“TEMPERANCE” AGAIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6487, 6 April 1908, Page 5

“TEMPERANCE” AGAIN.

VISITS OF FATHER HATS AND 3IR KEIR IIARDIE. (To the Editor “N.Z. Times/0 Sir, —Mr Hislop declined to accord a public reception to a great philanthropic teacher who came to New Zealand with a message of salvation for tho souls and bodies of men and women; xund, following his Divine Master in loving sympathy, to preach deliverance to tho captives, and by the grace of God, to sot free, thci slaves of the awful drink curse. On tho arrival of this great champion of Christ in our country, he was confronted with an awful conspiracy to hinder his work. Some newspapers, to their shame, went the length of suggesting he was without Church standing, in fact an impostor. The chairman of the reception committee (Mr CKRegan) wired to a clergyman on the "West Coast, whore Father Hays had officiated as a priest. Reply came quickly, “ Father Hayses credentials in perfect order.” The attack on Father Hays was an everlasting disgrace to those who made it; and to those who, knowing the truth, and the wickedness of the source of the attack, and were still unsympathetic towards the man and his grand mission of human love, I say they are not the best citizens. The attack, however, not only failed, but absolutely crowned the mission with success.

Father Hays wanted no public reception .at the Mayor’s hands, wo know very well; hut that is notothe point at issues, nor is it an ajiswer to say “I have laid down certain rules,” etc.; exceptions will always bo justified when circumstances of the highest _ public welfare are at stake. I was in tho room when the Mayor’s answer was put before the committee, and the impression was not good, for, just a short time before, tho Mayor had received a lady vocalist. The Mayor would say to this, no doubt, “Sho came in as an artist.” I Imply, a philanthropist is greater, far, than an artist, who lives and works for himself or herself, largely—not that I undervalue the usefulness ,of artists by any means; but we are now dealing with comparisons. Again tho lines laid down by tho Mayor were ms own, and were not like the law of the “Medes and Persians,” and. as a matter of fact, the Mayor has frequently departed from fixed law in Council matter®, which has boon shown.

The query is almost forced here:— Wore the rules laid down expressly to exclude the gentle, noble Christian priest? Now for the climax. X heard Father Hats state, during his second addressin the city hall, 'Hhat he could ho a rich man if he accepted certain otters to abstain from his great work.” but, said he, f T have nailed my colours to the irast and for what my Saviour has done for mo, Him will I serve, while X have breath.” Happy and glorious decision. Now, in the face of the terrible outcome of intemperance, its responsibility, for crime, and destruction of morals, the plank that is invariably used for the seduction of tho weaker sex, as witnessed by our magistrates end judges, I say, surely every good man and woman ought to help “tern-

poranco,” which is laid down as one of the neccssai-y Christian graces. Sir Robert Stout was very happy a$ chairman of Father Hays’s second lecture, and he did himself honour and his country as well. Air Hislop's chairmanship was of tho: quality that considered number one: courteous to b? sure, but it suited his boo’:. Tho Alajor, as chairman, need not commit himself to the cause, and his taking the choir war, simply civic politeness: there h no jolitionl capital for the Alavor in that, though he seeks it. For my own part I would have invited a i>:al friend of the cause to take the chaiii, men quite as fit as the Mayer ore available; hut the committee wished to he courteous, though we have little to thank him for. As to Air Hardie, I will simply say there is plenty of scope in his own country for all his great energy and tt leuts, and ho is not wanted hero, for the simple reason there are many able champions of “labour” among us who hare achieved much already, and can always bo heard by a New Zealand Government when a case is really in need of adjustment. This can be done beet by a peaceful statement to the Courts established by the Government, and therefore it is absurd to have a firebrand from without coming here to disturb the minds of men who are.quite able enough to work out their own social salvation. And now I may say we have in-tho Gospel of our Lord tho only social teaching that will stand the test of time, and 1 am thankful to say tho Churches are really taking up this matter, and 1 have faith that, very soon, we shall have an immense advance, not from politics or parties but by a mutual fair consideration all round, between man and man, on the Christian ideal. Before closing I must protest strongly against the city hall being let for any such purpose as Air Hardio’s lecture on politics on Sundays. Surely threefourths of our citizens would vote against such disrespect of our Christian Sabbath Day. That indicates tho lergth Air Hislop is prepared to go, to win, if possible, the object he has

in view. Whoa I remember his pledges when seeking the office of Alayor, given on many platforms and in letters and newspaper articles, I cannot conclude that he has impartially represented the citizens. The disrespect of the Sabbath is a sure index of moral decadence. Let us have something of the resisting spirit of Father Hays, and preserve clean our conscience as a people.—l am. etc,, TEMPERANCE. P.S.—Air Hislop referred to Mr Hardie having the friendship of Mr Balfour. There is no political capital in that, for I remember our late Premier under most trying circumstances actually went to Air John Duthie, his great opponent, for help and sympathy as . a father. It was a pathetic case, creditable to both men, but especially indicating the perfect confidence of the late Premier in the honour of his political opponent. Again I remember at a “Yorkshire” dinner Air Aitken and the Premier exchanged pleasant jokes, but they remained political opponents.