REVIEW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10109, 7 August 1893, Page 6

REVIEW.

"WINE: ITS USE AND ABUSE” We have received from the Rev A. Chodowaki a pamphlet entitled “Wine: Its Use and Abuse. .The Fermented Wines of the Bible.” This little pamphlet is published at a particularly opportune time, as any information on the vexed question of Prohibition must be particularly welcome, and it is refreshing to have the subject discussed moderately and fairly by such an eminent Hebrew authority as the Jewish rabbi of Christchurch. In hia preface the reverend author states : “I have endeavoured to show that the wines of the Bible were fermented and intoxicating; that their preience was looked upon as a blessing and their absence a curse; that wine was commanded to be used in making sacrifice:.; that its me was approved, even by God Himself, and its abuse only condemned. I have also endeavoured to show that there is ia the Bible no command or advice which can be construed into an authority for prohibiting the use of wine.” Mr Chodowaki baa surely here material for a large volume, yet by terse'-writing and cogent arguments supported by references to the most eminent writers and philosophers as well as the Bible itself, he manages to give a wonderful lot of information in the twenty-two pages of the pamphlet. There are at least eight wines mentioned in the Bible, viz., Jayin, Sheohar, Tirosh, Asis, Chemer, Mesech, Sobe, Shemarim. All of these are described and chapters and versus are given to show that one and all were fermented and intoxicating. Mr Chodowaki uses strong arguments forcibly, but whether his conclusions are always just may be open to question. For instance, because wine was in use three thousand years ago, ha concludes:—“lt would surely be an insult to the Almighty to infer that He did not know that the drinking of wine aud strong drink were injurious until the prohibitionists came to teach Him.” The concluding section treats on " Moderation,"and is a scholarly protest against excess in everything as “ sobriety exists as much in moderation as in total abstinence.” On almost the last page of tho pamphlet, Mr Ghodowski writes:—“lt would be a very unwise proceeding to deprive a largo section of the community of the use of certain articles of food or drink unreservedly, thereby punishing tho many for the sins of the few. Where drastic laws are not required they are boat left alone.” He baies this argument on the ground that “a man will not he happy, or even negatively content, if he is called upon to submit unconditionally to the will of others, who would wish to impose restrictions upon hia liberty in this respect. The law of God does not destroy independence. All juat legislation should be based upon a system of chocks and balances; something must be granted in return for every demand; there must be an indulgence for every sacrifice, and so on the other baud there should be no reward without previous toil.” Mr Chodowski's pamphlet will be read with interest and laid aside with regret that such a learned authority should have limited himself to so small a space, bub it is to bo hoped that in the early future more information from the same author may bo looked for.