The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-22 00:00:00

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON
INTEMPERANCE.

On Tuesday afternoon a large meeting was held in the
Library of Lambeth Palace, London, under the presi-
dency of the Arihbishop of Canterbury, to inaugurate
the Church of England Temperance Society. Among
those preeent were the Biehop of Ely, the Bishop of
Lichfield, the Rev. Lord W. Russell. Sir Harcourt
Johnstone, M.P., Mr. Hugh Bliley, M.P., the Rev.
Archilcaeon Sandford, U,-au Stanley. the Rev. Robert
Maguire (vicar of Clerkenwell), the Rev. A. J. Ellison
(vicar of Wiudsor), the Rev. Mr. Herding, Captain
Phipps, awl many members of the Lower House of
Convocation. The meeting waa opened with prayer.
Letter- were read from the Bishop of Ologester and
Bristol, from the Prolocutor, and other members of
the Upper and Lower Houses of Convocation, expres-
sing their interest in the objects of the meeting. These
objects were to conjoin, under the presidency of the
Arid-bishops of Canterbury and Ycik, the " Cnurch
f England and Ireland Temperance Reformation
Society" aied the " Manchi ster, Chester, and Ripon
Diocesan Church Tempe mice Society," under the name
of the Church of England Temperance Society, "for the
promotion of babas of temperance, for the reforma-
tion of the intemperate, and for the removal of the
emirs which lead to intemperatiee, mainly in accordance
with the recommendations of the reports of Convoca-
tion. 'the society is to be open to isseietance from non-
nbscainera as well as from abstainers, and seeks aid in
explaining and enforcing the providone of the law; in
the forniati en of a sound public opinion as to the con.
nection between intemperance and the undue facilities
and temptations provided by the present publichouse
system ; in the progressive diminution of the number
ut publichouses and beershops as public opinion may
permit; the alteration of the character of "tippling
houses," by bringiiig them back to the original form of
"victualling and refreshment houses ;" in the closing
of puoliehouses and beeishops on Sunday (except t
iravrilers), and the limitation of the hours of sale on
weekdays, as, public opinion may permit; in the disso-
ciation of music-halls and dancing-rooms from public-
houses ; in the eta engthenieg of the Minds of
he
nowise:ate., in Obi exercise of their power for the cur-
e aiiinent of facilities for the sale of intoxicating
;iii giviiig to local paha "pinion it, doe share,
iii coojqrtchen with the ex ietiug authoritics, in the
panting or ref 'icing of licencee, and in the regulation
of priblichoneee or beershope ; in the removal of benefit,
I rawiap,,a,4l burial dubs. from pahlicheuelet, 111414
ibii-,iiirageii•ent of the payment of wages at these
1.1 ices,. in the promotion of "Britihh Worknran "
,arblichouaee, recreation grounds, and other colluterAc.
time to the ordinary publionouso ; in the dincoursge

ment of the present system of "treating" in bovines '
and commerciel transactione and the V footini; '
custom among workmen; in the preparation of lesson
books for reading in the national schools of the
country, with special teachiug on t e moral, social, and
physical evils re-ulting, born intemperance ; in the
tifiusion of correct and reliable i formation by tern
peranee literature, tract., and other publications, by
-ertuons, lectures, and readings, by addresses to
member., of the Universities, theological colleges, and
training colleges for teachers, and also by miseionary
i Sorts in prisons, workhouses, and other places
.vhere he victims of intemperance are usually
ound ; and in Vie pi omotion of union for special
prayer throuehout the country for the Di ,ine
eleesing upon the temperance movement. I3oth classes,
lionabateinsrs as well an a.astaiuers, are asked to aid in
these purpo -es, and in addition the abstaiuere are re
quested to aid in the eetabli-hmeut of parochial tern-
,trance societies, guilds, and Bauchi 44 Hope, based on
the principle of total abstinence, " under the euperin-
tendenc.e or with the sanbtion of the parochial clergy,
is the proved and moist effectual human means tit
b. ingine the intemperate under the teaching and power
of the Goepel, and so setting them free from the bon-
dage of their eiu, and of preserving others from the
abounding temptations ot the day."
The Archbishop said, after the letters which had
been read, it would be hardly necessary for him to say
he considered this a most important oceasien. They
had come together for a great practical object. During
the list week there had been many meetings of the
Convocation of the Province of Canterbury, and he
,insidered the meeting of that day a continuation of
that Convocation, for it was held to carry out certain
resolutions formally adopted by Convocation. There
were among those who had watched the proceedings of
these Convocations of Canterbury and York per sous
who had sometimes sail, he would not say whether in his
opinion justly or unjustly, that the deliberations in those
assemblies were not thoroughly leaches', and, as this
woe a practical age, they waite I until souse measures
were taken which were distinctly practical. No such ob-
jection could be taken against the recommendations of
the last Synod of this Province' for the steps taken by
his revered friend, Archdeacon Sandford, to enlist the
sympathies of the clergy, and, throu,4ll them, of the
laity, were thoroughly practical, and were calculated
to do the greatest good to the whole bodyof our fellow-
countrymen. (Cheers.) The detailed report of Convo-
cation had been before the country, and it laid bare the
evils which called the clergy to action. his Grace then
gave to the meeting the heads of the supplementary re-
port presen.ed to Convocation last week (published in
7'he Times tu the proceedings of that body), Irvin
which resolutions had been agreed to that this meet-
ing should be held. It might be asked, he said, why
there should be a Church of England Temperanee
Society, for temperance could be preached by all deno-
minations, and there was nothing peculiar in the
Church of England inculcating temperance, and this
was one of the points upon which persons of all beliefs
met—Church if England, Itouran Catholics, Pro-
testant Dissenters, and Jews—and could wish each
other God speed in doing a good work. There were good
reasons why the Church should take up a work like this.
The Church bad an organisation for good which reached
to every parish in England, and had a means thus of
circulating, in the shortest possible time, informa-
tion upon every subject to any man living in any por-
tion of the realm. The Church had, tnank God, as
yet, and he hoped for centuries to come would have,
an educated man, an accredited man, resident in every
community, with great advantages for gathering Mei
people around him, and for organizing them in any
purpose which would serve the good of the kingdom
of Christ. (Cheers.) It was with no spirit or desire
to separate themselves from others that this move-
ment had been commenced, but because it was thought
that in our National Church the clergy had the best
possible means of advancing a good national woi k—
not in antagonism bet in friendly rivalry with those
beyond the Church of England COMMUllioll. (Cheels.)
Ile Bishop of Lichfield then proposed the first reso-
lution . . .

That looking to the extensive and continued prevalence
of the sin of intemperance in England, the Church of Eng-
land. as charged with the spiritual and moral interests of
the masses of the country, is bound to pot forth special
efforts with a view to its rt

The Bishop spoke of his experience of many years ago,
when a curate in Soho, a, to the awful tffects of in-
temperance among the workpeople, and he then dwelt
upon the evils which bad arisen in the colonies by this
English vice being carried among the native races,
which he declared were being decimated by strong
drink.
Sir Harcourt Johnstone seconded the motion. In
the course of his remarks he expressed his doub;s
whether Parliament would again as yet enter upon
public- house legislation, and said he looked forward to
the best effects arising from voluntary work.
The resolution was carried.
The Bishop of Ely, who spoke as a non-abstainer,
proposed the followin; resolution ---
.

e
"That the Church of England Temperance Society as now
constituted presents basis on which all members of the
Church, whether abstainers or not from alcoholic drinks,
can co-operate to Ow great work."
"• ' • • •

He spoke of the ;retched condition of the working
classes, notwithstanding the high wages they were
now obtaining, as arising from their habits of intem-
perance, and he looked for the correctitn of those bail
habits to the institution of places whore the wti king
and other classes could go in lieu of entering the publics
bruise.
The Rev. A. J. Ellison seconded the motion, which
wee carried.
The concluding motion was proposed by Mr. Hugh
Bitley, AL P., seconded by Mr. Baxter:—
That this meeting thankfully acknowledges the action of
Convocation on this importmt subject, and feels that the
fact of the recognition of the principles on which the society
is'conatituted by the report and resolutions of the Com
mitt.° of convocation on intemperance will strengthen and
one linage it in the prosecution of the great wiirk on which
it is entering. that in view O the niegnittnie of the work
now entered upon, it is a matter of vital Importance that
liberal funds should be at once placed tithe unipusel of the
Unwell, and thvt, therefore, a guarantee fund to the twount
Of £19,000 for five years be opened."
This was carried nem. con., and a Est of donations of
1:100 and less was read. Uri the proposal of Archdeacon
Sanction], seconded by the Dean of Weatminster, a
vote of thanks was given to the Archbishop for the use
of the library and for presiding.
The proceedings then concluded.