THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1911, Page 2

THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

ALCOHOL IN PATENT MEDICINES Meetings are being held each, day ia connection with the Seventh Day *Adventists' Convention, undev canvas at Sharpe's Grounds, Petone. The whole of Thursday was devoted to the temperance question. Three special . and well-attended services were held in the large pavilion, and some of the statements made-^-specially those touching on the quantity of alcohol contained in some brands of patent medicines — were of general interest. A bright feature of the services was the singing of many temperance hymns and anthems, which were much, appreciated. The first pub--lie meeting opened at 3.30 p.m., with Dr. Florence Kellor, of Auckland, as speaker. Her subject was "Startling Revelations. " After pointing out from the Scriptures some of the vital principles of temperance, Dr. Keller aroused much interest amongst her audience by .stating that the groat majority of temperance workers, while working zealously to wipe out the drink traffic, were, in. their consumption of patent medicines, which in' many cases contained a large percentage of alcohol, unwittingly or intentionally encouraging the taking of alcohol. While they were fighting at one point the curse had subtly com© in through another channel. The great majority of patent medicines contained from 1.0 to 35 per cent, of alcohol, and the speaker said she would prove her statement by demonstration. She took a bottle of a certain medicine, and with a small distilling plant, soon produced alcohol, and fired it before her audience. "One firm," she alleged, "used no less than 50 barrels of cheap whisky per week in the manufacture of patent medicines." Some interesting statistics were then presented, which showed conclusively, she urged, the great good to be derived by voting and carrying nolicense. Mrs, Swannel, assisted by a quartette party, sang effectively "My Name in Mother's Prayer." At the close of this service a young people's temperance meeting was held. Three lady speakers —Dr. Florence Keller, Mrs. Dr Gibson, and Mrs. Mowlem, of the Palmerston W.C.T.U.— held the attention of a crowded tent, and, notwithstanding that the meeting continued over the tea hour, the interest throughout was un abated. CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE. At 7.45 p.m. the subject "Christian Temperance : Its Demand Upon Society was ably handled by Pastor L. A. Hooper. The tent was crowded, and great interest was manifested in the lecture. The true success or failure of Christian temperance, said the speaker, "depended upon the manner in which the great Scriptural truth, 'Christ in you the hope of glory,' was accepted." A man could not be a Christian and be intemperate. Christian temperance demanded the complete control of all the faculties of the mind and body, and Christian temperance could not accept any compromise with evil. "Wherever this hydra-headed monster — the drink curse — arises, whether it be through the hotels or through the use of patent medicines, no compromise can bo made ; we can only accept unconditional surrender," he concluded. /" Pastor Hooper then showed the relation that Seventh Day Adventists sustained to the "great drink curse," and summed up his remarks by reading a recommendation passed in the business session of the present conference of Seventh Day Adventists, that "whereas, the liquor traffic is a menace to thw peace and welfare of the home, a burden to the s State, a curse to the community, and is sapping the moral foundation of society, therefore — Resolved that we hereby express ourselves as unalterably opposed to the liquor traffic, and in favour of municipal, State, national, and world- wide prohibition." The speaker then moved that the audience adopt the recommendation. Pastor Pallant supported and seconded the motion, and a standing vote taken revealed the fact that there was nob on© dissentient in the audience. Throughout the various meetings of the day pleas were made for those desirous of signing the temperance pledge, and fully 10Q-— nearly ail young people— responded!