THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XII, Issue 2079, 15 June 1905, Page 6

THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.

INSPIRITING ADDRESS BY FATHER HAYS. Despite the heavy rain and slush of the roads a large number gathered in the Olympic Theatre lant night to listen to an address from Father Hays, the renowned temperance lecturer. When the doors of the Theatre were opened about seven o’clock a large number of people were pvesent, and by half past seven o'clock t’ie hall was comfortably tilled, but by eight o’clock the Theatre was packed and miny took their seats on the platform where seats had been pro\ ided, although more could have bem accommodated on the platform. There cannot be the slightest doubt that had the weather been at all •reasonable there would not have b.tn standing 100 m. However, it speaks volumes for the hold the temperance movement has on the people of the Pahiatua district when it is stated that the hall was filled.and the audience included a large number of country people, who had more than ordinary courage to brave the disquieting elements which prevailed. It must have been gratifying, to say the least, to those concerned to see that their efforts had not been without avail, for those present, whetherattraded by the personality of Father Hays, or simply through an endeavour to show their support for a> most praiseworthy and deserving movement listened with wrapt attention to the simple elucidation of the evils of intemperance. The speaker urged on his hearers to preserve themselves from the onslaughts of the drink evil and their descendants from many sorrows that were plainly shown to follow in the footpaths of “ the greatest curse on earth.” The reception and attentive hearing of Father Hays and the enthusiastic way iu which his apt and telling stories were received bv the audience showed that the lecturer left a marked impression on his large audience which will be felt in the near future. On the arrival of Father Hays, a little before eight o’clock, the audience gave him a splendid reception, but some surprise was expressed that such a frail-looking man as Father Hays could have worked such wonders for the cause of temperance as the press of the South has conclusively proved. But it was shown that great things can be done by small men, for Father Hays held his audience with him right through and interspersed his lecture frequently with most appropriate stories, which kept fully the whole attention of the audience white Could not be said to have shown the l ;ast sign of lagging dating his hour and 2<J minutes address. Punctually at eight o’clock the Mayor (Mr I). Crewe) accompanied by Mr W. H. Hawkins. M.H.K., the Revs. T. F. Jones and G. Manifold, Mr E. C. Cox (secretary of the Pahiatua No-License League), and otheis ascended the platform amid a hearty outburst of applause. The Mayor briefly introduced Father Hays and mentioned he would always deem it his duty to preside at any meeting addressed by any respectable man whether proliiti iouist or otherwise. He understood Father Hays was giving a purely temperance address, and he did not thiuk auy fair-minded man or woman would object to sucli an address. Mr Hawkins, who received an enthusiastic reception, extended a welcome to Father Hays on behalf, and as the representative of the people of the Pahiatua district. He said he felt a proad man that night He had no apology to make us far as he was concerned. If it had not been such a night the Theatre would have been {crowded

and would| not have been able to hold two-thirds of the people that would have been present. They had been told that the temperance movement in the colony had not gained ground, but was losing it. He asked them whether there was any subject or question that could be discussed that would draw such a large attendance on such a frightful night. He knew it would please Father Hays when he st‘ led that among those present were many from the ountry and one man had come nine miles through the i .in a ad mud to hear the lecture. (Applans:). He asked Father Hays to leave l ife address for next November when they would send him a cable with the one word “Victory” deuoting that prohibition had been carried in the Pahiatua district. (Applause). On behalf of the district he wished Father Hays God speed in the magnificent work he was doing. (Applanse). Father Hays, who received a brilliant reception, sincerely thanked them for the welcome. He thanked the Mayor for the quiet welcome that lia'd been extended to him for he was sick aud tired of the welcomes that had been given him at railway stations and other places — (laughter)—but at the same time he deeply thanked them for the cordial reception they gave him in such miserable weather. He pointed out that lie was not a prohibitionist, aud it would take them many years to prove him a prohibitionist, becai: ie he was not aware that lie had any right to prohibit any man from anything whichit was within his rightto have. —(Applanse). He offered the man who came in nine miles his autograph on the pledge at the conclusion of the meeting.—(Applanse|. This was Mr J. B. Tait. He always made it a feature that he would never make any distinctions of race or class, or creed, but lie took for his motto the words “ For God and for humanity.” His mission was to try and uplift the men and women around him from the degradation of intemperance, and the people of New Zealand liad recognised this cause as a work for the social and moral uplifting of the people. He appreciated deeply generosity of action and thought in his fellow-men. The people of England, Ireland, Scotland ani Wales were spending something like £2O per family a year in drink, and in New Zealand they were spending something like £l*> or £l7 a year per family. The fact of such a large expenditure in drink was an e\ll itself, because it was a waste of the national resources of the country and was a drain upon the working men in the country. —(Applause). He explained that lie was advocating the cause of temperance, which lay at Hie very root of the progress, happiness and prosperity of tli is colony or, indeed, any country. He forgave those who had misrepresented, maligned and opposed him, because he believed lie was working for a cause that had God on its side. Resting in that assurance, could they not understand the intensity and warmth of his advocacy. It was true that some temperance speakers had exaggerated some of the facts, but be had no hesitation iu declaring, that though some temperance advocates had slightly exaggerated facts, that the evil of intemperance was so vast, so appalling and so great that the people’s commonsense and reason would in the end find a true remedy for it. Any little exaggeration should not, and did not, militate against the essential good of temperance. The curse of intemperance stood head and shoulders above every other vice in the world. It was a social sore that cast its unfailing shadow over all clases of humanity, from the humble cottage to the mansion. Intemperance destroyed hundreds, nay thousands, of what should have

been happy homes, it separated husband and wife, and sapped the moral foundations of the country} Was it not a melancholy fact that this curse of humanity—intemperance —filled the prisons, workhouses aud asylums and wrecked many a young, bright and promising life. This foul and fascinating sin of ini temperance stood above any othc J evil. He (Father Hays) had absolutely no time for those people who deplored au.l bewailed the fall of humanity but did nothing to stem the tide and assist in getting rid of this evil. He was confident that if the people were appealed to on this matter to do their duty and take their proper part in the development of their city and country they would do so. He heartily congratulated the people of New Zealand for the ' enthusiasm that prevailed among them for Btemperance. He knew of no other place in the world where the same spirit existed, and for this, if nothing else, he felt sure this colony would soou give the world a lead. Let the people be not deceived bv the pessimists who declared that the evil was too great. Nothing r\as too great for the people to do if they set their minds on it. These people who despaired had surely not much faith in the peoples intelligence to regulate the evil and the power to remove it. He had often found that a kind word would do wonders. He was inclined to believe that on the Day of Judgment a poor drunkard would be more tolerable in the sight of God than the Government, that sanctioned the multiplication of inducements for the people to sin.— (Applause). He disagreed with the system of licenses at present in vogue and declared t hat it was a failure and a curse. Why should the people be prohibited from doing one thing while a few people were given this great privilege—a privilege to wreck mankind. He did not feel altogether sanguine in comdemning the individuals, but he had no hesitation in eondemming the system, which, by if s removal, would leave no chance of any individual being tempted. Father Hays gave a somewhat graphic description of the poverty, crime and other numerous evils among the poor in London and other largo cities, consequent on the liqnor traffic He appealed to his audicuco not to allow any political influence or money connected with the driuk traffic to ! briug forward such measures as had been allowed in other countries. He had been surprised at the proposal for the nationalisation of the liquor traffic. Surely if private interest was bad in the liquor traffic, public iuterest would be infinitely more dangerous. He had always looked upon New ZeaJaud as the embodiment of progress in political and social matters, and once more appealed to them to go forward iu this movement. Referring to the much talked of Gothenburg system, Father Hays gave the information that drunkenness in Gothenburg per 1000 inhabitants was six times as grent as London. The scheme for nationalisation had apparently been put forth in all good faith, but the State had absolutely no right to comjiel individuals to become partners in running' a traffic with which they or a great majority of them, as lie believed, could not conscientiously agree. He condemned Earl Grey’s scheme in England, and went on to urge why should not people be allowed to protect themselves from a moral pestilencj as from physical force. Mr Gladstone once declared that the three great historical Hcourges wero, war, pestilence and famine, but Father Hays believed that one of the grandest and the most noble causes that ever

appeared to human hearts was the saving of men from an evil far greater than those—intemperance. He appealed to working men to keep public houses away from their wives and children. He was gratified at the part medical men were taking in assisting temperance. In conslnsion, Father Hays appealed to the people to practise total abstinence in daily life, and severely condemned the “shouting” system. They wanted example ; they had too much preaching. He hoped he would never ask any man to make a sacrifice that he was not prepared to make. He finally made a special appeal to all young men and women to make a heroic stand against the curse of intemperance, and concluded his address by asking all present to rise and repeat his pledge after him. The large audience stood, and as far as could be seen the majority repeated the words of the pledge after Father Hays, and a good number of pledges were given at the close of the meeting. Mr W. J. Reeve moved, and Mr J. B. Tait seconded, a vote of thanks to Father Hays. The Mayor heartily supported the motion, which was carried amid enthusiasm. Father Hays replying, stated that in the South Island 10,100 persons had taken the pledge, in Wellington, on Monday, the “ Evening Post” stated fully 2000 out of 4000 took the pledge, and in Mas. terton 350 persons took the same pledge. He was deeply grateful to them for the reception, and for coming out on such a terrible night. A vote of thanks to the Mayor terminated the meeting.