FATHER HAYS' VISIT.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 32, 31 August 1905, Page 2

FATHER HAYS' VISIT.

A packed house greeted (he RevFather Hays on the occasion of his visit here last evening. Punctually at 8 o'olock the members of (he looal clergy accompanied by Father Hayi ■tapped on to the stage. The Bet. In net Jones presided. The ministers of the yarious eburehes then ex« tended a hearty welcome on behalf of their congregations to the speaker, and hkewiie did Mr Molntyre on behalf of the general public. Then the " Little Father " rose from hit seat. Steadily he won the admiration and respeot of hie audience, illustrating his addreu with both humorous and pathetio anecdotes. He was attentively listened to throughout and was applauded frequently. The word temperance he contended was endeared to our ears and its enormous advantages and blessings were known to all nations. He was opposed to saotarian strife or bigotry men ; should be found side by side on the Christian platform and work in harmony with each other in this great temperance cause. He hoped the day would soon come when sectarian strife would be broken for ever. We are all children of God, and when we see a fallen brother or sister we should take their hands and assist them to reaoh that brighter Heaven. The drink ourse has left its mark upon all grades of society. Aorosß the ocean the prisons, work houses and asylums are full through the influenoe of the liquor trade. With suoh startling evidence? as these how is it that the Christian people do not join to fight for the oause ? The first step for each individual to take was to refrain from self indulgence, for the force of our example has a great influenoe upon our fellow men. When the speaker started on his crusade several years ago his first move was to abstain from intoxicating liquor, for it was impossible for aim to expeot those around him to do the same if he did not set the good example Once when raising funds to build a school be found that he lost a large amount of practical support from those interested in the traffic, simply because he could not coinoide with their views. For all that the life of one little child *as of more importance than all the schools tbat money could build. Temperance is essential for the progress of industry. We must not go about like the man with Hamlet's burden upon his mind. It is the man who does his best, knowing that there is wrong and to set that wrong right. He illustrated this by telling the story of a little girl in England who had a brother whom she wanted to prevent from the cruel habit of trapping buds. She told her mother that she had prayed that her brother would give up this habit. Hsr mother laughed, but the little girl assured her that her prayer would be answered, as she had gone out and kioked the trap to pieoes. The real kind of prayer is one that is acoompanied with work. The present licensing system 19 a disgrace and degradation to any Christian people. Taking the word " Prohibitionist." We are all prohibitionists. Every one in the hall were pro hibitionists. (A voice: No.) The speaker : If any individual here attempts to sell drink he has to suffer the penalty inflicted by the law because he has not a license. There are only a limited number of individuals in this colonys who are not prohibitionists, and that is the botelkeepers. The British Government for 400 years have been trying to make the people sober by Act of Parliament, viz., by granting licenses to sell drink. To illustrate this the speaker gave an instance of a coach and its occupants which oapsized into a dry dook. An Irishman appeared on the scene and started to turn on the water. A policeman asked him why he did this, and he replied that he was trying to float the bus. (Laughter.) Well, this was esaotly what the British Government were trying to do with the liquor traffic. The first duty of the Government is to do right. Looking at the licensing system it affords every inducement for the people to do wrong. That is where the system is at variance with politioa! economy. The safety of the people is of greater importance than all the revenue, and tbat is the most important thing for which Government must legislate. The more the temptation the more the sin of this simple human nature. The only safeguard is total abstinence in individual life, but some people do not like this. The speaker was preaching at a church in Melbourne, and after the ceremony a young man oame to him and explained tbat he had a young lady who would not marry him until he took the pledge. He did not want to lose the girl nor did he want to take the pledge, so he askad the speaker if he could arrange it so that he could have throe pints per day. (Laughter). Well, he (the speaker) admired that girl, and he should advise all young girls in the hall to adopt a similar coarse. (Applause). In Ireland they have more respect for their girls than in New Zealand. (A voice. We have more in New Zealand). The speaker. No, my friend, and I will prove it. In Ireland we have so muoh respeot for our girls that we will not allow one behind a bar. (Applause). The speaker never recollected a single case where total abstinence had failed. One of the most deplorable features of the drink was that the most brilliant men of sound minds were dragged to the gutter through its vile and treacherous fascination. Medioal men have proved that the total abstainers live longer than their unfortunate brothers of drunken habits. Preference is given to them by insurance companies. As another illustration, the speaker while on a visit to America, visited a blasting works. There it was pointed out to him that the men employed in the most dangerous and important work were men who never touched a drop of liquor. General Woolosey says "the best soldiers are total abstainers." The speaker at this junction illustrated some of the gruesome sights which be had witnessed through drink. If the hotels were abolished the greatest gainers would be the proprietors and

their wives and tamiliei. In conolueion, the speaker apologised, as he was suffering from the effeota of an uritated throat. Cardinal Logue, Primate of Iroland.had sent a message to the people of New Zealand to do all in their power to promote the cause. He, the speaker, had another message from His Holiness Pope Pius X., in which he lends hh Apostolic Benediotion to all the workers in the cause. Although we can take drink in moderation, we should give up the one or two per day for the sake of the example set to those around us. During his crusade in Melbourne 21,886 people took the pledge. The Rev P. W. Jones then moved a hearty vote of thank 3 to the speaker, which was seconded by Mr F. £. Willis, and carried in the usual manner. Father Hays then invited all those present who were already supporters of the cause, and those who wished to join, to repeat the pledge after him His request was responded to by a very large number of thoae present.