THE GOSPEL AND BLUE RIBBONISM. TO THE EDITOR.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3970, 2 June 1885, Page 3

THE GOSPEL AND BLUE RIBBONISM. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Replying to " Only a Heathen's" letter, relative to Mr Booth's work, the question of finances is but a side issue, and after all any presentation made him has been spontaneous on the part of the public, and in harmony with previously advertised arrangements in each place ha has visited. Anyone dissenting or not approving of this course was not obliged to contribute, and therefore this cry can only have been raised in order to neutralise the value of a work which haß been so rungnifjeent as to be altogether above money value. Mr Isooth has been in the colony now a long time ; his mission has been continuous since his arrival. Can " Only a Heathen" sum up even an approach to LIOOO out of the five thousand he estimates Mr Booth shall take with him to America. Of the value and permanence of the work we have such testimony as that of Canon Jackson, Canon Wilberforce, Earl of Lichfield, Sir Edward Batnes, all of the Anglican Church, and the renowned Rev C. H. Spurgeon, and placing this at one side and our " Heathen's" testimony at the other, I leave your readers to choose which side shall influence this argument.

That the Gospel temperance movement cannot be sectarian is proven by the fact that nearly all denominations are harmoniously engaged in it, and we distinctly affhrnit is not political, notwithstanding our " Heathen's" statement of the depu'at'Vns to parliamentary candidates. We (ruet the future shall witnees increased vigor in bringing those social reforms before our legislators, and we must re 1 urn to our "Heathen" the charge of hypocrisy, cant, and intolerance. " O. A. H." makes light of the habitual drunkenness in our town. We dare not do so. We must "howl" and "whine" so long as so many of our fellow beings' Jives are cursed by the habit, and even though we were to be silent, other voices must be raised on behalf of the homes broken up, children neglected and cast upon cold charily, or their own Bhifts, and wives, who have been promised protection ana love, driven to desperation and despair. Qut upqn this heathenish championing of habits which are so rapidly and thoroughly demoralising our people. We do not aeek to predamn we would rather ask him not to predamn himself. We cannot admire his heathenish gloating over the " sunken eyes," " hollow cheeks," and *•' weak knees " of the members of the Blue Jlibbon Army. CoDßcions of his own admirable physique, •• O.A.H."has not tolerance for anything short of the beautiful and the herculean.

We leave him on Mb pedestal, wrapped up in his self.admiration, but even though our tout ensemble be so mournful and stony, we object to row in this boat with our v Heathen." " Only a Heathen " informs us with reference to the vice in question he can control his appetite. It delithts us to be told this; wo are always glad of news in this direction. A Lover of Temperance.

TO THK EDITOR.

, Sib,— V"our contributor, "Only & He»then," invites the public to carefully noU, how he, being inspired by the bottlo and the fee, can lay about him in true BHlingSßate »»yle, »»d make these blue ribbouers quail before the mighty onslaught of his inspired pen. He reminds me of a certain Irish lawyer, who so badgered his witness with questions that the witness suddenly collapsed and became silent; the lawyer seeing the defunct condition of the witness, insisted on his questions being answered, when the witness appealed to the bench by Baying that he was frightened. " What are you frightened at 1 ?" roared the lawyer. "I'm frightened of you, sir." "Frightened of me, are you ? And why are you frightened of me V* " Because, said the witness, "you are bo ugly." "Only a Heathen" will hare the satisfaction of knowing that in the erent of no reply appearing " The ugliness of his last " has completely triumphed.

Mentor.

Oamaru, June Ist, 1885.