UNITED TEMPERANCE MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9167, 29 July 1890, Page 5

UNITED TEMPERANCE MEETING.

The second of a series of Sunday evening meetings, inaugurated by the Sydenham Prohibition League, was held last Sunday, and, despite the inclement -weather, the Oddfellows 1 Hall was comfortably filled with an audience the majority of whom were adults, and, contrary to the custom at similar meetings, a very large number of men were present. Mr J, Eagle occupied the chair, and after the meeting had been opened in tho usual manner, Mr T. W. Glover, the agent for the Hew Zealand Alliance, addressed the meeting. In the course of his remarks he said he had experienced considerable difficulty until recently in getting people to comprehend tho objects of the jAohibitionists—they do not want to regulate or control, but to abolish tho liquor traffic, in view of the utter failures which have resulted from tho attempt to regulate it. As opposed to the argument that under prohibition there would be sly grog selling, he contended that all experience proved that there is more sly grog selling under the system of license than there is where prohibition is in force. The selling of liquor after hours and on tho Sabbath, which is so prevalent in our licensed houses, is sly grog selling, but under license it is almost impossible to secui'o convictions ; under a system of prohibition, the thousand and one quibbles which aro successfully raised by the trade, would not exist. Mr Glover related his experience while in the State of Maine, U.S.A. where prohibition has been in force for over thirty years, and is now secured by constitutional law. General Neat Dow, now approaching ninety years of age, showed Mr Glover over one of the State prisons, wherein were some casks of liquor, and the men who had transgressed the law by trying to sell it. A fine of 200d03s and six mouths' imprisonment were the means administered with a view of convincing these men that Prohibition prohibits. They have no doubt on tho matter now. When in Salt Lake City the speaker heard Brigham Young, jua,, preaching to 15,000 people, and ho said that the evils of tho liquor trade were so diverse’ and manifold, and it was such a huge tax upon the resources of tho people, that any person seeking to carry on the traffic deserved to be hanged. Whilst not going so far as Brigham Young, Mr Glover urged that the drink is neither food nor physic, and its abolition is not only necessary, but expedient and wise.

The Rev L. M. Isitt was the next speaker, and delivered an eloquent appeal in support of the movement, urging that material benefits will follow the abolition of the liquor trade ; property will increase in value, rents will be paid more regularly, the trading community will do larger business and suffer fewer losses from bad debts, whilst the social life of the people will be purified and more harmonious. The speaker contended that the drinking habits of the people formed one of the principal barriers to the extension of Christ’s Kingdom, and 'quoted, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s statement, to the effect that, “ Whatever organisations may be created for the elevation of the masses, failure will result unless tho evil influences of the drink traffic are removed.” In conclusion, the speaker urged that the moral suasion uxovementshouldbe carried on concurrently with that for securing legal prohibition. Several hymns were sung with tho assistance of a volunteer and efficient choir, and the meeting closed with the singing of the Doxology.