THAT “DRUNKEN ORGY.”

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 12

THAT “DRUNKEN ORGY.”

TO THIS EDITOR.

Sir,—The Presbyterian theologians, on the warpath, make pointed references to the conduct or the visiting and local drinking public. One wonders if it over occurs to these would-be regulators of our habits, our morals, and our entire lives, that, when such excesses do manifest themselves, they themselves are largely responsible for it? With the whole life of man, woman, and child beset by innumerable “ don’ts ” and “ thou shalt nets.” voiced with all the power which an intolerant priesthood can- muster and the same intolerance can enforce, is it any wonder that the average man seizes every excuse to break out in revolt, or that ho calls in the aid of alcohol to give him courage? In more than drinking will this alcoholic aid to he freedom be traced. The real underlying motives of what the Presbytery calls “ immorality ” will eventually appear ns striving for a moment’s forgetfulness of these “ don’ts ” and “ must nets ” paving the path of youth. Having become ingrained in tho consciousness it requires an artificial stimulant to escape. If it were not so tragic tho spectacle of the religious moralist decrying actions which largely arise because of his own intolerant interferanco with tho lives of tho people, would he cause for laughter. If it bo said that tho motives underlying such conduct arc economic, and that attempted escape from unsatisfactory conditions causes drinking, then the responsibility of tho vociferous religious minority remains. If the labour, time, and money expended by such as the Presbytery for the moulding of society along lines graciously outlined by theologians were expended in tackling the practical economic problems of existence the world would, long ore this, have been free from its greatest curse, which is not those alleged evils which the. religious fanatic thunders against.—l am, etc., August: 5, Advocate.