BEFORE THE FLOOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 7

BEFORE THE FLOOD.

DiD DRINK CAUSE TROUBLE?

HISTORY OF ALCOHOL TRACED.

Let us trace the history'of wine and strong drink, writes Thomas Wiuterton in tho “ Evening News.” Before tlio flood, it is slated in Scripture, the world became very wicked, and for that reason it was destroyed, with the exception of Noah and Ins family. There is nothing to show that drink had anything to do with the wickedness. For data to start upon there is the instance of Noah, a just man, a perfect, one who walked with Clod, drank wine and got drunk upon it, ride the sixth chapter of Genesis, v. 9, also chapter 9r. 19, 20, 21. As Noah's three sons overspread the whole earth, it can surely bo concluded that the drinking of wino was the custom over the whole earth in those times. EARLY USE OF WINE. Now take tho case of Abraham. According to Flavius Josephus, upon his return after defeating the four kings, when he went to the rescue of his nephew Lot, ho was mot by the King of Sodom at the valley of Shavoh, where Melchizedek, King of .Salem, received him and feasted his forces with broad and wine. He states that the latter king was a righteous king, without dispute, and on that account was made the priest of God.’’ If this is true, then tho drinking of wine had tho Divine sanction. The use of wine and strong drink is very clearly sanctioned by the laws of Moses. In proof turn to the fourteenth chapter of Deuloronomv, v. 24, 25. 2li. Mi no was tho drink of the Israelites in tho time of King David, not only of tho men, but tho women also, else how explain the instance when ho brought the Ark of God. vide Samuel, chapters 0. I, 19. SOLOMON A WINE DRINKER. Solomon also must have been a wine drinker—refer to the Book of Proverbs, chap. 31, v. li, 7. also Ecclesiastes, chap. 9, x. 7. This advice is plain enough. ■ lor a sensible method of drinking wino note the way a feast was conducted in the lime of King Ahasnerus, in the Book of Esther, cha. 11., v. 7 and S. There appears to be no question that Christ himself sanctioned the use of wine. There - is no record of IBs teaching total abstinence, and there is tho strongest assumption that Ho drank it. how also explain chap. 26 of Matthew, v. 29] then again, Luke, chap. 7, v. 33, 34, 35, and chap, o, r. 37, 38, 39. There is then the record of the marriage feast. Is it likely Christ would hare Turned the water into wino if He had not approved of its consumption ? Julius Crcsar believed in wine. Before his troops defeated I’ompcy on the plains of Pharsalia, they had suffered very great hardships under a very bad diet, and ?. virulent distemper broke out among them, but on tailing by storm the town of Gomphi, in Thessaly, they not only found sufficient refreshments, but recovered surprisingly of the distemper; for drinking plentifully of the wine, they found there, and afterwards marching on in a. Bacchanalian manner, tho now turn their blood took threw off the disorder, and gave them another habit of body. Tho results wore seen in the battle that followed, when Pompey’s army of double their strength wore decisively defeated. CROMWELL DRANK WINE AND BEER. Oliver Cromwell was a wine drinker. Parliamentary speeches of his state the fact, and express approval of wino drinking as an excellent thing for man. and as enjoying the approbation or tho founder of his religion. Tho Royalists hinted that he was a drunkard. He was also a beer drinker. The proof is in his own words. In giving his account of tho capture of Ike King’s Messenger to the Queen by himself and General Ire ton, at the Blue Boar Inn at Holborn, in November, 1647, he said: “We look ono trusty fellow with us, and with troopers’ habits went to tho Inn at Holborn. We set ono man at the gate, and called for cans of beer. The sentinel gave notice that the man with tho saddle was coming in. Upon this we immediately arose, and as tho man was leading out his horse saddled came up to him with drawn swords, and told him that wo wore there to search all that went in and out there, but as ho looked like an honest man wo would only search his saddle and dismiss him. Upon this wc ungirt his saddle, and carried it into the stall, where he had been drinking, and left the horseman with our sentinel.” FOR NAPOLEON’S ARMY. Napoleon must have been a believer in wine, beer and strong drink. Below is tho proof 1 ' Orders. Jan. 20, 1314. Chalons. “To Marshal Berthicr. “ Get two or three hundred thousand bottles of wino and brandy at Vitry to serve out to tho army to-day, and to-morrow. If there should bo nothing but champagne, take it just the same; better we should have" it than tho enemy.” Those wore Ins orders before beating Bluchers army at Briennc. Ho believed in beer, too, for at tho first session of the Egyptian Institute, established by himself at Cairo, 22-S----1798, one of the first questions lie propounded was, “Docs Egvpt afford any substitute for hops, in the brewing of beer?” G(jorge Washington was a -yfijuv drinkcr.

LIQUOR IN THE GREAT ‘WAR

General Alle-nby: Quo of the first acts of this General on talcing: over t.he commatul in Palestine during the recent war was to send the beer from the base to the men at the front, an act that was greatly appreciated. Can any sane man question the benefit of both wine and strong drink? Was it not generally used by the British, the branch, Italians and Germans in the great world war? Is it likely those nations would issue it to their troops if its advantages were not beneficial? Ask our own men who wont through the campaigns in Franco and Palestine. They know. Is there 10 per cent who would ho against its use? The precedents piloted above should he good enough to follow; thev do not require to be run by the bigoted, fanatical cranks of America.