"OBSERVER'S" "COURAGEOUS AND BROAD-MINDED N.Z. CLERGYMAN."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 17 October 1896, Page 3

"OBSERVER'S" "COURAGEOUS AND BROAD-MINDED N.Z. CLERGYMAN."

TO THK EDITOR. Sib, —Be the Ray. Mr Beatty's spirited letter—is the italicised word indicative of that which moved the rev. gentleman to wriro ? — this, however, by the . way. Mr Beatty commences his letter by calling wine "God's good gift." I preinmn that he intends we shall read into that word " wine" all alcoholic drink", and then put them di.wri as " God's good gift." No donbt Mr Bfatty makes out as good a case as he ! possibly can for the traffic aud its friends, but!j I think anyone not in sympathy with the traffic would fail to fiad any good argument ia his letter supporting it. Mr Beatty him to confess that drunkenness is the c.iuse of frightful evils (italics mine), and' that reforms are needed. What, I would ask the Rev. Mr Beatty, is the cause of drunkenness, or what the article upon which men get drunk and commit these "frighfcfnl crimes"? Is it not that which he styles "God's good gift"? Suppose someone mere lo lay this charge against Mr Beatty—viz., that be was the giver to man of this pernicious article which is tbe cause of so mauy "frightful evils," would he not resent the charge with scorn ? It is wonderful to me, Sir, that ha and some oE his fellow-clergymen are not afraid to thus insult their M».ker. I would like to ask the rev. gentleman and thos^vho think with him on this subject the following question—viz , whose work is the drink traffic doing ?—God's work or the davil's work ? If—as I think he musb do— he answers the litter's, then I ask, Whom do the drink sellers serve, and is the service a fit one for a member o£ the Christian church. ? Mr Beatty argues that the business is a legitimate one. I BUppose he means by this that the traffic is legalised by the Government, and thereby made right and proper for a church member to engage in ; but, I ask, is it p. What about the legalised totalisafcor and other things that might be mentioned ? Are they right because legalised by our Government ? Mr Beatty'g little homily about scrutinising the moneys that come into the church collections is wide of the mark, and rather rough on Mary, whom, with Lazarus and her Bister, Jesus loved. Any donation comihg from a brewer or publican may be considered as having been made by selling drink, and so no question need be asked about it: it has corns from a bad source—it is unclean. Mr Beatfcy'a ohjtcfc lesson, drawn from the unspeakable Turk, is surely a libel upon any respectable Nu t Zealand Christian. I hold that neithsr Mr Isitt nor any other person can deuounce tha liquor traffic in too strong terms, considering the " frightful evils " it is the cause of; and, Sir, I believe when the Eev. Mr Beatty and those who think with him fear God as much as they do the law and the policeman they will refrain from penning such letters as the one referred to, and will not dare to charge God with being the bestower of this "good gift," which produces the " frightful evils" arising from alcoholic drinks.—l am, &c, Lawrence, October 12. J. D. Joey.