GOSPEL TEMPERANCE MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12986, 30 May 1904, Page 3

GOSPEL TEMPERANCE MEETING

Tho first of a series of gospel temperance meetings arranged by the District Lodge, 1.0. G.T. was held in the Alhambra Theatre last evening, the building being very nearly filled. Tho chair was taken by Bro. E. Sandilands, D.D. of tho District Lodge of Good Templars, who introduced tho speaker of the ovening, Mr A. S. Adams, in p few words. -, • ' ! llv Adams, said he had been asked, in tho Otago Daily Times to.justify the attitude taken up' by tho Tempcrnnco party that prohibition was in accordance with Scripture. Ho had not complied with tho challenge because he did not consider it was seeming, or proper, to make ".God's Word tho subject of a public newspaper correspondence witli an anonymous correspondent. . Prohibition was justified by God's Word. With regard to the preciso meaning of the word wine as used in tho Scripture there was no question that in some instances it meant something otlioi' than intoxicating liquor. In one or two cases if was perfectly clear it ,mcant something solid, and not liquid at all, but ho was absolutely indifferent as to what might bo said as to the precise meaning and treatment of tho word as used in tho old Scripture. Whatever the wines of the old times may havo been, it was beyond question or dispute that tho ancient people know absolutory nothing of tho modern commercial wines. Ho denied that tho Scriptures lent any countenanco to tho nso or abuse of wines such as we havo to-day. Mr Adams then repeated tho words of the Lord's Prayer—" Thy, will bo donoon oarth as it is iu heaven; lead us not into temptation, but deliver us> from I evil"—and asked, would anyone toll h:m it was in accordance* with the jwill of God that their brother, or his sister, should bo brought into temptation with what brought them down to the levol of the beast? Could it bo in accordance with, tho will of Him who had tatight us to pray "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil?" Mr Adams then narrated instances where tho results of excessivo drinking had been of the most direful character, and asked if it could possibly bo said that it was by the will of God such results as those were produced. Some had been tolling thorn they should confine themselves to moral suasion, and not interefere with the traffic itself j but why should they stop at moral suasion? Why not attempt to reach and deal with the thing that caused the degradation and despair? It was sajd that the cases they mentioned woro exaggerated ones, but ho denied that, and'said they were typical cases. It had beton said they should confine their efforts to saving individuals, and in reply to that ho had to say that, in spite of all that modern medical scienco could do, there was almost no hope for the permanent reformation of a man or woman who had completely come to be a slave to drink. One legislator had visited the Inebriates' Homo, and had' come away in despair, but he (Mr Adams) challenged anyono to show that in any homo more than 10 per cent: would prove successful cures. Tho other 90 per cent, would go down again as surely as they went down the first timo, and why? Because temptation was put right in their way. In tho busiest centres and right upon tho corners thoy wonld bo met with 'this temptation, and would' most oortainly fall. The only way they could clear themselves of the evil was •to vote for no-license when tho opportunity came „).o them. He agreed they should help individuals all they could. Even in tho fhec of inovitablo failure they should do their very best for thorn. In conclusion, ho would draw attention"'to the fact that if anyone was asked to justify their attitude against tho drink iraffio, it was enough to turn to that marvellous prayer which Christ tf.ught His disciples, and' taught us to utter: "That.the will of tho Divino Father should be dona upon earth, and that we should be delivered from evil." An orchestra and choir, 'led by Mr E. \k. H. Hutton, played and sang a number of items, and Master Dodds sang "The holy city" during the evening.