RED CROSS SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 19800, 25 February 1928, Page 3

RED CROSS SOCIETY

THE LATE MR SPEIGHT The Rev. V. G. Bryan King presided over a special meeting of the Bed Cross Society yesterday afternoon. The Chairman said that on this occasion they met together with sad hearts, thinking as they did of the passing away of their faithful colleague, Mr Charles Speight. The news of Jiis passing was a great shock to them all, and ins absence now from their circle meant an irreparable loss. Mr Speight had been one of the pillars of the society since its inception here, and his ripe experience had ever been at their service, and had been gladly utilised. His keen interest in the society’s affairs at all Limes, and no less bis finam'il assistance, bad impressed them very deeply. Week by week be bad visited the Montccillo Home, and tile interest ho had taken in the soldier patients there had called forth a common gratitude. They were all amazed at the loving service so freely given. His passing was not only a groat loss to them, but to the whole community, which ho had served so well in many and varied interests. Their hearts went out in sinecrest sympathy to Mrs Speight and the mom bom of her family. Mr E. A. Rosevcar, the on. treasurer, referred to his long friendship with the late Mr Charles Speight, dating from the time when they wore members of the B Battery, N.Z. Field Artillery. They had been associated on many committees, all for the welfare of the citizens, and during all the years the speaker knew of no citizen who had given more service so unselfishly as the late Mr Speight. His work on the

Flood Relief Committee, Influenza Epidemic Committee, the carnival for raising funds for the Patriotic Committee, the St. John Ambulance, and their nvn society, tho Red Cress, would ever live in the history of philanthropic funds of this city. It was the speaker’s privilege to ho associated with Mr Speight on tho flood relief, in visiting all the homos of the sufferers, and the deep Christian sympathy and patience shown hy him impressed the speaker very much. With reference to the carnival in 1915, the Sports Queen Committee, of which he was the lion, treasurer, received no lees a sum than £4,223 from their late friend. His contributions were not made known even to the members of tho committee. This amount referred only to the one queen; tho speaker knew Mr .Speight contributed largely to the other queen committees. Ho had repeatedly appealed to Mr Speight for financial help to assist deserving and worthy objects, and never once was ho turned away empty handed. In their friend they had n true example of the Biblical injunction: “ When thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may he in secret.” Mi Speight’s labors for our society—the Red Cross—were labors of love, and they were beyond tabulation. His financial support was a continual stream, and in this connection alone the society would sadly miss him. His work on the committee was enthusiastic, and never found wanting. It would, ’mwcver, tho speaker thought, be the deep interest that was taken by him in the Monfcecillo Convalescent Home that would.stand out as a monument to Mr Speight’s love for tile convalescent soldier. Only the members of the society knew tlie labor of love he gave to the home. _ Every Friday, when in the city, he visited Montecillo. and saw in the wants of the inmates. Only tivo days before his passing he visited the home and chatted in a cheery manner with each of the patients. The calling home of their fcllow-meniher had left a -blank that at present it was difficult to understand. They would miss him, and so would the patients of Montecillo. They mourned with the relatives in the loss of a noble citizen. Mr Rosevear thanked the members for giving him this opportunity of endorsing eh that the president had said, and of paying his tribute, as one who had always taken an active part in all Christian ] a-d temperance work, to the memory of i Mr Speight, whom ’he esteem** a 1 privilege to call a friend.

The meeting passed a vote of condolence, the members standing for a few moments in silence. GENERAL CHAMPAIN’S VISIT. Advice was received from headquarters, Wellington, to the effect that General Champain, secretary and special representative of the British lied Cross Society, would arrive in the dominion next week, and was due at Dunedin on Saturday afternoon, March d. Ho would remain in Dunedin till March 7, and while here would_ like to have an opportunity of meeting all those interested in Red Cross work, and also of seeing some of the heauty spots of the district. He would bo accompanied by his wife and two daughters. It was resolved that a meeting he arranged for Monday night, March 5, and that various societies and institutions l)e invited to co-operate with the Red Cross. It was thought that many would ho glad to have an opportunity of meeting and hearing tho Red Cross representative from London. It was arranged that those engaged in peace time work would be fully represented at the meeting. General Champain -would inspect the Montecillo Home, and would be given full information regarding Red Cross activities in this centre. The Red Cross Committee would also arrange for his seeing tho city and its environs. ' *