THE RECHABITES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 6

THE RECHABITES.

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS FROM ENGLAND. Hi. John Philipson, the High Chief Ruler of the Rechabite Order, now on a visit to New Zealand, is a Newcastle-on-Tyn© man, 1 and is'the head of a.manufactory business in tho North of England. In 1909, at Birmingham, lie was elected to the position of High Chief Ruler, and during his term of officc, he, with others, discussed with Sir Wilfrid Laiirier, Premier of Canada, the affairs of tho Order in relation to tho Dominion of Canada. 1 He'was one of tho Tyneside witnesses recently called to give cvidenco 'before the Royal Commission on "The Poor Laws and tho Relief of Distress," presided over by Lord George Hamilton. i Mr. C. W. Churchill, who is also in New Zealand, is a Wiltshire man, and > s 'iJ'. profession' a schoolmaster. He is now headmaster l of the Boys' School at Corsham. 111 1905 he was .elected' High Cliief Ruler at Aberdeen. Both men are good platform speakers and are recognised by the Brotherhood as. authorities upon tho Friendly Society movement. They arc touring tho colonies as- the result, .of invitations froni the Victorian districts to take part fti their jubilee celebrations, the Order being instituted there 50 years ago. Additional interest was given to tho celebrations by tho holding of a conference of all inter-Stato and New Zealand Rechabite districts with the high officers, when tho question of clearance and the interchange of members' was considered,' as large numbers of tho Rechabite Order in the Homeland are coming to tho colonies to settle. Tho reception accorded to tho visitors from England and the States and New Zealand was most-enthusiastic. Upon arrival,at Melbourne the Lord Mayor and a member of the Federal Ministry wel-comed-tho visitors. On the next day (Sunday) a groaf Church parade was held in the Cathedral, . oyer 1000 Rechabitcs marching in procession. The Archbishop read tho lessons and Past District Chief Archdeacon Tucker preached to overflowing congregations. On tho following Tuesday at tho Centennial Hall an attendance of 5000 publicly welcomed the high officers, and on the Wednesday night the-large Town Hall of Melbourne w;as crowded to the doors to hear Mr. Philipson's lantern lecture. The celebrations .closed on Thursday w;hen' a great Tent meeting and initiation wero held. Over 900 members were present and 86 candidates' initiated by the High Chief Ruler into tho Order. The tour of the visiting officers from England includes/India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. To-day and to-morrow a great Rechabite festival will be held in Wellington in honour of 'the visitors who will arrive' hero from the south this morning, and at 3.30 p.m. an nfternoon tea and reception will bo tendered them, at the Kelburno'Kiosk. At .6.30 p.m. a. united Tent meeting will be held in the Rccliahite Chambers in -Manners Street, followed ;by a procession, and public demonstration at the Town Hall, when the visitors will bo tendered a civic reception. ' To-morrow morning there will be a clmrch parade at Petone, and in tho afternoon a meeting of the Brotherhood fa-ill bo held at the. -Druids' Hall, Taranaki Street. A church -parade will also be held at the Wosleyan Church, Taranaki Street in the evening. •