CHRISTCHURCH MINISTERS ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10273, 15 February 1894, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH MINISTERS ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Associated Ministers, the president, the Rev William Birch in the chair, was held recently. The following report of the, proceedings has been supplied :—General regret was expressed that at a meeting in Cathejj dral Square on Feb. 3, one of the chief temperance, leaders spoke in offensive and disparaging terms of the general body of clergymen in the city because tbey did not champion the prohibition agitation from a torch-lighted waggon on Saturday, and from a theatrical stage on Sunday. The remark was made by one clergyman that ministers have only one set of lungs, and that they should receive credit for acting as they consider best for their people and the world at large. All tho ministers, however, stated that they most heartily sympathised with the desire to stop the intoxicating liquor traffic, but all except one, who did not speak on that point, expressed the opinion that it was politically and humanely unwise to insist that if they could not close all publichouses they should make no effort to reduce the number. The hope was expressed that a new auxiliary prohibition committee might be formed, which, while advocating entire prohibition as tho ultimate aim, would meanwhile work for and thankfully accept a smaller result, one prominent plank being the immediate closing of all purely drinking shops, including the bars of hotels and clubs, excepting for non-intoxicating liquors. The question of grocers* licenses waa not considered. Deputations having been appointed to meet the Presbyterian General Assembly ‘and the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, the meeting adjourned over the summer vacation until the first Monday in April.