The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-05-18
EVILS OF SOCIAL DRINKING
English Statesman Says Greatest oh
ncuIty 10 to Entertain Publicly
Without Liquor.

Sir James Haslett. member OF par.
lament for Belfast. speaking at .
meeting held In London presided over
by the Archbishop Canterbury. gave
the following important testimony
which we commend to the statesmen
and public men OF the United States:
MY lord bishop. II Is with very
great pleasure that | rise to propose
that the best thanks of this meeting
be given to you for presiding on this
occasion. I think you are the right
man in the right place. The church
must lead " we are to have a healthy
influence In society. AS a stranger
amongst you, have had very great
pleasure in hearing all that has been
| said in regard to total abstinence.
may say that drank Il In from my
mothers breast have never tasted
drink. and. what possibly is not an
easy matter. have never offered II to
others. The greatest difficulty We
have is in the social intercourse of
life--to entertain publicly. IA a pub
lie man, without drinking SO strong
are social habits that you have raised
against you all the weapons that sat.
ire and evil communication can pos
sibly find. You are called mean and
'niggardly.' and hundred other
things. think. my lord. that the
change must come from the women.
ter. though do not know very well
how they are to do t. II was one of
my duties. as the mayor Of Belfast, TO
entertain the representatives OF royal
~. and II 1as a difficulty with me how
I'could do II without drink Unfor.
tunately the lord lieutenant dropped
upon me Just the week after was ap.
pointed That difficulty was greater.
I think. than | might have been ablo
! TO withstand: but I had then my wife
with me. and she said: Well, you had
better resign your Office We carried
Il through as best We could. | trust
that the recollection OF that may still
brighten her life in the other world.
But 1t is the difficulty OF social life
that you must seek to unrayel You
cannot do II by legislation. I am
bound 10 say that when | waited upon
the lord lieutenant and told him about
my difficulty. he said: My dear fellow.
1 would only spit upon you II you sac.
rificed your principles Lord London
| derry was too much OF a gentleman to
seek that should in any way lower
myself. and | felt. as an old sabbath
school teacher. working amongst the
young. and addressing meetings all
my life. that Il | had then put drink
on the table I would have sacrificed
all that | had ever done. My lord
bishop. II il not all easy thing TO act
! thus. | have passed through a recent
election and my bitterest enemies
were those who sold drink II has
been said in Ireland that the readlest
! way TO a mans intelligence Is through
his stomach. II Is wonderful how
kindly We are disposed after we get
our dinner II has unquestionably an
immense influence. and there Is n
large class In our country of whom II
may be said that the readiest way 10
their intelligence Is through a glass
OF beer or spirits. You have that TO
fight against. During my recent con.
test. AM during a contest ten years
ago. never had at the election com
mittee meetings one drop OF strong
drink II We cannot carry an election
without II. then. in Gods name let us
surrender" - National Temperance
Advocate