CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

A BISHOP'S REBUKE. Bishop Barry, speaking at the Bath Diocesan Conference, said he felt compelled ta rebuke the indifference to the claims of the temperance cause of many from whom bet-ter-things might have been expected. He doubted whether, anyone who had a mind to think and a heart., to feed, could be satisfied with the present condition of Britain. Thio great body, not only of the laity but the clergy, -contented' themselves with a lukewarm approval of the temperance movement which cost nothing and was worth nothing. A PLAN WORTH FOLLOWING. The' Rev T. C. Chapman, vicar of Christ 'Church," Clifton, has addressed' the following letter to bis parishioners, with a view to keeping alive the interest awakened by the Bristol Diocesan anniversary meeting: —Christ Church, Clifton, December, 1900. My dear friends, —Another Temperance Sunday and Temperance Festival have come and gone. What is to be the result? Some of us have the Bishop of Stratford's words still ringing in our ears—that it is the duty of every Christian to face the question of the -gigantdo- evil of intemperance, and to ask ourselves, not /"What do I like to do in regard to it?" but "What ought Ito 'do?" In order to give practical effect to the appeal which ihxs been made, I venture lo invite you to become a member of the Church of England Temperance Society, if you are not so already, and to. ask you to bring-the matter before your families, and those in y'cvur employment, that they, too, may have the opportunity of enrolling themselves as members. I put before you tie two declarations of our society, with one or two suggestions as to-the useful working..of that of the general section. Why -should) not every'parishioner above the age of seven or eight become -a member of the society? We should! indeed become a power in the cause af temperance if 'this result , was achieved. Commending the matter to your earnest"and! pray erful consideration',.--believe me, yours-very faithfully.-

(Signed) THEODORE C CHAPMAN,

The.following are the declarations:— Church of England Temperance Society. Declaration of "general sections." ■—"l recognise my duty as a Christian, to exert myself for the suppression of intemperance, and having hereby become a member of the society, will- endeavour, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, both by example arid' by effort, to promote its objects." Name ' ' ' Address

In order to make-the above pledge practically effective, will : you agree to any, or all, of the following suggestions, by placing your initials against those you select? 1. I;Undertake, never r is\ \"use,'!. nor • offer :to. others-, as a beverage Except at. meals.... '..'v."', ./'.:.:> .\ 2. ; I-'will iatbxicatmg liquors as;'a. in part, for, work:done',-- ■'<^\-r,-' l i/ ■-.,.. -\ - 5.'1 Will ; hot'■igiviy gratuities, nor allow them to)be giveni.-.at my-'house, in such liquors." ' 4. I • wjll idiscourage; their ; use by my children and'those of my household. Declaration, of "Total Abstinence Section."—"Thereby promise, by God's halp, to abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquors as a, beverage, so long as I retain my card of membership." Name--— "■ — Address

It is expected that all who sign one. of the society's declarations will contribute a :minimuini subscription of sixpence a year to its'funds.

, ; .We are very glad to see useful! end;-valuable, work is being un!dertaken> by i Mr Chapman, and we Venture to think that i his Sample could very well"be followed/by other clergy throughout the country. There is no ren.srn. whalover"why. every .church-, mail' should not be: a ; nWmber of the C.E.T.S.J either • as a'general section member or. as a member of the total abstinence section. We shall be interested to know what measure of success is, atr jbaxnedl by Mr Chapman's appeal to hjs con>.,

srreg&tion."-" Temperance Chronicle,"' Dec. 21, i90p..;... 1988