CROMWELL

Dunstan Times, Issue 1015, 30 September 1881, Page 3

CROMWELL

(From our owsf Correspondent.) Tlie meeting held on Saturday, 24th instant, for the purpose of resuscitating the Cromwell L dge of Good Templars was a success, as some 16 members were enrolled, and no doubt a great many more will, ere long swell the ranks.

The address of the Rev. J. Lothian was listened to with rapt attention, in which he urged his hearers to join the templars cause, and set their faces against the giant evil which expels reason, drowns the memory, distempers the body, defaces beauty, diminishes strength, inflames the blood, which is a witch to the senses, a devil to the soul, a thief to the pu’-se, a wife’s woe, children sorrow ; which make a man become a beast and self-murderer, for while he drinks to other’s good health, he robs himself of his own.

Mr S. N. Brown also spoke In favour of the temperance movement thanked the ladies and gentleman who, at great inconvenience to themselves, had come a considerable distance to re-establish a Good Templars Lodge in Cromwell, and he hoped that the result of their visit would bear much fruit.

A member of the Dunstan Lodge spoke et the success of the good cause at Clyde, which numbered between 50 and 60 members in good standing.

Another gentleman, who gave unmistakeab'e signs of having very lately worshipped at the shrine of Bacchus, also addressed the meeting fora very brief period ; but, at the request of the Chairman, resumed his seat and soon afterwards withdrew, to the entire satisfaction of the worthy Chairman, who then stated that the public meeting was closed, and the business of the new lodge would be commenced forthwith. He invited all who were not already in the order to join the Cromwell Lodge.

The Presbytery congregation took advantage of the Rev. J. Lothian’s visit here and got him to conduct divine service morning and evening on Sabbath, 25th inst. The congregation were large and attentive, with the exception of one youth who indulged in a little laugh during the latter part of the evening sermon, and was reproved by the Minister for his hilarity. I do not approve of the laughing in church, if it can possibly be suppressed; but a hearty laugh takes a chink out of the chain of life, an I thereby lengthens it. Man is the only thing that laughs; and brutes can’t, and devils won’t. Even some men look as if they had never enjoyed the luxury of a hearty laugh during their lifetime. This is evident from the manifestations of interior piety depicted on their countenances.