Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1879-03-29 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

TEMPERANCE QUESTION. A stirring address was delivered In London lad afternoon at Zseter-hall, to a large afla yme°, b 111:1712 Gough, under the auspices of the National Temperance League. The chair was occupied by the Right lion. WI. Cowper-Temple, M.P.  The Chairman, in introducing the lecturer, said many men considered that it made but very little difference whether alcoholic liquors were drunk or not, but they were now met to hear one who knew is reality, and • lby his own experience, that it made a very great difference indeed. This was a question of great importance, and one which not only influenced the social position of an individual, but It influenced his moral conduct and his spiritual intenets through all time. If in this country eve, man were free from the bondage of Intemperance, it would be a very different country Indeed; then the ratepayers would have no muse to grumble, the surgeons in our hospitals would have much less on their' hands, the gaols would be oomparatively empty, and the judges would find scarcely anything ,to do either, as we frequently hear them say that the great majority! of cases which come before them are as a rule connected with drunkenness. This is a question which; should occupy the attention of the Legislature as well as that of ministers of the Gospel and others conueetect with the education of the people. When one mentidhed legislation people were fond of saying that they cannot be made sober by Act of Parliament. Ile maid not see much wisdom in that remark. It was either a truism' or it was an untruism. It was a truism if the 111 WI could have no effect upon the sale of drink, but ifijra• an untruism if the law could remove the fseilidelifett the sale of the drink. (Applause.) Burglaries, murders, and other great crimes could not be dos* sway with by Act of Parliament, but they could be greatly checked by diminishing the facilities fee 4 procuring the chief cause of those crimes; mush could I be done socially, and the National Temperance League In doing its great and good work identified hoepita:juil and good fellowship with its duty, but he meld think much of the kindness which urged and penu , mu friends to muddle their brains and poison their blood by drinking aloohol. Referring to the coffee taverns which were being opened throughout the eountry, hi mid that thesepublichouses where the public could not get alcoholic liquor of any kind, but were supplied instead with wholesome_ and refreshing beverages, had been a source of graftood, and it was encouraging to find that at the 14 or 15. coffee taverne in 4,000 pledges had been taken. They had canoed a great revolution in the habits of the working classes., for in them they found all the attractions and the! comforts which they sought in the patine-houses formerly, and were satisfied with refreshing and non. Intoxicating beveragee instead of alcoholic liquosi (Loud applause.) The right hon. gentleman concluded by saying that! all the forces of Christianity were ruling their Mune, in support of this cause, ministers of the Gospel help' Lug by their example and precepts, and by pointing out the importance of making a right use of those gifts which had been given to us and our duty hi overcoming the sin of drunkenness. (Cheers.)