MR THOMAS WALKER'S TEM- PERANCE MISSION

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 26

MR THOMAS WALKER'S TEM-

PERANCE MISSION

Mr Thomas Walker, formerly a member at the Legislative Assembly oj New South Wale», who was recently appointed lecturer for thd Grand Lodge of New Zealand, 1.0. G.T., commenced his temperance mission in the colony on Suudoy night by delivering an address at the City Hall, under the auspices of the Danedltf District Lodge. Bro. J. W. Parkinson, D.0.1% occupied the chair, and there was a Ittfp attendance, the hall being about three parti full. The choirs from the Disoiples of Christ congregation in -Stuart street, and from the Tabernacle, Great King street, were provided with seats on the platform, whioh also accnamodated Mr D. O. Cameron and tho Uav. W. Ready. The proceedings commenced by the whole gathering singing a hymn, after which the Rev. W. Ready engaged ia prayer. The choir subsequently rendered an anthem white the inevitable colleotion was taken up. Tito chairman having briefly introduced the lecturer", Mr Walker, who wai cordially rpceive6% gave an address on "Alcohol; the River of. Death." He set out by saying that if there was any flaw in the principles of temperance that made the other side stronger, then he did not want to be upon the tsmperance platform. He, however, was firmly convinced from reading and study thud truth and science were upon the side of temperance, and he was goiug to undertake to demonstrate that daring hit st*y in Dunedin. He wanted evecy total abstainer to ba sure that he was in the right. There was one thing about truth When we once got truth, we need never be afraid to have the whole of it. Truth never had to compromisa — never had " to retire. Every stage of progreu, every new discovery was some confirmation of tiho established truth ; and he was under.the impression that that wan tho cause of total abstinence. He went on to say that those who boasted about being able to take a lot of driak without getting drunk had not much to boasb about, as it showed that they had no brains. How came it that such an evil as alcohol was tolerated amongst mankind ? He was convinced that if it came amongit as actually fo- *•>)<> first time in the nineteenth century it would not be tolerated ; but it -wai because we were so used to it thai wo did riot seem.to recognise its evil results or to care for them. He proceeded to quote a number of scientific authorities with the object of showing that ac hoi was the excreted product of mioroorganisms, and then referred to the effect* that alcohol had upon the blood when introduced into the human system, pointing out that it changed the slnpo of the red corpuscles, altered their constitution, and impaired their vitality. These corpuscles carried with them the vital energies and substanoa necessary to rebuild the body and keep it in health ; and if they were diseased or weakened then the body must be unhealthy. The lecturer farther traced the t-fii-HH of fvlcohnl in tin n-rvotis system, and Alsn'endcMo-.r-tl 'i> - h • -b ah there w*» nob a purl <f fur hum*.! xynit.m tbab it did not injuriously xff-.cfc. It was because of the «vlls of alcohol, h* wout on to say, tha 1 ; to rainy had organised themselves into a temperance ormade. They advocated total abttinence,nobonly for their own benefit, but because of the terrible h*voo alcohol was working amongst the people of all lands. In couoluding he drew a harrowing picture of the effeots of intemperance, likening aloohol to a river of death, on the banks <;f which fay buried civilisation's ruined peoples, depopulated lands. In' every ripple of this fatal stream there was human blood ; in every eddy there were broken human hearts. All along its bank* there were ruined innocence, violated love, the smell of pestilence and charnel house perfumes. "There on that «tro»m I hear the cries of the helpless ; I hear the pitiful shriek of the heartbroken ; I hoar the .wail of the dying orphan ; I heu' tha cry — the piteous cry — of famishing families. This stream flows in our midst. 'Tis the R<ver of Death. I ask yon to forsake its bauka. Cio not near its watera ! Touph it not ! Taste it not ! Lave not iv it, lest the memory of you ba forgotten amongst] men." — (Loud Applause.)