The Dean of Exeter (Dr. Gamble) is the author of a pamphlet. on "Prohibition and Temperance from the Christian Standpoint." Just issued by the True Temperance Association, it contains the subjoined Passages It is sometimes assumed and proclaimed in the present day that the use of alcohol in every form is for-hidden to Christians, and that anyone engaged in the business of brewing has forfeited all claim to the Christian name. "Drink," not merely drunkenness, is described as an "accursed thing."
But let us observe that to regard material things as in themselves evil is to use not Christian, but anti-Christian language. It is quite untrue to say, as it is sometimes said, that the use of wine is for-hidden or condemned by the Bible. There is not a word in the Bible condemning drink as in itself evil. There are many denunciations of drunkenness, but none of drink, An attempt is sometimes made to divide the wines of the Bible into intoxicating and non-intoxicating beverages and to maintain that the latter only are permitted; but this view is not supported by the best scholars. In the next place—and this surely is a matter of first concern to Christians—we may refer to the example of our Lord. It is quite clear that He neither taught nor practised abstinence from wine, Those who want a religion w! forbids the use of wine and all alcoholic liquors can have it, but the religion is not Christianity. It is Mohammedanism, Of course in laying down these principles—which are so often forgotten and ignored—we are not for a moment condemning or disparage ing the noble efforts of those who, in the hope of saving drunkards, have themselves become total abstainers, Canon Masterman has lately written a pamphlet in favour of his cause, which he calls "Prohibition from the Christian Standpoint." The modesty of. Canon Masterman in assuming that there is only one Christian standpoint, and that he is the exponent of it, needs no comment. Temperance means self-control—not control by others—and there can be no true temperance without freedom.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.