CHRISTIAN PROHIBITIONISTS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10480, 9 December 1896, Page 4

CHRISTIAN PROHIBITIONISTS.

gift,— Now tb vt the elections are over, 6nd on the Local Option BUI the country from one end of it to the other has Molded that It will not consent to be

wved by that aggressive noisy section of fee people called Ptohlbttloulata, it is not inappropriate to call attention to some of their method*. I have before me a leaflet laraed tat week in Napier said to be an appeal to Christians by some Christian Prohibitionists, It la believed that one of the clergy of the town was the leading Christian In this contemptible hypocritical production. I will for the banofit of yoor readers who have not seen this preolous paper quota two paragraphs :— Vln the present contest) we take It from (he Christian standpoint we have first to lodge the candidates before as In their Individual oapaclty, and we find that neither of them professes to be an oat and onb Ohilatlan man." I presume they do not go about like these so-called Christian Prohibitionists thanking God they are not as other men are. One of them at all

. events would not stoop so low, or tell as ' many lies, as some of these so-called Christian Prohibitionists, some of whom

by their aotlons In the late contest have .mode themselves notorious aa persons whose word cannot be trusted fiven though dressed in clerical clothing. If two prooonnoed Christian men were contesting there is no donbb they would both be Prohibitionists (though all Prohibitionists ere not Christians) and there ; would then be only the political lasne to / decide upon, and there are many who sincerely trast that when the present candidates come betote ua aealn this will be the only point of difference between them, and on the two fitat. points the ' will be both Of the same mind." This Is issued by Christian Prohibitionists, Probably nothing more hypoarltloal has ever been printed by anyone who calls himself a Christian "If they were Christians they would be Prohibitionists," and yet we are told that strong drink is responsible for nearly all the lunacy that exists. Surely this leaflet shows that some people who Call themselves Christian ProalbltHoDlats flbonld be medically examined ao to their sanity. Ido not think any moderate drinker could be found who wonld write ondolrculate snoh tm-Clirlstten iirgamunts 68 these.- If they were Otmßtvan men they would be Prohibitionists is stating directly that none bnt Prohibitionists we Christlsnu. Thin is altogether a new religion Bud sunnlri leid to the speedy nxpataion from the pnipit of any man who dates to promulgate sach Impious opinion*. Oar Chinches sboald surely see that the late poll baa shows that fcha people of Nbw Zealand believe it woald be maoh better if onr clergy, or at f.!l events so<oe of them, wonld study thvlc Bible mote and act more in accordance with, its teaching. Oue of oar clergy since his arrival here has baen most . prominently engaged in mischief making, and his action during tba lma Contest has eh own hln thorough m; fitness to oconpy » pulpit, and anle&3 he forthwith rencuacos all connection with cr sympathy with this atrocloas pro- - dnctiou the sooner he stokes the dust Of Napier from hU feet the better it will be for the Church ns affects to serve.

' • The poll hns shown thai; New Zealand . prefers 11 bony bo tyranny, and lv the ■ : large majority of oases osndidatea carrying Prohibition ooldm hws gouo down. Where, oh wh^e aro choir aupporteis in ■ iParllame'it uui??-lam, &o ,

F. Sutton, !. Napier, December Bth, 1886. [Id is only Mt to the Rev. Mr Miller, who is evidently referred to by Mr Sntton, to say that we have bis assurance that he Was col the writer of the pamphlet, was la oo way associated with it, and does not know the author.— Ed, E B H.\