WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6487, 16 May 1899, Page 4

WORKING MEN'S CLUBS.

THE BISHOP'S OPINION. The following correspondence has been forwarded by the President of the Christchurch Working Men's Club to this journal for publication : — ... Christchurch Working Men's Ciiib and M.S. A., 170, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, May 8, 1899. The Bishop of Christchufch. — Revd Sir, — My attention has been called to a report in the Press of May 5 of your speech delivered at a meeting held for the purpose of reviving the St John's Branch of the Church of England Temperance So.ciety, in which you refer to working men's clubs as follows: — "One had only to look into the working men's clubs, etc., to see how much intemiperance existed." Now, sir, why make any distinction between working »en's clubs and other clubs existing in the -colony. As President of the above club, and a total abstainer from a boy of nine and a haif years of age, and as anxious ■for temperance in all things as your Lordship, I would ask "you to state on" what 'authority you maxle such a statement, seeing .that you' some' few years ago gave a lecture ("Ancient Tools and Ancient Monuments "), on my invitation, at the above club, on which occasion you expressed yourself pleased with the conduct of the club, and its members. I would ask you to kindly state what has happened in the interim to change your views. An answer will oblige. — Yours respectfully, J. M. Thompson, President Christchurch W.M.C. Bishopscourt, Christchurch, May 9, 1899. The President, Christchurch W.M.U. — Dear Sir,— l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May 8, in which you ask why, in my address at St John's Schoolroom, I specially referred to working men's clubs as evidence of prevailing intemperance; and on what authority I spoke as I did of working men's clubs in general, having once expressed my satisfaction with the .conduct of the Christchurch Working Men's Club in particular. In answer, allow me to say : — 1. That at the time when 1 gave the address I was much concerned .about the special case of a certain working men's club in a certain provincial town. 2. That on this account I referred especially to working men's clubs, and am- sorry that I did so, inasmuch as I have no certain knowledge that they are worse than other clubs. 3. That I did not refer in particular to the Ohristchurch Working Men's Club. 4. That if I believed the half of what has been told me of the Christchurch Working Men's Club, I should be inclined to think that" it was' quite well able to afford evidence' of prevailing intemperance, and to justify my opinion that all clubs ought to be brought under the operation of the' Licensing Act. — I am, dear . sir, faithfully yours, 0. Christchurch. Christchurch Working Men's Club aad M.S.A., 170, Oxford Terrace, Christchurcb, May 10, 1899. Your Lordship.. — In acknowledging your letter of May 9, permit me to express both my surprise and regret •that you should have based your attack on working men's clubs on mere hearsay evidence. I could understand such a course on the part of the baser sort of temperance agitators, but that your 'Lordship- should have followed so evil an example will, I am "'sure, be a cause of as much sorrow as indignation.—l have the honour to be, yours respectfully,. .J. M. Thompson,. President Christchurch WM.O. , - - ■ -