The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-08 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting was hhld in the Corn Exchange
in the. evening, Which was largely attended. It
was presided over by the Rev. T. Williams, vicar
of St. Johns, in this tewn.; -and 'there were also
present on the platform the Rev. R. M. Grier, vicar
of Rugeley, the Rev. J. S. Boldero, vicar of Am.
blecote, and Mr. Jones, agent for the Birmingham
Branch of the Alliance.
The Rev. T. Williams explained the objects
which the United Kingdom Alliance had in view,
which was to give the majority of the people of
any place the power to say they would not have
any building licensed for the ;sale of intoxicating
drink in their midst; that is, if they chose to do
so. In other words they wished for the majority
to have the power to say whether they would have
public-houses or not. The legWature evidently
ngarded the liquor traffic no. 'most dangerous
trade from the fact that they placed so many re-
strictions upon it. Those engaged in it must be
able before they got a license, to show they were
respectable men. It was not incumbent upon men
entering upon anrother business to do that. The
trade was also surrounded by other restrictions,
which showed plainly that it with not an ordinary
harmless calling. That being so, he thought the
people Who Were the sufferers by, it, should have
the power of saying "is tills., is .dpirig no good,
it is produeing a great amount of pauperism and
crime, and, therefore, we will not have it amongst
us." He thought in that case the minority should
bow to the decision of the majority. And yet, it
-was wonderful how much opposition there was to
the Bill which would enable them to do that. He
looked upon the money spent in intoxicating drink
as so much wasted, or even worse than that, in
producing.misery and vice. .The influence of strong
drink in a great many instances eeite neutralised
the teachings of religion and education. Why,
then, should they not take steps to have that evil
removed from their midst. They were favoured
that night with the attendance of two gentlemen
who were well acquainted with the subject. Mr.
Grier, they knew, had taken a very great interest
in that question, and his name was well-known all
over the country as being that of an eloquent and
earnest advocate of temperance. There was also
Mr. Jones, a gentleman who was the secretary for
the United Kingdom Alliance in the Birmingham
district. Mr. Welch, whose name appeared on
the hill, had written to him to inform him that he
was called away and could not he at that meeting
that night. Mr. Newnan was also Unable to be
present. He then called upon the Rev. J. S.
Bolder° to propose the first resolution.
The Rev. J. S. Boldero; M.A., vicar of Amble-
cote said he had been asked to propose the first
resolution, which was one -expressed in general
terms. He did not wish to conunit himself to all
the provisions of the Permissive Bill, as it had
been introduced into the House of Commons, by
Sir Wilfrid Lawson. Still, he felt he could con-
scientiously be present at a meeting of those who
were trying to do away with intemperance. They
were all of them rather prone to condemn people
unheard, and for that reason they ought to give
the advocates of the Permissive Bill a fair hear-
ing. The resolution was as follows :—" That
whereas, notwithstanding the increased zeal and
activity of the great army of religious, educational,
social, sanitary, and temperance workers, drinking
habits continue lamentably prevalent amongst vast
masses of the people—resulting in ferocious bru-
tality,degradation, reckless prodigality,
and
w femaleretehed pauperism, to an extent so appalling
that they seem to mock every effort that philan-
thropy can devise, or the authorities pat forth,—
this meeting calls upon Parliament and patriotic
statesmen of all parties to deal vigorously and
promptly with the liquor traffic, as the primary
source of these evils, which lower our status as a
civilized nation, and constitute a standing reproach
to our name as a Christian people.". He (Mr.
Bol,dero) quite .CoinJided with that resolution. He
had been told that according to calculation that
i had been made, there were ..£4 is a year expended
on each mau,:woman, and child 'throughout the
; etf 'WtOxicating drink, whilst only £4 3s
wasspent in llf6Ttaine-tinie on each individual in
tit4irhbasing six of the principal-neeVssaries, of
i"He knOw how those figares were arrived,
<ieubt 'that .approximately they
'llre'Eliceiklit. it Would 'strengthen the
I.eauSe They' 4.i'd in hand if those 'calculations were
made as aceurately as possible. In the rclidi#
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