RATIONAL LIBERTY AND TRUE TEMPERANCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 6

RATIONAL LIBERTY AND TRUE TEMPERANCE.

THE PROFESSOR DEALS WITH THE PRESBYTERY. DEGRADATION OP THE PTJLPIT. PROHIBITION ONLY A POLITICAL FAD. (By tho Ecv. Professor Salinond, D.D., of Otago University.) At a recent mooting of the Dunedia Presbytery, llio following resolution was passed unanimously :—"Tho Presbytery reaffirms its former resolution with rogard to its attitude to the No-License movement, believing that the reform will bo in tho best interest of tho community, and urges upou oilicc-bearcrs, uiembeie, and adherents to oxcrt their utmost influence and to uso their votes with a view to tho total suppression of tho liquor traffic; and, further enjoins all the ministers within tho bounds to bring this matter beloio their respective congregations. With a view to giving practical effect to tho above, it is recommended that tho ministers arrange for aa cx» change of pulpits on somo suitable date betoro the election." This is an event unprecedented ill tho history of Presbyterianism—excepting in America, where all things aro possible. It seems to have attracted no attention, whether owing to indifference, contempt, or acquiescence, it were hard to sayj but it is an event specially demanding attention. It w&a reported that the mover urged that the business of prohibition should ' receive, from every minister as much prominence as possible—perhaps not quite realising tho meaning of what ho was saying. Ho also exhorted that overy ellort should bo made to secure that all tho members and adherents of the Church should do their duty at the elections—their duty being to vote for local and for national prohibition. To what have we come? And the well-disciplined members of the Presbyterian Church neither peep nor mutter protest WEAK PRESBYTERS! It ia true that tho word "Duty"— "Moral Duty"—is not written in tho body of tho resolution. But it is thero by necessary implication. Tho mover wae only giving the resolution its natural and intended interpretation; and not a dissentient voice was heard against tho proposal to lay a moral injunction on tho congregation that tho requirements of virtue and religion demanded at their hands a vote for prohibition. Thero are unquestionably certain cardinal principles of moral conduct, also certain manifest and accepted applications and deductions from them, which all ministers are bound earnestly to iuculcato on the minds of the people. But that it is a sinful thing to sanction by a vote the oxistenco of wine in tho country, and a departure from Christian duty to drink a glass of wine, seems to bo a very remote, uncertain, as it is also a nmch-disputod deduction. Nevertheless they aro enjoined—an' injunction is laid on them—to appear in their pulpits and proclaim that this novel law has a place among moral duties. Wo are to bo told that wo 6in if we do not vote for prohibition; for to omit duty is to commit sin.

A POLICY OF NEGATION. The argument on behalf of prohibition is simply that.it. is tho J most remedy for an admitted ovil. 'If it is'lo' be judged entirely by refcrenco to i(« efficiency, to vote for it can only be a moral duly for such as earnestly believe in its fitness'to securo tho end, and to vote against it is equally a moral duty in tho case of such as earnestly bclievo that it ia a futilo and' a mischievous device. But the Presbytery will havo it to bo a moral duty absolutely and universally, ono to be enjoined on congregations indiscriminately. The ministers aro to ring out from thoir pulpits, "Thou shalt not vote for continuance," as thoy proclaim. "Thou shalt not steal." It seems never to havo occurred to any of them that they wero arrogating to themselves an authority which even the Apostles disclaimed. Paul well knew that in tho detailed and concreto applications of principles tho miniii of the best men will differ, and that we must leave ample room for the free decisions of the individual. His ruling runs on these lines:—"Let every man be fuliy persuaded in his own mind." "To hit owi. Master he slandeth or falloth." Hβ dissuades us from "receiving men ix> doubtful disputations." But riio members of the Dunodiu Presbytery havo no such delicate scruples. They will enjoin on us our duty in a matter where the keenest division of opinion prevails.

Prohibition i* a political monsuro, none tho k-ss so Ulat it ia designed to subserve moral and religious cuds, a political mca» sure on whoso merits there runs through the State the widest discrepancy of sentiment. Tho ministers arc enjoined to convert tbo pulpit into a political plat, form and in (ho faco of tho congregation, in connection with the. public worship, take sides. This intrusion of politics into tlio church and into tho sano tuary is a strango new dovclopment. It will be resented as CLERICAL DOMINATION, for we are not babes, but full-grown men, and do not require to be instructed how to record our votes. Tho ministers must very well knoir that a very largo portion of the members of tho Church regard prohibition vtth strong disapproval, and utterly disbelieve in it. No matter; they must have their ears dinned with it on Sunday, and when they go to church for rest, and peace, am? freedom from mundane passions, they art to bo vexed and irritated by having Ihii obnoxious thing obtruded on them. Havo they no claim to have their conviction! and their feelings considered? Is thoro no danger attaching to theso enthusiasms —lest, perchance, instead of spreading light and love, they may throw firebrands or bombslwUi; into Uic heart of the co». gregntions?

It is to bo hopod (lint tho ministers will seriously consider the dangers attaching (o tho course they arc pursuing, nud what must' bo (ho nutcorao of its immanent logic, If it be moral duty tc vote, for prohibition, then no disbeliever in it who speaks and votes against it caa bo considered lit (o be a member, far less a minister, of the church; and to this it has come already in some parts of America, Krai here already wo bear 501110 speaking of prohibition as part oi the othiral rrocd of ihe church. Have they considered how they are straining to the breaking-point the reverence and loy. a 1 1 ,." of a very largo eeciion of (bo church membership: It ihoy <vill inquire anionu the mominnls, l'lirmors, lnwyers, doctors, professors, mriii'ws of Parliament, (hey will bo surpri'-ed to find how fow the Prohibitionists are in thoso circles. If they look round they will hv? that nearly Che whole secular press of the Dominion is ngiiiiist thorn. Aro (hey really ready tu stand up in the pulpit, and with tho authority of their office declare to such n body of dissentients that they are neglecting duty unless they vote for a mens-, ure which they regard as obnoxious and irrational? It is

A HOLD AND PERILOUS I'IIOCEDUItE thus to risk cutting themselves adrift from the sympathies of so largo a section of the masculine intelligence of (ho country. Jn Maine, where this kind of action has long prevailed, the church, attend*

onco is the lowest pt all tho American States, and there is probably a reason for it--,. There are in tho Dunedin Presbytery eo many excellent men of liberal minds and sound judgmont that it is hard to understand how such a resolution was over carried. Tho explanation' is probably this: Certain enthusiasts concoct a motion in private, nnd suddenly lay it beforo tho meeting. It is' heard read in a 'cursory manner, and thero is neither timo nor opportunity carefully to weigh its words. If nny misgivings suggest themselves, they nre suppressed, lest their expression should give riso to prolonged and perhaps unpleasant discussion. They say,'therefore, within.themselves: "Let it pass! We do not need to take it very seriously, nor to implement it any 'moro than we. like." So the motion •passes, not e.xnotly unanimously, but nemino contradieente. This attitude is intelligible, and t> somo extent,commands ono's sympathy; but. : it may bo questioned whether it is in harmony with tho highest ideals of publio Jii<>; and it is very plain that it may. readily degenerate into moral cowardice, ,Ii is not the first timo that a small band of enthusiasts lias driven , a body of pradent and sensible men into courses which' they really disliked, and ■which they afterwards regretted. DOiVT GO TO CHURCH! When the day comes round for the universal exchange of pulpits that they may with, one voice shout "Prohibition!" it is to be'; hoped that due notice will be given that we may bo warned to stay at home. Wo do not go to church to be vexed in spirit, irritated, and humiliated.*