The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1888-10-13 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEM PERANCE SOCIETY.  CONFLICT OF OPINION AT ST. JAMES'S. A meeting of the St. James's branch of the Church of England Temperance Society was held on Tuesday evening at the schoolroom attached to the church. The Rev. J. W. Milner presided, and there was a crowded audience. . . .  The Rev. David Price, curate of the chard, in a short address, said that unfortunately the licensing clauses had been dropped from the Local Government Bill, for which he was very sorry. The Government wanted to compensate the publicans, but the United Kingdom Alliance, whose headquarters he thought were in Manchester, was opposed to that, and they were strengthened by a section of politicians. The clauses had therefore to be dropped. He thought that as fair and honest men, if they dispossessed the publican, and turned him and his wife and family into the street, they should grant him some corn. pensation. The time would come when the law would be directed towards the suppression of public-houses, when three-fourths of the parishioners of St. James's would have a right to say how many and what public-houses they would retain. That was perfectly fair, butts the same time the question was hedged shoat with so many difficulties that it would require a strong Government indeed to overcome them. He could not:help thinking if those who advocated temperance would do somethin tangible for the working man it would hoe more effect than meetings such as he was then addressing. For instance, at the North End, they had no meeting-zoom or institute where working men could congregate, though he and Mr. Glover had tried to secure such a place Many working men came home to dirty bonus and had to seek refuge in the public.house, and he was not at all " strong" againet the working men who sought that comfort in the publimhoure they could not get at home. For about seven shollings a week they could hires house, fit it for working men,' keep bright fires, and a clean hearth, and he should not object to also keeping even a bagatelle board —(applause)—or anything that would bring men away from the den of guilt, sin, and iniquity, and plant their feet upon the rood to a better life. Mr. Alexander Russell, the next epedrer, said he was sorry he could not follow in the wake of the curate. Before being a pledged abstainer, he (the speaker) had indulged freely in strong drink for twenty years and had become bankrupt in health, as he surely would have become in pocket, through that iudul• gence. By God's help, he had conquered the evil craving within him, and sines then bad waged a determined war against the traffic. He would sooner be torn by all the mad dogs in Birkenhead than bitten by drink. (Applause.) He wished to answer a few statements which Mr. Deakin, one of the leadirg lights of the Licensed Victuallers, had made. He gave Mr. Deakin credit for being ao honest, straightforward, upright man in bto walk and conversation in life, but a fortnight ago, speaking at the annual meeting of the Licensed Victuallers, he had denounced the Good Tempters of Cheshire for walking in regalia to the Primitive Methodist Chapel and offering thanks to God for the withdrawal of the licensing clauses. Mr. Deakin was surprised that a church should open its doors for such a doubtfel purpose. In making that speech Mr. Deakin interfered with a body of men who were doing a grand, upright, and unselfish work in trying to help others out of the mire and place them ea the pedestal of happiness they themselves bad attained to. He (the speaker) could not sympathise with Mr. Price in his expressions regarding the withdrawal of the licensing elanses. Row could they sympathise with A traffic which was causing so mach sin and iniquity. As one who belonged to the &irk school for twenty years he knew the pnblicars would not want if turned into the streets tomorrow. Look at the appearance and the houses they kept up! If they believed what Christ said, "Abhor that which is evil, clean, to that which is good," they could not houe-tly compensate the publicans, it was against this laws of Divine nature to do anything of the sort. And that was why they thanked God the claims were withdrawn. Mr. Deakin lovl also stated that the publicans, living sober lives, were the proper missionaries ei temperance. And yet 20,000 persons in England alone died every year through stron drink sold by those "missionaries." 40,00 more died a suicide's death, and the Church of Christ lost another 10,000, as members. all through .he accursed drink traffic. The Pro° might well characterise Mr. Deakin's state' ment as "nonsense." During the evening a programme of vocal and instrumental music was rendered by Ali' Roxburgh, Miss Warburton, Miss Jones, lis,s Russell, and Messrs. J. Jones, Price, kluge, and Dobie.  garresponbenr.e.  ,s desire It to he Understood that this column Owmg Open to writers of all shades of opinion, the pilot does not necessarily hold the same views a owe expressed by his correspondents.