THE BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH AND THE "PRESS."

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8789, 10 March 1894, Page 9

THE BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH AND THE "PRESS."

HIS JLORDSHIP'S REPLY. On the occasion of taking the chair at the meeting yesterday afternoon, at the V.M.C.A. Hall, of those in favour of a reduction of the number of licensed houses in Christchurch, Bishop Julius took occasion to reply to the recent article in the Press, in which he was referred to. The Bishop said—When I was asked to take the chair on this occasion I gladly consented to do so, because I have the greatest possible sympathy with the object for which we have been called together. Here let mc remind you that the meeting is called for a special object. In the words of the advertisement it is a meeting of "All who are in favour of a substantial reduction (nob exceeding 25 per cent.) of the existing number of licensed houses in Christchurch, bub who are nob prepared to support the immediate suppression of the whole." Now I desire to take this opportunity of laying down what seeems to mc to be a few general principles. I cannot, however, do so without making a short reference to the attack made in an article in the Press on myself. With the admiration expressed in that article for the letter of Dr. Eimslie I have, as he knows, the strongest possible sympathy. As far as the article refers to myself I iprotest against it in the strongest possible manner. There might have been some little ambiguity in the letter, written as it was under peculiar circumstances. But 1 emphatically deny thab the letter is open to the construction which the article put upon it. I appeal from the gross and unwarrantable attack made upon mc by the Press to those in Christchurch who know mc. It is, of course, known that if a man stands out from the ordinary line and takes up a position which is not. as Robertson puts it, " labelled like a jam pot," he must be prepared to be misunderstood and misrepresented. I have been fortunate enough to | incur the displeasure of the moo of I prohibitionists on the square and to be snubbed by the Press. Well, so be it. Now may I now be allowed to read a few words on the temperance question which-1 addressed to my Synod some two years ago, in which I placed my position as clearly as I know how. I said on thab occasion as follows: —" It has often been a sorrow to mc since I came to these colonies that I could not join heart and soul with the temperance reformers of the country. For ten years as an abstaining member of the Temperance Society of the Church of England I did what I could to advance its influence. Bat when I came to the colonies I found that I must either support a policy which I could not conscientiously accept or retire from a work in which I wa* deeply interested. Much as I admire the earnestness of the prohibitionists and respect their motives I cannot work with them. First because I cannot deny liberty of conscience and the right of any man, except a drunkard, j to take alcohol in moderation if he chooses to do so. Secondly because, to quote the words of a greas authority, 'I feel that whatever you put in force on this subject you must have the moral sentiment of the people to sustain it.' Now, a majority obtained by the efforts of the prohibitionists does not of necessity constitute a sufficient moral sentiment, and wherever the law brought into force is not observed or is openly violated, very great harm is done both to the cause of temperance and to the character of the people. But though wo cannot accept what seems to us an extreme and dangerous policy, likely to produce reaction, we can and we ought to promote by every means in our power that moral sentiment which must slowly accomplish the same ends. I do not advocate the formation of a Diocesan Temperance Society, at least for the present, but I do urge that in every parish there ahall be some "organisation of the kind. Lst us by all means, working heartily with moderate men, endeavour to reduce the number of licensed houses, to make drunkenness a shame and disgrace in every class of society, to encourage the practice of total abstinence, especially amongst the young, and secure if possible the provision of oue or more inebriate asylums." That wa* the position I laid down two year* ago; they are the views I hold now, and have worked on for something like twenty-five years in tbe past. _______«___--_■_■■_