortunately too often neglected the best interests of their children, and tlie teachers were left to perform tho work. Bands of Hope have a good influence upon children, socially as well as morally. Mr. Bennetts said some would object to the establishment of Bands of Hope in connection with Sunday Schools oh the ground of their not being strictly.religious ; but if the movement was not a religious one, it was certainly, a moral* one, and was calculated to further the efforts of Sunday School teachers in their special work. ... Mr. J. G. Baker and Mr. Thompson also addressed the meeting on the motion, which was carried.

Mr. Tyerman moved — " That ia the opinion of this Conference the total abstinence movement is a valuable auxiliary to the Gospel ;j?and seeing that intemperance,so wide-spread in our midst, is one of the greatest obstructions to the spread of Gospel principles, this Conference sincerely desires the co-operation of the religious public in general against thu great evil, and would more especially submit the subject to the consideration of ministers of the Gospel throughout New Zealand, and would urge upon those who are favorable to the movement the importance of occasionally bringing the subject before their people from the pulpit, with a view to deepen their interest in it." "That'a copy of this resolution be sent to the ministers of the" Gospel throughout New Zealand.". The.Rev. Mr. Moore seconded the,motion, which was spoken to by Messrs. Cliphane, Cumberland, Cutler and Norris, and carried unanimously. y .? The tea meeting, in connection with the conference, was a most successful one, about 150 visitors fitting down to the tables, which, were-most liberally supplied by various friends of tlie movement After tea the Hall was thrown open to the general public, for the purpose of holding a public meeting; and at the time the proceedings commenced, the room was well filled. On the motion of Mr. Booth, the chair was taken by Mr. Bennett. ■ - Tlie proceedings commenced by the Rev. Mr. Tyerman offering up an appropriate prayer, after which Mr. Rowley sang a temperance-melody. The Chairman then addressed the meeting. He said it gave him great pleasure to see such a large assemblage present on that occasion. He considered the temperance cause had that day taken a very important step in its onward march. At the meeting of the Conference in the morning it was decided that steps should be taken for' extending the temperance

■noremont. not only'hr-.-*-;<,o.i» ~,„ r , mv ; n __ lf p 'm,,v. B.it tv.,,,..-,..-...*- t',.,\vhoi«x (lf XewZt>) , j « r : r»,..v- !«I r ..,iv., f. on iviohc, »nd the m-imfr-re.. ir, .....ir nrwri' nig-**, he hid no doubt fh.it ...i-fes* won!-. efforts. The member, of t',« -Jowty did not com*- there thai- ev.-ivoj **, m-mVr* 0 f mv ~«,-- -----t- .Vnonr.Tiino'i, or a-i 0 f an one pnli.i.-al part v. Tbov ca-m. thire'wirh the on- great id.vi in their min-N. to extend the eansa of to'al abstinence, with nil tb<* benefit ariim* therefrom nmong their f»!Jow men They A\k not ask men who came on their platform what their religious or political views were* if they were total abstainers, if they discountenance! the use of intoxicating drinks, and if they were willing to put their shoulders to the work of spreading the temperance reform, the society took them by the hand, and cordially welcomed them. Tlie temperance question was not exempt from those differences of opinion which existed with regard to other qqeations, for there were different p >mts of view from which temperance men regarded it; bat still they were all agreed upon the one main object. No one could deny that drunkenness was a terrible evil, and i one which was sapping; the foundations of even thing that, was noble and good in the character of the population, and that being the case, it, must be removed. No one would advocate moderation in the use of intoxicating liquors. He had known societies establishe 1 with thia object in view at home, and he had actually heard a gentleman in connection with the Licensed Victuallers' Association stand on their platform to advocate this, principle. What those connected with that association wanted were respectable temperate drunkards — [laughter"} — drunkenness had the effect of bringing their house, into disrepute. Societies founded on the moderation, principle had never succeeded and he considered they never could. Experience had taught them that the safe motto to stand by was " Touch not, taste not, handle not." He felt certain that if the Christian churches of Christchnrch would take up the matter, and do their utmost, they would have a great effect in lessening the rise of intemperance. He was happy to see that so many of the clergymen who had recently come out to the colony had felt the importance of the question, and were now putting forth very praiseworthy efforts in its behalf. [Cheers.] Mr. "Bennett concluded by calling on Mi-. J. G. Baker the Secretary, to give an account of the proceedings of the Conference. Mr. Baker was hnppv to be able to inform, the meeting that, notwithstanding the various other at« tractions that day, they had no less than 40 gentlemen taking parr in the deliberations of the morning meeting, among whom were several clergymen of the different religious denominations. One of the primary objects in bri'i'ri'ig about tho Conference was to try to concentrate in ont> whole the talent and the influence of total abstainers in Christehurch and. the neighborhood in the first instance, and afterwards, as far as possible, by extending their operations to ' embrace the wholo of the M ddle Islard, thus adhering to the old maxim that " union is strength." They had been trying to carry on the movement for several years single-handed by themselves; their operations were attended with Borne degree of success, but, at tho same time, not with that success which the importance of this movement warranted them in expecting. They had consequently come to the conc'usion of uniting, if practicable, the Christchurch Society with those societies already formed at Lyttelton, on the Ferry road, at Papanui. and in other places in the different provinces of this island. The Conference had passed a resolution expressive ol this principle, and requesting the co-operation of the various Temperance Societies in forming a Temperance Union for the Southern Provinces. A committee had also been appointed . for the purpose of carrying out the object of there* , solution, The next subject that came under the couv is.deration of the Conference, was tho ad*ri*»b&tosr'of establishing here and elsewhere cietiee, or Bands of Hope, in connection mth l Suiiday Schools, and a resolution was passed to&jK"'effect. It did not, however, contemplate interfering ' with the Band ot Hope at present existing in Christ*-*. church. The course proposed was that the different " religions "bodies, the Presbyterian., the'Wesleyans, and others, should establish those juvenile societi%. : f and hold their usual meetings in their own school-"' rooms, and that every quarter they should hold il grand re-union meeting in some publio hall, by whichcourse the principles' they were advancing ooald -be brought under the notice of a greater nutnbr.of phfl*' dreu than could at. present be done. The next and "the ' last subject under the consideration ofthe Confwehe. was their great obstruction that intemperance put, in the way of the spread of the Gospel, and a resolution ' was passed urging upon clergymen the importance of, occasionally bringing the subject of total s abstinence before the people from the pulpit. "He Tiad never, heard a sermon delivered in Christchurch on this subject, but he hoped before long members would sea it their duty to do so. [Applause.]' At home this course was frequently taken by clergymen, ardent supporters of the cause. With reference to the proposed union among them, he was painfully aware* of - the fact that there were a great many abstainers ill Cliristehureh who had never acted with the Society. One of the chief objects of, this proposed union was, that nil those who' were not disposed, • perhaps through some idea 9 of mismanagement, to umt» I with the Christchurch So.iefcy, could yet take uj> theyF higher ground aiid join the Southern- Pro-ri*Me» , ;f i Temperance Union. He asked those-, people only to work in their own individual private but also to unite with them in the. work, *for whish •<:* they all labored, and not to withhold their, -mnjiady,, from the Union when established.' _t7heers.j Mr. William Thomson then gave a solo on &£,?:.*, concertina, which was highly applauded.- ', ;y ."?-' The Rev. Mr. Tyerman next addressed the <, He was delighted to sec so many present that eveaiflflfe'V and he thought, that the friend* of temperat)oe good reason to congratulate themselves on the that bad attended their exertions, and heregadaiyi: the events bf that day as constituting an epoch ia.fli-; -t history of the total abstinence cause in Chrijifebiu*eavs ;? if not in New Zealand. That evening's meeting vtd&Qyj. tend to give it not only a firmer foundation, but respectable standing in the eye? of the communifrw ?v targe. He thought'that the proposed union, -fidHfrtg?) carried out, would be* productive of rerv beneficial results. In till the great i ments in England combinations for bringing ft&if energies more fully to bear upon the Govei*-unen£~)fe were always and without .such many of greatest' m<**i»Fng.<* they now ertjoyed,' would in -probability have been yefc unattained. He tnat such a power would have to be brought to on the Government of New Zealand before ti«!tfj|K stirred in the matter, for with them the the all-import ant without regard tor the' morality oi* their subjects. _ the ob.ects contemplated.by the establishment of W/ffijS. union, if successful, was" the employing a agent, who should devote his time to the temp«rfihfle>pFJhftip!es throughout, the he hoped that before long a temperance would also be established by this union. gentleman then glanced at the the Conference, and concluded >y„jf«p**es^^f , hearty sympathy with the movement, im«f -_**9rWp&lf that Almighty God might prowp the efforts; society with success.. [Chat Mrs.] ■'- - - -V£<p|j§ Mr.-Bbwley having sing a temperance J Mr: Norris addressed the-a-ieeting in advocating strongly tliw-principle of »nio» and tfivj'ng a detailed.•aw*«Mrt^ v establishing of the juvenile society on: which he increasing inxnumbersv'l i -Mr- TliomsfftilLthen sang a.temperaiioe the upon , . , ;_«M Mr. Booth,-Wie presiiient that as there.were others present who dressing the meeting, and as he hj-i.lreqttpat tunities as president of speaking on thewould not.detain them by making The Bey. Mr. Lee could not address at any length* he wished only, to < ? x P r ** l^? sympathy ho felt in thei-aose, ~*: ' ,**> Mr. Thompson then sang the melody v O * ante, jnridftdi --.- '-'.^m

Cn^jm&Blu& at considerable length, and en- I ISliPffr ';,,_, staii-stic* s , proving tluu the amount of | _Ei______ > *«i**"<"'* i** Oaritirbiiry for drink ia two years j _g to construct the railway, the l Wm2_W!£2b& of -which they had seen turned tolfl!**flfcx2«M' related as a fact that a Turkish __fi_&!l___wiflt 700 men on boird. had lain in Southatnpmonths, and that during the whole of not a single case of drunkenness h-vi |ii__i_giftd amongst the crew, the reason for whirh w&a" S||i^i|i^religion strictly forbids the m«? <*f inf o-jiiMx-l|l_s___B_&r and he thought this case laiiy proved the existed for legal interference in the National Anthem was then sung, and the