RECHABITE CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 9

RECHABITE CONFERENCE.

GREAT GATHERING IN AYRSHIRE. Tho High Movable Conference of the Rechabiite Order held its session recently at Ayrshire, Scotland, where Robert Burns, (Scotland's national bard, spent much of his life and composed some of his best poems. Representatives from England, Ireland, Wales, British Columbia,- Natal, Queensland, Indian Empire, Victoria, Orange Free States, Western Australia, Germany, South Australia, Now Zealand, and New South Wales' crowded "Auld Ayr" to tho number of between 300 and 400 delegates of tho Rechabito army of nearly ono million members. Lovely weather crowned the week that tho session lasted, which specially favoured tho various functions arranged amongst the "banks and braes of Bonny Doon." Proceedings opened with a monster procession, headed by tho high officers, 4000 taking part. On the day following, being Sunday, another procession and a great gathering in the afternopn at the Town Hall to hear tho conference sermon. On tho Monday tho visitors rambled in "Buriks's land l " At tho Town Hall at 8 o'clock' the Provost tendered! a civio welcome. \ Now Zealand was represented by Mr. and Mi's. J. W. Gaudin and Miss G. Gaud-in, of Brougham Street, Wellington, and Mr. W. Civil, of Auckland. Tho High Chief lluler, Mr. H. I'lattß, Nottinghamshire, in his opening address roviowed ,the two years' period of his: occupancy of the position, which had been the most eventful in the history of Friendly Societies. Tho National Insurance Act, having been placed upon the Statute-book of England, tho work of bringing into oporation that system of State insurance had added greatly to the responsibilities' and anxieties incidental to his position. In tho performance of the duties of the office ho had travelled 50,000 • miles, and addressed over 800 meetings. Ho heartily welcomed tho oversea representatives, stating it was the laTgest representation they had over had from abroad. ' Most of tho oversea visitors acknowledged tho kindly welcomo. Germany's representative, Hans Nielsen, after cxpwini ftrabit-ud-! 1 for hospitality, remarked that it was tho first time a German Rechabito had had tho opportunity of addressing tho High Movablo Conference. Tho first branch was opened in Germany in 1903, and thero woro now eleven branches of tho Rechabito Order in Germany. Teetotalism there had littlo hold, and thero was much compulsory insurance, so that tho thrift idea did not appeal. It was reported that the membership of tho Order, had increased by 54.210. Tho voluntary membership was now 607,856;'5tat0 insuranco membership, 344.149; total, 952,005. Tlio official valuation shows that the present value of benefits assured is £5,751,330, and present value of funds and futiiro contributions £5,841,232, leaving a surplus of £90.202. In tho juvenile section thoro woro 225,186 mcmbors. The chief feature of the business was tho State Insurance Act, which camo in for a good deal of criticism. Exporicnco of tho oporation of the Act already obtained ill the working had shown tho defects, the chief being the relations •with medical men and malingering.