TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19906, 28 September 1926, Page 2

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.

IXliB matter undci this heading is pub lished at the request of, and is sup plied by, the United Temperance Reform Council in pursuance of the desire to inculcate the principles of temper slice.]

THE GIANT EVIL OF OUR TIMES. By the Very Rev. F. C. Hays, Well did St. John Chrysostom write of the evil of intemperance: “It is the mother of wickedness, the root of all crimes, the origin of vices, the destruction of the head, the subversion of the senses, a storm in the tongue, the shipwreck of chastity, a voluntary madness, the disgrace of life, the corruption of morals, the infamy of the soul, the destroyer of charity, the ruin of religion.” ' Few men there are with any experience of human life who have not realised the truth of these words. It seems almost a superfluous work to attempt to prove that intemperance is the giant evil of our times, the greatest foe to the interests of Christianity, to national prosperity, and to the bodies and souls of our people. We might almost take it for grouted that every man has gauged the enormity of this evil, and recognised, in the words of Lord Bacon, that “all the crimes on earth do not destroy so many of the human race, nor alienate so much

property, as drunkenness,’ In similar tones spoke Gladstone, when he said that “drink inflicts more injury upon the world than the three great historic scourges of ‘war, pestilence, uud famine. Lord Rosebery said; “If the State does not control the liquor traffic, the liquor traffic will control the State.” The well-known brewer and M.P., Charles Buxton, wrote, in the North British Review, February, 1855: “The struggle of the school, the library, and the Church, all united against the beer-house and gin palace, is but one development of the war between heaven and hell.” Yet what is more common than to hear the temperance lecturer charged with intemperate zeal and fanaticism in his gross exaggeration of the evils of drink? And w-hy? Because, whilst the ravages of tiring are so widespread and so devastating, feW dare to lift the veil which the drink demon draws over his wreckage, fewer still venture to look in the fathomless depths of misery, sin, and woe. No human talent can adequately describe the far-reaching ruin and the widespread ravages caused by intempearnce. It baffles us; it confounds us; it shames us; it mocks us at every point m our efforts towards progress, and outwits alike the man of business, the social reformer, the doctor, the minister of the Gospel, the patriot, and the philanthropist. It simply neggars descri - on. THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF THE AGE. To-day we are face to face with many social problems that are awaiting an intelligent solution at the hands of our legislators. The temperance question lies at the root of all social and moral reform. Its social, its economic, its medical, and its religious aspect constitute aii overwhelming argument in its favour, and it is no wonder that thousands of devoted, self-sacrificing men and women of every religious belief, and belonging to every rank of society, have devoted their lives to the service of the temperance crusade. They hove done so as citizens and as patriots, because they recognise intemperance as the enemy of true citizenship, and the barrier to national prosperity. PUBLIC OPINION AND EDUCATION. Both must be brought to our aid. We must labour to create a sound, healthy public opinion in f: vour of temperance. We must aid every wise and legitimate legislative effort to diminish the number of temptations and inducements to drink. It was with this object in view that Cardinal Manning and Father Mathew were such warm supporters of the United Kingdom Alliance. Every wise and just legitimate enactment to lessen the temptations to drink, to safeguard the children, and to promote healthy and innocent recreation for the people should receive active support. The laws should be wisely and fearlessly administered, and all good citizens should support the administration. The foolish social drinking customs should be abolished, and the false theories of science exposed. The common fallacy that alcohol gives health and strength is responsible for 60 per cent, of our intemperance. We must teach men and women that the best doctors and highest medical authorities agree that it does not give health or Strong 4 !), that it is not a food. The late Queen Victoria’s physician, Sir William Gull, said: •'Alcohol is the most destructive agent we are aware of ill this country. It is one of the commonest things in English society that people are injured by drink without being drunkards.” Away, then, with the old delusion that drink is useful! Scientific temperance teaching in our schools would do much to safeguard our rising generation against the insidious evils of drink. Every effort to promote temperance should receive our warmest support. Catholc temperance literature should be wisely distributed.