THE “CHURCH” AND LIQUOR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 714, 12 November 1903, Page 23

THE “CHURCH” AND LIQUOR.

The attitude assumed -by the religious bodies towards the liquor ouestion argues not only an unwise desire to mix in party politics, but also a disinclination to “trust the people.” Now the main, indeed the only ground upon which the dissenting bodies have heretofore claimed to take an active part in the secular government of the country, was that they themselves represented the democracy. As they are now. clearly' afraid to trust the said democracy, and are strenuously urging the fanatical members of the House to maintain a stonewall against a referendum, they will have to revise their charter. They no longer represent “the democracy” as a whole, but only that part of it which damns the liquor traffic but is willing that people should continue to have drink in their homes. The Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches have never pursued the practice of the irresponsible sects. Both have preached the virtue of temperance, and both have, produced good and able men ■who have advocated ' teetotalism, but neither has committed the fatuous [mistake of supposing than an Act of Parliament is a direct means of grace. In this issue we print a report of a speech delivered before the Dunedin Synod by the Rev. Mr. Kayll, dealing with the. subject of the liquor trade. While we do not accept his conclusions, his references to the line of action followed by his Church are of interest, at the present time, when every insignificant preacher in every small conventicle in the| land is bustling his hearers to pass resolutions, describing the Premier in the most offensive and unchristian language, and cadging the money to telegraph the same to members of Parliament. There are people who imagine that the yelling of a racecourse crowd or the shouting of the barrackers at* a football match is a factor in gaining a victory. These may possibly see some force in the present action of the selfstyled evangelicals.. And indeed it may happen that the Premier will be swayed by the raucus shouting that is proceeding. There is no telling at the present moment what the fate of the Licensing Bill will be.

In this issue will be found a portrait of Mr James Cress, proprietor of the Empire Hotel, Masterton. Mr Cress is an all-round sport, and a most popular boniface. At one time he was much in evidence in the scrum on a football field. The Empire offers advantages in the way of accommodation and refreshment which are appreciated by the travelling public.