MEETING IN THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7213, 26 November 1888, Page 5

MEETING IN THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

At the request of the Grand Lodge, sermons were preached yesterday Iα the churches of different denominations throughout the world in connection with the temperance cause. Upon the suggestion of the W.C.T. of this colony, who recently passed through Chrietchurch, a public meeting was also held at 3 p.m. in the Oddfeitows , Hail. The chair was taken by Mr J. T. Smith, and there were representatives of the local Lodges present; also a fair attendance of supporters and sympathisers with the movement. Mr H. Corrick presided at the organ, and a choir led the singing. After devotional exercises, The Chairman explained why the meeting bad been held, and said the several denominations that had been appealed to to give effect to the request of the Grand Lodge had cordially responded. Had the weather been tine, the hall would doubtless have been crowded. He thought there was abundant reason to be satisfied with th» temperance efforts in the past, but there were also grounds for regret that the measure of success had not been greater, as the evil results of intemperance were still enormous. The Rev. W. J. Williams, President of the Wesleyan Conference, next addressed the meeting. He agreed that the nrst j note struck that day should be one of thanksgiving to God for what had already been accomplished. The movenieut "was full of the most hopeful and encouraging signs. At the recent Christian Conference held in Christchurch a motion had been passed protesting against the slavery that was going on in Central Africa. But while they looked upon this the churches should not neglect the evils that lay nearer home. They ought to do more as churches than they had done iv protesting against the forms of evil that were oppressing their own land. That Temperance Sunday reminded him that the churches meant to look at home and to trust in U oil's strength to assist them to grapple practically and more fully with the evils of garubliug, drunkenness, I debauchery, &c, that lay at their i doors. He referred to Bishop Hadfleld's attitude in the Synod recently at l Wellington in opposing a motion for the establishment of a temperance organisation in Wellington. He ithe preacher) did not think the Bishop was aware of the signs of the times. The temperance movement, had long passed the stage when there should be any doubts about its usefulness. It was one of the grandest moral agencies on the earth, and it was entitled to the cordial byinpatfay, if not support, of everyone who had the cause of humanity at heart. He related an anecdote to show that General Harrison, the newly elected President of the United States, was a staunch teetotaller. Those in this city who were the supporters of the temperance movement were doing little that was practical to direct public opinion. They needed to use more united efforts, and to work heartily in order to secure the victory in the contests with the opponents, of the cause. He concluded by reciting some lines of the poet Waittlers' in encouragement of the temperance workers. The Rev. C. Dallaston, Chairman of the New Zealand Baptist Uatea, was the next speaker. He considered one important sign of the progress of the temperance movement was that they now came boldly and gladly forward to show their sympathy, whereas at one time they were content to meet in a little hall in a back street. He referred to the fact that Churches as a whole and ministers individually were now on the side of temperance. Much had been done, but much remained to be done. It was a significant fact that any movement for the benefit of what a sacred writer had called the common class was always unpopular at nrst, as, for instance, the abolition of slavery, Sunday Schools. and temperance. At last the darkness had been dispersed, and people were beginning to recognise that the movement was for their benefit. Those who went in for total abstinence in furthering the cause succeeded the best. Children should be educated in those principles, and in course of time there would, be a large and earnest band of workers. He pointed to other signs of progress in public opinion in favor of temperance, and referred to the support given by the local Press to the cause, and to those who were engaged in temperance work. Iα conclusion he urged tnat the best men should be put in power, men who would make it difficult for their young people to sin, and that the lore of Christ should be in the hearts of all who sought to effect an improvement in the w lfare of others. The Bey. J. C&ewes, of the Bible Christian Church, referred to several cases that had. come under his notice as Secretary of the Prison Gate mission home, showing where practical work in dealing with the evils of intemperance was necessary. He argued that the recent murders at women in Whitechapel, which had caused so much excitement, were insignificant beside the evil results of intemperance and moral murders that were before their eyes every day. He urged that sympathy should be extended to the fallen, and pointed to the fact that the men released from Ljttelton gaol who had promised reformation were keeping those pledges. There was greater difficulty about the reformation ot fallen women, and he wished to excite the sympathy of their sex,towards this class. It was time for all to go and work outside as well aa inside, and to do what they could to help and.save those fallen creatures from tne.curse of strong drink. The Chairman announced that a meeting of the Band of Hope Union would, be held in that hall on Thursday evening. The..meeting, which; had been attentive and sympathetic throughout, was then closed. with the benediction, pronounced by theßev. W. J. Williams. DURHAM STREET CHUBCH. Yesterday being " Temperance"Sunday," the Rev. W. J. Williams, who officiated Iα the morning at the Durham street Wesleyan Church, delivered a sermon on " The Christian View of Abstinence.' , His text was Romans xiv., 21, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." The text, the reverend gentleman said, brought them in full view of one phase of the long conflict between Judaism and Christianity. The way St. Paul dealt with the difficulty vftts instructive. In his judgment there was nothing wrong in simply eating flesh and drinking wine, but they who did so might be ; bj their conduct raising a stumbling block for their brethren. The principle which Paul laid down for the guidance of these Romans was probably this—Our liberty in the use of nonessentials is not to be exercised at the cost of inflicting injury upon others. He (the Rev Mr Williams) was to consider the bearing of this principle upon the use of strong drink. He took up the matter with a strong conviction that they ought to consider it very clearly and calmly and patiently from a Christian standpoint. That the use of strong drink was a prolific cause of stumbling and weakness was too painfully' clear to require discussion. It was the moat fruitful cause of misery, strife and wretchedness to be found on the face of the earth. It recognised no creed, no person, and aimed at every class of mankind, reaching the homes of Royalty as well as reaching the sanctuary. It turned father against child, and child against father, and caused the greatest troubles between husband and wife. It was a fearful cause of destruction and death. If one-tenth of the mischief caused by drink were caused by pestilence, pain, or war, the heavens would ring about it, and all that skill and diplomacy could do would be done that the scourge might be overthrown. But because this mischief was the outcome of strong drink, how few voices were raised agaiust It. Hopes were wrecked, homes were ruined, souls were plunged into endless woe, yet how few, in comparison, must iie say, turn their eyes to Him and cry—"Q Lard, how long, I how long!" He wondered how many were touched as they ought to be touched when they thought of the numbers who had j fallen victims of Intemperance. For the sake of those who hud stumbled and I become weak, it was good for us that we j abstain from the use of strong drink. If ' a plain statement was wasted from the Bible that the use of strong drink itself was a sin, he did not think they would find it from Genesis to Revelations. So long as they did not injure their life, their reputation, or the life or reputation of their brother, it seemed to him, the useof it was not a sin. But the question was, did our conduct affect the conduct of others; how far were we contributing towards the welfare of others. If it could be uhown that the practice was harmful to others, it behoved those practising it to set a good example, and abstain from the use of drink. No one was ntrong enough to say he was absolutely free from stumbling or becoming weak. The influence of parents on their children was so great that if they used drink at all they could not say that the children would have sufficient power to save them from falling. For the sake then of the children parents ought not

to have drink in the bouse. He was annoyed at the indifference shown, and it Wae high time to offer a more practical protest against the use of strong drink. He believed that but for the apathy which prevailed this curse would be overthrown Let all who would in tho name of Christ depart from tbia iniquity, and drive it away with a strong haud when they had calmly, quietly, and prayerfully considered it. Then there would be no need to tear the result. There would be a mighty increase among those who supported temperance^