THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 82, 8 April 1910, Page 3

THE CAUSE OF TEMPERANCE.

DR. HENRY'S MISSION. WELCOME BY XE\Y ZEALAND ALLIANCE. A welcome to Dr. J. L. A. Henry's mission party was extended by the executive of the New Zealand Alliance _jn the V.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon. Dr. Henry was accompanied by Mrs. Henry, Miss Henry, and Mrs. Potts. In addressing words of welcome to the visitors, the Rev. A. Dewduey, president of the Alliance, spoke of Dr. Henry's eminent position in the world of temperance work. Through his efforts the churches in the ' Old Land were aroused to a sense of their duty in regard to the liquor party as they had never been before, and who could say but that recent developments, even in the political world, as to restrictions in tho liquor traffic, were a result of his labours. The liquor traffic in New Zealand, the speaker continued, would be killed in one act, if the whole of tho Christian churches were thoroughly awake to their duty. He hoped that Dr. Henry's mission would lead to that result. The Rev. W. J. Comrie, chairman of the Wellington District No-license Council, characterised Dr. Henry as an evangelist, who did not emphasise certain ideas, such as faith-healing or the second advent, to the extent of making them fads. He had no hindrances in the way of his work in the cause of temperance. Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, the Rev. W. J. Dawson, and Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., also spoke. Apologies were made fo*: the- absence of the Revs. F W. Isitt and W. J. William*. Appreciation was expressed by Dr. Henry, in reply to the cordial welcome ' extended. He said he looked forward to the time when no man addicted to the use of strong drink would be allowed to . stand in a Christian pulpit, and when no creditable position in the Church would be open to any onr> concerned with the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquor. The Salvation Army, he remarked, was to be commended on the stand it had taken in this matter. Strong pfforts were being made by the Churches in the United States to close the saloons, and 300 ministers weie devoting their time wholly to fighting against the open saloon. The Churches in America had never before done more for temperance reform. There were now ten prohibition States in America, comprising more than half the 90 million citizens and more than half the territory. Commercial life had been influenced by temperance sentiment, and two million men in the railway service weie not allowed by the terms of their ongagement t<j touch strong drink. Soventy-five par cent, of the skilled labour and fifty per cent, of the unskilled labour were also employed on a teetotal basis. In fact, the liquor question in the United States today was to a great extent an alien question, the hnmigrants mostly bringing their drinking habits with them from the Old World. Dr. Henry, in conclusion, returned thanks for himself and on behalf of his wife and daughter. There was a record attendance of personal workers, who were addressed" by Dr. Heniy in t n » V.M.C.A. Hall yesterday evening.