TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 792, 7 December 1870, Page 2

TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.

The annual tea and public meeting of the Christchurch Total Abstinence Society, was held last evening in the Temperance Hall, Gloucester street. Dr Florance, president of the society, presided, and the attendance was fair. ' '■'■■■ Trays for the tea meeting were provided by the Society, and ladies connected with it presided. After the tea meeting, the chairman introduced the business of the public meeting by a few appropriate remarks, and called upon Mr De La Mare, the ex-secre-tary, to read the annual report for the information of the meeting. '<■ Mr Joseph Exall .then addressed- the meeting on the advantages of total abstinence, physically, . intellectually, morally, arid socially. ■■.-■■ Mr W. E. Nobriss followed, urging upon the society the necessity for private exertion in the cause of temperance. He referred to the statements made by his Honor Mr Justice Gresson, in his charge to the Grand Jury, on opening the present criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, to the effect that nine-tenths of the crime which came before him was paused by the drinking customs of society, iand that he wished that the facilities for obtaining intoxicating drinks were lessened. The speaker hoped it would not be long before his Honor saw his .'way to ■ go "a little further, and identify himself with the total abstinence movement. If the system, were thoroughly examined, he was certain it would be found to have the best of the arguments. Mr Bennetts was very glad to find a large proportion .of -old, friends present. He believed the society had been the means of doing a vast deal of. good, and that it exercised more influence than appear from the comparatively small audience then assembled. He could, point -to many, formerly of inteiriperate habits, who had been rescued by the society, and who were now occupying respectable positions with credit to themselves. There were some hundreds Of young people.now being-brought up in habits of total abstinence, who, he believed, would

eventually exercise a very beneficial influence on society at large. Teetotalism was truth— scientific, moral, and religious. The law and ministers of religion had tried to remove the evils arising from intemperance, but they had failed, and he believed that teetotalism alone was a complete and efficacious remedy for the evil. Mr F. Lawret next addressed the meeting. He thought it was the duty of every one to do something for the cause of temperance. He regarded it as a very favourable sign that nearly all the young ministers who came out to the colony in connection with the. Wesleyan body were total abstainers. Mr Clephanb said he didn't see. how the advocates of teetotalism could speak on the question without condemning moderation as well as drunkenness. The one sprang from the other, and he thought no language. was too strong in condemning custom.} from which society at large suffered so much. He had learned with pleasure that one of the candidates for his district, . .in ... the General Assembly, was in favour of . the Permissive Bill. He referred to Mr Reeves, who had said that he would support the measure if he found, a majority of the people in favour of it. vHe thought that teetotallers should make a point of ascertaining the views of candidates at the forthcoming general elections on this important question. The proceedings of the evening were agreeably diversified by some excellent temperance melodies by. Messrs Rowley, Thompson, Thomas, and Tremayne. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and notices of several .meetings in connection with the cause were given. In the report read to the meeting, reference was made to the bazaar, which it is proposed to get up in order to defray the remaining liabilities on the Temperance Hall. The bazaar is to take place in March next, and the cordial co-operation of all who are friendly to the movement is earnestly requested.