CHURCH AND PROHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 19891, 13 June 1928, Page 5

CHURCH AND PROHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—“ Observer ” shows by his let-1 ter that observation is certainly not one of his attributes. Opinions may and do differ as to the advisability of the churches being intimately associated with this great reform, but anyone who, like your correspondent, endeavours to use the Bible and Christ's example as supports for the existence of a vast evil in our midst to-day is surely looking for trouble. Without expressing either belief or otherwise in the various precepts in the Christian religion oa this or other subject, 1 am quite prepared to meet an opponent oa ground of his own choosing. First, h® instances the “ Drink no water,” etc., overworked text, hut ignores, because it proves disastrous to his case, Romans xiv., 21, which says (Paul also) “It is good neither to eat llosh nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumblcth, or is offended,, or is mado weak.” Second, it still requires proof from our “wet” friends that Christ, who is reputed to be kind and infinitely benevolent, deliberately added a certain number of gallons of intoxicating wine to a company who were already well supplied. Once that vital (mint is proved by our “wet” friends, llio whole body of Christian churches now favouring Prohibition will be dealt a deadly and paralysing blow. Can they do it?

Then we have I. ('or. viii., 9, which says; “But lake heed lest by any means (his liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to them that aro weak.’’ (Paul again.) Onr friend evidently favours Paul, so wo will accommodate him once more. Gal. v., 13 • “Only use not liberty for an occasion to the ilesh.” As lor the instances of toleration given by “ Observer,” Martin Luther and King George, the first is by no moans infallible, and the second has himself set an example to the nation in time of stress and war by total abstinence. If onr friends of the liquor traffic and its supporters like this misnamed individual, “Observer,” had followed such a fine example, thousands of our boys’ lives would have been saved by a much shortened war, and the whole nation have benefited economically, morally, and in man power. One of those who favour a traffic which turned a deaf ear to all appeals of economy, etc., during tho war, and which did its level best to prolong the agony of the war, and, incidentally, the individual suffering of the people, is the last one to cast tho gibe or “killjoy” at anyone,—l am, etc., Liberty,, June 11.