Page:Distinguished Churchmen.djvu/367

 THE REV. HARRY WILSON, M.A. 319

strong position in advocacy of temperance. In temperance is one of our greatest difficulties. Public-houses abound hard drinking abounds drunkenness, among males and females, abounds. In fact, drinking in all too many cases is con sidered highly respectable. To my mind, one of the most piteous sights in the world is to see young women and girls hopelessly intoxicated. A lot of the East- End girls work in factories, and it is a common practice with many of them to stand each other drinks going home. There is, I believe, a general impression that it is im possible to cure drunkenness among women. Experience tells us it is just as curable as anything else. But, mind, there must be no playing with the matter. For our erstwhile drunkard there can be no safety but in total abstinence. As regards children, surely the best thing of all is that they should grow up without tasting alcohol. Both in rescuing the intemperate and protecting the tem perate from temptation our branches of the Church of England Temperance Society are doing first-rate work.&quot;

&quot; It would be interesting to know more of your special efforts.&quot;

&quot; I have already told you that improvidence was, and is still, rife in this quarter. One of the first things started after my arrival in the parish was a penny bank. That was not a natural way of saving among the people ; but it goes on still,

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