"TRUE MANLINESS."

Temuka Leader, Issue 1437, 5 December 1885, Page 2

"TRUE MANLINESS."

Lant Thursday evening l an address on "True Manliness" whs delivered by the Rev. T. A. Hamilton in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. The Rev. Mr Hamilton said Mr Talbot had been asked to take the chair, but no doubt had some other engagement, since he was not present. Mr Rolleston was also asked, but had reasons for not being present. Ho would therefore take the chair himself. Hymn 67 was then sung, Mr L, Rayner presiding at the harmonium. The Rev. Mr Clark, of Gerald ine, then read a portion of the Scriptures, and a short prayer was offered up by the Rev. Mr Hamilton, after which hymn 76 was sung. The Rev, Mr Hamilton said they need not feel ashamed because the meeting was small. Before a month he believed that they would have the room crowded. All denominations had combined together in Ghiibtchurch, and the Cathedral was often full. The other evening £ls had been subscribed to get literature. He then read a letter from the Rev. Mr Connor, who said he could not attend. He believed '" True Minhness " was a Christian duty, and if Ohris : tians attended to it there would be no necessity for any special association for it, The speaker then proceeded to say that the movement started with a few undergraduates in the University of Oxford,and subsequently in the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Dublin. He then read the series of resolutions which had been worked out by the Rev. Mr Wilkinson. The Bishop of Durham took it up, and shortly afterwards 500 clergymen petitioned the Primate to make it a national movement. He next referred to a certain Act of Parliament which was calculated to degrade women, and spoke against the social laws, under which men enjoyed immunity from many responsibilities that wore attached to women. If it was wrong that a woman should err why should it not be wrong for a man to err alao 1 He referred to Miss Ellis Hopkinson, who was doing a great work iq redeeming fallen women. Miss Hopkinson told a story of two young ladies who were going up a narrow pathway on a steep cliff, and one of them fell over the cliff and was killed. Her companion ran into the village and told what had happened, and men went to her assistance at once. There were men continually dashing women over cliffs, and others below endeavoring to save them. He wondered how the manhood ef Englishmen could tolerate this. When the Birkenhead was wrecked, with 400 soldiers and sailors on board, the Cvptain gave orders that no man should go into the boats until all the women and children were taken ashore, and 400 men obeyed and vent down with the ship. He wondered how men capable of such glorious self saeifice could be guilty of conduct such as the present movement discountenanced. After having spoken forcibly to this effect, he said the object in view was not to ask people to look down to the depths to which this vice had brought people, but rather to look up to their Creator. They should respect women, discountenance profanity, filthy conversation, and coarse jokeg. Young men were neglected. Their fathers hesitated to speak to them on thene subjects for fear of suggesting anything wrong, the ministers did not always get the opportunity, and so the young men, went about learning badness from bad companions. St. Paul's says One guilty of such offences would be excluded from the Kingdom of God. He had met with many objections to this movement. It was said that for men to meet like this would suggest something evil to women and children, aud such as were excluded. He did not think so. He did not believe that anyone would think they would indulge in language unfitting at such meetiogs. Another objection was that it was wrong to speak on such delicate subjects in public. Ha thought public opinion was grossly perverted, and until they came to see that it was as wrong for men to err as for women public meetings would be necessary. In countries where the clergy had great influence upon the people much immorality existed ; in fact, the only country where any high morality existed was Ireland, Public opinion required to be put right on the subject, and it should be emphasised that it was a Christian duty. There was no sign, no badgenothing but when the resolutions were proposed to hold up a hand and re solve to conform with them. After a very eloquent address the rev. speaker sat down amidst great applause. He then called upon Mr S. D. Barker to move the first resolution. Mr S. D. Barker said he felt it an honor and duty to take part in the movement, and thought it should be an innate instinct in every man ti endeavor to act up to the principles embodied in the five resolutions. He had been asked to move the first resolution, with regard to which he thought every man should feel that every woman had, by reason of her sex, a right to his respect and protection, and it should be a pleasure to him to express to her by his salutation and conduct that auch was the case. It was most important for fathers to instil this into their boys' minds as early as possible. He then moved -"That we recognise it as a Christian duty to treat all women with respect, and endeavor to protect them from wrong and degradation." On a show of hands being called, all ' hands were held up for it. I Mr A. Russell moved—" That we'recognise it as a Christian duty to endeavor to put down all indecent language and •coarse jesta." He said the language fie: quently used was' degrading in the extreme. He reminded them that thoy. were told that men should account for all the '.die words they spoke. This motion was also carried unanimously. The" Rev. Mr Clark, of Uerahline, moved—" That we recognise it as a Christian duty to maintain the Jaw of purity as equally binding on men and i women." He spoke very forcibly in *up- [ port of the resolution, and, on being put, it was carried unanimously. i The Rev. Chairman then moved the ■ following two resolutions : - i deavor to spread these principles amongst I my companions, and try and help my ] younger brothers ;" "To use every pos- I sible means to fulfil the command ' Keep I thyself pure.'" He said Mr Miles had < promised to move the first of these c resolutions, but was unavoidably absent; t and the Rev. Mr Thomas was to have i moved the second one, only that he had > a preaching engagement at Pleasant ( Point. He then read a letter from the, I

Rev. Mr Thomas, in which he expressed great sympathy with the movement. After a few further remarks, all knelt down at the request of (he Rev. Mr Hamilton, and offered up silent praper. A collection was then made, &ud the proceedings came to a close by the usual * vote of thanks to the Chairman being carried unanimously.