GENERAL BOOTH’S RECEPTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11874, 25 April 1899, Page 3

GENERAL BOOTH’S RECEPTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,- —It is singular that Mr Loiusson should have overlooked a circumstance which greatly strengthens the presumption that in passing him over the authorities of the Salvation Army were influenced by the fact that he was not a prohibitionist. In Dunedin General Booth was met at the station by the Mayor, while at his meeting the chair was occupied by Mr Scobie Mackenzie, senior member for the city. In Christchurch both our Mayor and our senior member are passed over in favour of Messrs Smith and Taylor. Granted that Mr Louisson is a brewer, Mr Lewis is a farmer, his personal character is as far beyond dispute as is the Mayor’s, and he was obviouslyignored solely because lie is not a prohibitionist. If the citizens of Christchurch were insulted by the rejection of Mr Louisson, surely the insult was greater in the case of Mr Lewis, who was placed in his position by the votes of some 6500 odd of the citizens. The Salvation Army have, beyond a doubt, expressed their opinion that no one who does not vote the prohibition ticket is worthy to associate with them,'’a fact which broad-minded persons would do well to note. Of course', I am writing on the assumption that Mr Lewis was not invited. I hardly think he would have refused.—l am, etc., MODERATE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—His Worship the Mayor certainly passes all bounds of good taste when, he tries to force Major Estill to repudiate, for himself and the Salvation Army, an opinion expressed by an individual for which neither ho nor they are responsible. He has just as much right to try and force the Major to repudiate opinions expressed in this letter. Whatever motives may have actuated the Army officials when they asked Mr Taylor instead of the Mayor to receive their great leader, their choice was justified when it is remembered that, were it not for strong drink, a large part of the work of the Salvation Army would not be needed. Just imagine an organisation with such aims as those of the Salvation Army asking a man whose money is made by manufacturing the drink which degrades men and women, ruins health and homes, blights the lives of little children and spreads crime, sorrow, poverty and death wherever it goes ; imagine, I say, such an organisation asking such a man, he his position what it may, to receive the leader who has devoted his life, with, all' his great talents, to the rescuing and uplifting of poor drink-smitten victims! Why, : the idea is utterly incongruous. Surely the Mayor himself must feel it so. I should like to ask his Worship this question: The prohibitionists of Christchurch are a numerous and influential body. They will soon be welcoming back their leader from his splendid successes in the Old Country. Now, should the prohibition officers (frightened by the vials of Mayoral wrath which have been

poured' upon the devoted head of Major Estill) ask the Mayor to preside at their welcome to the Rev L. M. Isitt, would he. do it?—l am, etc., •CONSISTENCY.