PROHIBITION AND THH CHURCHES. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10598, 16 September 1896, Page 3

PROHIBITION AND THH CHURCHES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—ln jour notes of the 12th insfc. I read with great interest the remarks on prohibition and the co-operation of the churches in the movement. On broad principles this involves a question of serious moment, and the Rev. L, M. Isitt h*s fairly thrown down the. gauntlet to have the subject considered in a plain and unmistakable way. GpiDg back to the rayival movement of about 40 years ago a large number of clergy and others joined what may be termed the " irregulars " as distinguished from the clergy, who were content to oonduct themselves and their services on What might be called a rational basis. With the " irrpgalare " open-air meetings, clap-trap, and unctuous addresses and generally hysterical conduct were considered the only mesns to be employed to turn sinners to repentance, and if saia sinners did not say then and there that they were saved the conclusion was that they were eternally damned. In due course of time the coraet-and-drum form of religion was tecked on, and sounded the death knell of what old-fashioned people used to prize and look forward to—a quiet Sabbath day. As we h&ve side by side with the properly qualified medical man and dentist the quack (who will undertake to cure any complaint with a single bottle or draw teeth by the dozan with a key) so we have the hysterical clergyman* or other person, not content with the recoguised teaching of Christianity, bnt foievcr trying for Dome startling effect, some theatrical position, or some means by which he may distinguish himself on political platforms with a wonderful nostrum in the way of a new act of Parliament to bring about the millennium right away. Supposing that the clergy—or at least the section of them referred to—eventually succeeded in controlling elections, what would bs the result ? Why, in a manufacturing town like Manchester or Birmingham, requiring a thorough business man to represent it, we would have someone elected whose sole qualification might bo tho profession of soms fad like prohibition. If a man profess prohibition and assists " the cause " he is a perfect citizen aud Ghmtian, whereas a moderate man—especially if possessed of gentlemanly feelings—is something altogether vile. There aro .tints that some of these clergy are likely to nopite %o political honours before long. Bvcn the Hon. R. Seddon, who seems to be ablo to assimilate » good deal, would find his powers of endurance taxed if eomo of hia clerical followers wero to subject bis proposals to the test of what Moses would have done under similar eircomststiceo. By all means give these clergy a six-weeks' holiday (or even longer) if they require it, bat only on the distinct understanding that they keep off political platform*.

We have recently hsd ths phie of a gentleman who was fiued £50 for a !.':■. :idi of the law, stumping ths country aud lmving prohibition clergy edcJ J.P.s on the platform while ho indulged iv abase of the law, the judge, the jury, and the police. What next ?

A layman requires to be careful while on this subject to avoid'qasfcing Scripture, as he will find perhaps that what he wished to call a spade might tarn out to mean, "in the original Helirev?," a long-handled shotei. Can thera be anything in the climate of Now Zealand which causes us to lead the world in so many striking new departures in the political line, or is it that some of theclergy have come to the concluoiou that Scriptural methods are too slow in effecting reform! in this nineteenth century ?—I am, &c, September 15. Of,D Style.