TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9020, 5 February 1895, Page 6

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir, —In a letter to your columns dated May 9th, 1893,1 took the liberty of quoting certain passages of Scripture authorising the use of wine. It was promptly asserted in answer that the wines referred to were unfermented. There is not a particle of evidence to be found anywhere in support of this allegation ; but really it matters very little whether the wines of Scripture were fermented or otherwise so long as they were efficacious in making men drunk. There are those who have become intoxicated through drinking ginger wine, which is said to contain from 20 to 25 per cent, of alcohol, and there is evidence that the wines of Scripture were sufficiently powerful to call forth condemnation against their immoderate use. In the old country and in the colonies there has been much squabbling over the question of the character of the wines of the Bible, as if the question of their fermentation affected their potency. Although perfectly familiar with the ingenuity of the prohibitionists in raising difficulties, objections, and - the putting forward of verbal shuffles in the way of reply, I nevertheless venture to call attention to the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, verses 12 to 15 inclusive, which runs in this fashion :— "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" whilst, "Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. Bud Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and s+id unto them, Yβ men of Judea. and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." The meaning of this dearly is that had the time been night or late in the day the charge levelled at the Apostles of being drunk might have-been urged with some degree of probability and fairness, but at that time it was, simply ridiculous. If the people of the new sect in Jerusalem never drank intoxicating liquor, the fact would have been known, and they would not have been liable to such an imputation. Peter caused the Apostles to rise ia order to prove that thyy could stand steadily enough. He did not protest:—Wβ are teetotallers; we are prohibitionists ! On the contrary, the fair inference is that had it been later in the day, or after dinner, the charge of being " pretty well on " might not have been without ample justification. It may have been unfermented wine, or pombe, that the Jews constantly need, so far.as this writer knows or cares ; that it was 'quite strong enough to make them drunk there is abundant evidenoe.— Yours, &0., Jasox.

February 2nd, 1895.