GOOD TEMPLAR'S OPEN LODGE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 75, 6 April 1877, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLAR'S OPEN LODGE.

The Akaroa Hope Lodge of Good Templars, held an open lodge on Wednesday evening last, but owing to the inefficient publicity given to the entertainment, the attendance' was chiefly confined to the brethren of the order. Mr. J. Bruce, W.C.T., occupied the chair. As we were specially invited to attend to criticise the entertainment, we trust that those, whose defects we mildly point out, will take our hints in good part, and on a future occasion profit hy them. Mr. Robebtshaw announced that he had been invited to read the following address on temperance, specially written for the occasion, by one of the sisters of the lodge, but his reading was anything but perfect. To a Certain Class of Moderate Drinkers. There are some men, who, while they are unable to give up their own " particular wanity," are peculiarly bitter against the total abstainer because he has had the moral courage to dash his to the ground ; and the more they feel their incapability of denying themselves the use of stimulants, the more inclined they are to sneer at the self-denying discipline which is the safeguard of the total abstainer. It is to this class of moderate drinkers that I now address myself. I have no intention of delivering a treatise upon the merits of Total Abstinence, nor am i about to irritate them by condemning the moderate use of alcohol. No, I have graver facts to deal with than these, - I have a more serious charge to bring against many moderate drinkers than any unconscious injury they may be doing to themselves. I appeal to the heart and conscience of every individual man who belongs to the class whose fault I am impelled to bring forward and stigmatize. " Is it not true, that in the course of your life-time, you have come across men who were once moderate drinkers like yourself, but who have fallen step by step into the mire of habitual drunkenness ?" Can you not name some social companions who, having realised the danger of the tempting tumbler, have gone over to the ranks of the total abstainer so that they might escape its snare ? How have you treated these men ? Have you had any sympathy with the manful self-denial that has hourly to be exercised by them ? Alas, no ! You have envied and sneered at them in a breath. The new life into which they have entered is little better than a reproach to you because you know yourself to be incapable of exercising the same self-denial. You would be relieved and gratified if they would cast aside the solemn obligations that rest upon them— aye, you have even gone the length of putting temptation in their way so that they might violate the sacred vow that they have taken before God and man. What is it to you, if by so doing, they wreck their souls' happiness, and.go step by step the way that "leads down to deatli." Ah ! fellow man—it is not your moderale drinking that I quarrel with, —by yourself, you stand or fall, —but I will never cease to deplore and stigmatize that wrongful spirit which will not permit you to sympathise with the social friend, whose heart is still warm, but who can never again be induced to drink with you, because he has realised the evil of it to himself. Do not shut your ears to these words of mine because your conscience smites you. Your better nature is not dead, it is only crusted over with selfishness. I am convinced that there is not an exceptional man amongst the class whom I address,

aye the coldest hearted and most selfish, who does not at times possess cravings after a better life, who has not within him faculties for good, which if rightly exercised, would enable him to conquer tne selfishness which now rules him. Yes, let such men once be convinced that they are doing a , grievous wrong to the , total abstainerby riot' respecting his vow. Let them onbe feel in their hearts that it is sin in God's sight to lead their neighbours into temptation, and we will hear of very few of our number violating the pledge.. I would fain hope that these words of mine may reach the hearts of such men, and that that they may feel the force of their truth. Yet language is but a feeble instrument to open the heart that has never realised the sin and the sorrow that intemperance has sewn broadcast upon the world — that has never even given a sigh to the inevitable ruin of the drunkard. Only the " still small voice" of the spirit can break down the heart of such a man, and make it dutiful and thoughtful for his fellow. Aye, so dutiful and thoughtful, that the day may down when even he may be constrained to join the ranks of the total abstainer, so that he may no longer be a " stumbling block " to him, but a friend and an ally for life, both here and hereafter.

1 The next item was a song by Mr Cook, " Two in the Morning," which provoked a good deal of laughter. Mr. J. Biuce followed w<th a humorous reading from Artemus Ward. Mr. Hill, after two unsuccessful attempts to clear the " Breaking Rollers," was compelled to seek more tranquil waters. This was followed by a recitation from Mr. Newton, and we would advise the young gentleman to pay more attention to his posture, and find more profitable exercise for his hands than retaining them behind his back, when next he essays to recite. Mr. Robertshaw next followed with a song, " Birdie," and, in the rendering of which, he was more successful than in his previous efforts. The next item was a reading from Mr. Harlock. The piece selected was in support of the temperance cause, the delivery and composition being excellent. Mr. Gutberlet's songwas fairly rendered, and for which he received the approbation of the audience. Mr. T. Penlington followed with a reading, but it was a little too long, and gave rise to evident impatience on the part of the audience. The next item was a comic song, entitled "Bradshaw's Guide," by Mr. Robertshaw, which provoked irresistible laughter, and was well rendered. This was followed by two short readings from Mr. J. Bruce, and a song from Mr. Cork. Mr. Kelly's " Silver Threads Among the Gold," which was particularly well sung, brought an agreeable evening's entertainment to a close, and the company dispersed, after singing God Save the Queen.