ARISTOCRACY AND THE BLUE RIBBON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3732, 2 July 1883, Page 4

ARISTOCRACY AND THE BLUE RIBBON.

A very fashionable gathering assembled at Stafford House, the residence of the Duke of Sutherland, in furtherance of the Blue Ribbon movement, of which Her Grace has become a warm advocate. The distinguished company included, among others, tho Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, the Marchioness of Hilsea, Lord and Lady Dudlej"-, General Sir Lewis Pell}- and Lady Polly, Lord Redstock, Ladies Probyn, Ellice, Walsingham, and Wolseley ; Sir F. Seymour, Sir R. Temple, Baron Grant, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, and Mr Chaplin, M.P. Letters of apology from Lady Tavistock and Lord Lichfield were read. Lord Mount-temple, who occupied tho chair, said it was felt that the aristocracy of this country who had always been leaders in politics, war, agriculture, and sanitation, and all great questions affecting tho commonwealth, could no longer withhold their support from the Blue Ribbon movement, which was fighting against tho overwhelming evil that afflicted the country—intoxicating drink —the evil that filled our gaols and our poor law unions, that brought misery and strife into thousands of work-ing-class homes, and even overshadowed the thoughts of many who lived In refined societ3 r . There was only one real remedy, and that was to take the pledge of abstention deliberately and in cold blood. Let the brotherhood and fellowship of Blue Ribbonism be taken as a new form of conviviality. The badge was bringing together the lower, middle, and upper classes, and the latter were contributing their quota to tho movement by example and the spirit of self-sacrifice. The Queen had shown in the case of lamb what example could do, and the Princess of Wales' aversion to pigeon shooting had awakened an echo through the land. The Blue Ribbon badge might bo considered Quixotic and eccentric, but it encouraged others, and that compensated for everything. The Rev. C. Hewitt said drink was a devastating curse, which must bo stamped out. A great national wail had compelled the movement—a wail from the drunkard's family—and if only those who professed to be able to control themselves would join, it would complete a movement which had swept through the land with a force and impetuosity unknown for generations. Canon Wilberforcc, in the course of an eloquent address, said that there was a chord deep clown in the heart of man, which, if once set vibrating-, vibrated to the music of the sphere, and this was the secret of the success of the Blue Ribbon Army, which would in future be known as the Gospel Temperance Union. He concluded by thanking the Didce and Duchess for the use of their mansion, and the meeting, after singing several hymns, dispersed.