"Our Total Abstinence Society still continues to keep the weekly meetings going with unabated force. A large meeting was held on Monday, Feb. 17th, when the Wimbledon Temperance choir gave their musical entertainment - combined with excellent addresses by some of their members.

Although the temperance cause flourishes in our parish, yet there are many who stand aloof, whom we would gladly number amongst our supporters. In order to meet the terrible drink evil it does require that many, especially those whose position gives them influence, should cross the road to help those who have fallen by the blows of their bitter enemy. We anxiously ask for sympathy and help.

Temperance Extract from remarks by The Right Rev. The Bishop of Dover:

'The Church of England Temperance Society, in its Total Abstinence Section, numbers not a few who hoist the Blue Ribbon at the buttonhole. As an unpledged Abstainer I am not one of them, but it is always useful to us all to know what the “intelligent foreigner” thinks about us. Mr. Max O’Rell, so-called, who has written books about John Bull, is kind enough to call the “Blue Ribbon” the decoration of reclaimed drunkards.” If the rest of his account of English folk and their ways be as truthful as this remark, it is to be feared that Mr. O’Rell’s countrymen will not know more about us after reading his books than they knew before. The truth is that for one Abstainer, “decorated” or not, who has come out of the ranks of the great Drink Army, there must be scores, hundreds, who have never fallen under the power of alcohol. The large majority of them have put it aside in order that Total Abstinence may not be the sign of a reformed tippler. We believe that whatever good may be done (and the Church of England Temperance Society upholds that noble work may be done, and is done) by Non-Abstainers, to cripple the destroying energies of Intemperance, the mere spectacle of an example of moderation in drink has not point and force enough to persuade the wretched victim of drink to go and do likewise. His only safety is, as all admit, in cutting off the roots of the tree of evil which is poisoning his life and withering his fortunes. Every Abstainer helps to prove that, as a rule, in every walk of life, in every profession at all ages, under all conditions of climate, whether for work of brain or body, alcohol is a wholly needless stimulus. An ounce of visible proof of this useful truth is worth cartloads of argument. This visible proof is supplied in the Total Abstinence Section of the Church of England Temperance Society'"

Source: The Hampton Hill Parish Magazine - 1890 March

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