BAPTIST TABERNACLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 6

BAPTIST TABERNACLE.

ARRIVAL OF NEW PASTOR. LIQUOR QUESTION* IN ENGLAND. Thf Rev. Knowles Kempt on, the new pastor for the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, who succeeds the Rev. J. Clark, reached Auckland on Saturday morning:, together with his wife and two children. Although he only arrived at "Wellington by the Tongariro last week, Mr. Kemptoh says he, is delighted with what he has .seen of New Zealand, and charmed with the natural beauties of Auckland. During a brief interview wit-n a Herald representative on Saturday the new minister said he thought New Zealand was a wonderful land in more sensor thun one. " What has impressed me most at first sight," lie said. "is the fact that here you have many of the most cherished ideals of the freechurchman. For instance, you have free schools, and your universities are practically open to all. Then there is the Dominion's attitude regarding the drink question. In England they have just introduced a Bill dealing with the drink problem, which is considered drastic legislation, but the New Zealand people would regard it as an insult in its scope. ' You have a. system of education that is practically free, unsectarian, and national, and in regard to licensing matters you have legislation which has been striven for in vain in England." Questioned with regard to the probable fate of the latter movement in the Old Country, Mr. Kempton said that it was understood when he left England that the brewery shareholders had met, but that they would not consider anything that the Covernment called a compromise. "They will not have anything to do with the Bill," he continued. "Of course, we know the fate of the proposed measure: The House of Lords will throw it out, without a doubt., When I left, the temperance question was greatly interesting the people, and feeling was running high. The Archbishop of Canterbury and Dean Farrar, amongst others, were fighting for no-license and occupying the same platforms with the free church representatives in dealing with this great problem. The general feeling is that it is a matter of national importance, and that it is no longer one that can be dealt with by faddists (as they call us) alone. I am oil the opinion that if the House of Lords rejects the Bill the Government would be quite wife m going to the country on that issue alone.

Mr. Kempton is particularly pleased with j 6 P ro ' i P ec t' s °f bis new charge, and expressed the opinion that in a few years, when certain contemplated improvements had been nen effect to, Auckland would possess the finest Baptist Church in Australasia. The new pastor will make his first public appearance in Auckland on Wednesday next, at the reception to be accorded him, and on Sunday he will preach both morning and evening at lie Tabernacle.