PUBLIC MORALS. DISCUSSED BY THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 8 March 1905, Page 7

PUBLIC MORALS. DISCUSSED BY THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

SUNDAY TRAINS. DRUNKENNESS AND PROHIBITION. At tho Molhodist Conference yosler<day the Rev. W. A. Sinclair rend a lengthy report by tho Committeo set up to report on temporanco and social matters. Special intorcsl attached to subroporls from tho Molhodist ministers ' stationed at Clutha, Gore, Ashburton, and Port Chalmers, concerning the pro«grobs mado in thoso olectorntos sinco prohibition wns introduced. The four reports wero unanimous in tho opinion that prohibition had been in every way of benefit to tho district, Drunkenness Imd greatly diminished ; was ovorywhero in ovidoncc ; church membership nnd attendances at public worship had increased ; and thero wero few or no indications thnt nny idea of a reversion to the old system was seriously entertained. Tho report of the Rev. Mr. Milcholl concerning Clutha expressed tho opinion that Clutha would never go back to licensing conditions. Tho town of Clutha was now practically clean, and tho two groat evils of illegitimacy and drunkenness woro now practically abolished. Reference was made in tho main report 'to tho gambling ovil, which was spoken of as being a curso socond only U> drunkenness in tho aggregate, and in some cases tho worst evil. It was regrettable that tho church consienoc had not been so sensitive as it should bo upon such an important matter. It was desirable that the newspaper press of the colony should bo approached on this matter in the hope of gotting the press to use its influoncc to put down tho intensity of the evil. Lack of Sunday observance wns another deplorable matter. It was a shame t<> find military manoouvros, rifle matches, and other irroligious practices boi><g carried nut on tho Lord's Day, ai-d tho Committee recommended Ino Conference to take steps to do away with this abuse. Government should bo approached on this matter in tho hope of amelioration, though it was recognised Mint true and lasting reform could only 'come from a quickening of spiritual lifo such as Wales had recently passed through. The Roy. Mr. Ready opened a discussion by a reforonco to tho practice of running Sunday trains. Ho objected to it from the moral point of vk>w, and not in any sectarian spirit— he wanted to mako that clear. Ho then instanced the granting o f a special Sunday train in connection with the opening "of tho Rornnn Catholic Cathedral at Christchurch this yen r. Ho objected to tho principle of that ; he would hnvn objected just as strongly hail the sect concerned boon tho Methodists. Some of tho men who wero engaged on the train woro Protostnnta, and they had to work on Sunday to bring people from tho country t«. witness the opening of a Catholic Cathedral. Thnt was a very wrong thing. J *» Tho Rev. Mr. Fairclough counselled moderation and enre in dealing with tins subject. The mere fact that tho mutter was connected with any denomination might lay tho Conference- open to tho objection that tho Conference wns actuated by a sectarian spirit, and therefore they should bo very chary about it. Tho subject should bo referred to a Commit toe. Mr. Snlter questioned whether the Railway Dopartment was in a position to avoid tho rcquost, for a special train when a sUrwiatcd sum was forthcoming. (Voices : Not on Sundays! It can!") Mr. Salter wai still of opinion that hi« belief was cor-, roctly founded. Aiiothor delegate wns nverso to stirring up strife against tho Catholic Church. A I hope, had b«n expressed that the Rev. I' at her Hays W ould be able to fulfil \m wish to work in amity with all sects in nis coming temperance crusade, but tho present objection was likely to defeat that object. Tluj Roy. Mr. Ready, having reiterated "is point that ho objected to tho running ot ihc train on moral and not on sectarian grounds, further discussion was postponed until a, Intel- stage of tho Conference. Apropos of tho general report, the lollowwg series o f resolutions was unanimously adopted by the Conference : — That tho following be the Committee on lomperancc nnd Public Morals lor 1985: —Tho ministers of Dunedin n-ul Hurt Clmlmeis circuits, Messrs. 1«]. Rose- ' war, S. C. Phillips, A. King, D C I Cameron, J. It. Shnekloek, \i. AMin, W. C. Allnutt, J. p. Simon, Dr. B. E. do Lautour, and Rev. W. A. Sinclair. Tho duties of the committeo slmll bo to watch all movements affecting questions of public morality, to consider the temperance returns and all resolutions passed by district synods relating to temperance, Sabbath obsonumc©, gambling, etc, and present a report with recommendation* to Conference. Thlrt. Conference direct* that on the ln«t Sunday in November, or on the Sunday beforo the local option poll, sermons be preached in all our churches on the subject of temperance. That nil sunorinfondenls of circuits bo acquired to furnish returns to district secretaries under tho following heads: — Number of conncxionnl Bands of Hope and members of same, imd number of Sunday school scholars who nro members of non-connexionnl Bands of Hope. That a quarterly temperance Sunday be observed in all our Sunday schools on the day of tho temperance lesson, ns provided for in the international series of lessons ; that an address by a competent person bo given dealing with temperance, gambling, tho evils of juvenile smoking, etc.; that special music and suitable recitations bo provided by tho scholars ; that pledges be taken ; and that returns bo mado to the Conference of tho number of scholars who ate members of Ihe school Band of Hope. That on tho Sunday prior to the local poll we recommend all our scholars to tnke part in the open-air demonstrations Which are proposed to be then held. Hint the various Education Boards be approached by letter and deputation, with tho view of obtaining permission to hnng temperance instructional charts on the walls of tho public schools. That, our ministers be urged to devote as much timo as possible during this year [•to the advooncy of no-hconse, nnd thnt our members nnd adherents be urged to voto no-license, believing this to bo for the best moral nnd spiritual interests of the, \peoplo of this colony. That tho Minister of Railways bo requested to allow the packet licenses on the Government steamers, on Lake Waktitipu to lapse. That our ministers and local preachers be nskod to deal frequently with the question of gambling. That this Conferonco protests against, tho continued legalisation ol the totnlis;itor ns being subversive of tho best interests of society, and* also against any part' of the country's revenue being dorivedt fiom this source. That. Iho Press Association nnd tho Newspaper Proprietors' Association be ca-rnestly requested 'to consent to the suppression of the publication of "Tnttersall's" results and Shotting odds. That the .dierecpaid of Sunda*.aa a. .d&£.

of rest, through the holding of military mancmivres, sham fights, and rillo practice on that day bo brought under tho notice of the volunteer authorities, with a request for their discontinuance. That this Conference desires to express its strong disapproval of the running of special trains on Sumlnyti, and trusts thnt Ilio Minister for Railways will discourage all applications for such in the future.