CHURCHES AND LIQUOR

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 83, 16 April 1901, Page 3

CHURCHES AND LIQUOR

RESOLUTIONS. By Telegraph— Press Association.] Dunedin, last night. At a meeting of the Council of Churches the following resolutions were carried : That the Council is profoundly impressed with the increasing evils of drinking and drunkenness in the city and colony, and is satisfied (I) that the use of alcoholic liquors is in no sense necessary to health ; (2) that drink is the cause of the greatest part of crime and other evils of society ; and (8) that it is also the greatest enemy to the spread of the Gospel and to spiritual and intellectual life and progress ; (4) that it is the duty of all Christians to aid their weaker brethren by their influence and example, and to discourage the drinking "of alcoholic liquors as a beverage ; that the Council appeals to all members and adherents of Churches connected with the Council to abstain I from the use of such liquor as a beverage, and recommends and urges all churches to give increased attention to the subject of total abstinence, and to encourage and assist in the work of temperance by all means in their power; that the Council re-affirms its conviction that by reason of the present distress electors should be urged to vote for no license at the next local option poll, and that the bill introduced into tho House of Representaves last year, dealing with this question, is a retrogado step of the gravest character, and that its passage into law should bo resisted to the utmost.