DAUNTLESS LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 168, 19 December 1874, Page 3

DAUNTLESS LODGE OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

At the usual weekly session of the above lodge, held last evening, at Gee’s schoolroom, at which there was a very large attendance of members and visiting members, occasion was taken to present the Hon W. Fox with an address from the Good Templars of Christchurch.

After the usual lodge business had been disposed of, the W.O.T. called upon Mr S. P. Andrews, G.W.0.T., who, having referred to the good work done by Mr Fox in the cause of Good Templarism, read the following :

11 Address Presented to the Hon Wm. Fox, PREVIOUS TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR

Europe -

“ Dear Sir and Brother, —We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Independent Order of Good Templars in Christchurch, desire on this, the eve of your departure from the colony, to record our high appreciation of the great and laudable services rendered by you to the temperance movement throughout New Zealand. Your untiring and unceasing labours in the House of Representatives in connection with the passing of the Permissive Bill, and your commendable resistance of the attempt made last session to render abortive the effects of the Bill, are all remembered by us with gratitude. Had the Permissive Bill as placed before the House by yourself, been adopted in its entirety, and not rendered in many cases almost unworkable by the amendments made in it during its passage through committee, wo are convinced that it would have been far more conducive to the wiping out of that foul blot—the drinking customs of the colony. Viewing the Bill, as it now stands, we are still of opinion that, if properly and judiciously carried into effect, it will be the means of a great amount of good being accomplished. “ We feel that a debt of gratitude is owing to you by all who have the best interests of society at heart for your never ceasing advocacy of Temperance principles, not only in your capacity as a prominent member of a learned profession, as a member of the Legislature, and for many years as holding the highest office at the disposal of the Colonial Parliament —thatof Premier of the Colony—but also as a private citizen. In our opinion you have been the means of bringing the evils of intemperance prominently before the people of this colony, by your outspoken denunciation of the liquor trade in all its forms, in such a manner as to have exercised a highly beneficial effect on the community generally. “ We regret that the cause of temperance should lose so able an advocate, even for a short period, as we consider that the example of a person holding such a high position in society as yourself must necessarily have a great influence for good on the whole community, “ We trust, however, that you will soon return to the colony, and resume your place as a member of the House of Representatives, to add still further to the valuable services you have already rendered to the great cause of temperance.

“ Hoping you may have a prosperous voyage, and wishing you and Mrs Fox the best health and happiness,—We are, dear sir and brother,

Signed by G.W.C.T. and G.W.S., and the W.C.T. and W.S. of eight lodges, representing iu all 750 Good Templars.”

Mr Fox, who on rising was received with applause, said he felt great diffidence in returning thanks for the kind address just presented 10 him. Not only did he feel himself a stranger amongst them, but a copy of the address had not, in accordance with the usual custom, been presented to him, and some of the remarks in it were he thought too flattering. He however experienced great pleasure in receiving such a testimonial as a tribute to his endeavors in that cause with which he had been connected for so long a time. He felt more at home in the midst of a contest for the cause than receiving addresses. He had always felt the greatest antipathy to the drinking customs of our land. He had never been a great drinker, but at parties where he had been present participated in some of the toasts. A long time ago he became impressed with the evils of intemperance, and the misery caused to families through the use of ardent spirits, and from what he had subsequently seen it almost became part of his nature to fight

against the demon drink. 1 Ft', had met with a great deal of opposition, bat he felt firmly convinced that it was their duty to fight against the use of spirit nous liquors in the face of all oppo iHon —[Applause] —and in order to make their efforts in this direction successful, it was essentially necessary that they should be combined. The admission of sisters into the order greatly promoted unanimity and proper conduct, of the proceedings of the lodges. The object of Good Templarism was aggression against drinking customs, while that of Rechabitesand the Sons of Temperance,werc more of benefit societies, as the latter did not go out of I heir lodges and use moral suasion to endeavor to reform drunkards and procure members, nor could these societies take political action, while the Good Templars could. He ha Ito cal! attention to one thing the Good Templars had not done much in, and that was to circulate temperance literature. Some time since a gentleman in Auckland had started a weekly temperance paper, with a small capital, and through not receiving the assistance anticipated he had been obliged to give it up. A monthly Temperance Advocate was published in Dunedin, to which ho had on several occasions contributed, and he would like to see the Good Templars of Christchurch take more interest in the success of that paper, and subscribe to it. He had tried to enlist the sympathy of the press in the colony in the cause, but had not succeeded as ho had expected, and when on occasions strong efforts had been made by individuals on behalf of temperance, (he press had either been silent or hostile. When they were stroncr enough to make their influence felt at the hustings the press would, no doubt, assist them, and he would strongly impress on those present, and all Good Templars, to return no candidate at the next general election who would not pledge himself to sup-port the Permissive Bill. [Applause.] He hoped the time might come when they would have a paper of their own, but in the meantime it should be their endeavor to get the press to help them, and (he cause might be forwarded by circulating Good Templar works. At home and in America the temperance literature was excellent, and no better medium existed there to further temperance than was derived from its circulation. In his contemplated tour to England and America ho would endeavor to get some information of thewoikingof Hie order, and the position of the temperance cause generally. He would in a few words explain the present position of the Permissive Bill. After three years’ exertion, and in spite of a great deal of opposition, he had succeeded in getting a Permissive Bill passed, but not in its original lorra, as the opponents of the bill did not recognise the right of the people to control the law for the sale of liquor. Under the present law the districts were too large, and the Government should be compelled to take the votes of the people as to the advisability of granting licenses. The size of the districts should also be decreased, as at present it was impossible to properly canvass the districts to petition against the granting of objectionable licenses. They ought also to impress upon candidates at the next election the necessity of altering the licensing meetings from quarterly to annual, as at present the people had not time to take action in objecting. After paying the American people a great compliment for their persistent endeavors to eradicate any evil from their midst, the honorable gentleman said that the women of that nation deserved their warmest thanks for their noble efforts in the cause of temperance. They had closed ov°r 2000 public houses at one time for six weeks —(applause)- and most of those had since remained closed ; and the women were still persisting in their good work. And he might mention that in Dundee our own countrywomen were also doing good work in this direction. In conclusion, he begged to return his sincere thanks for the testimonial presented to him that evening, and trusted that when he returned to New Zealand, the Order of Good Templarism would occupy a high position among the influential institutions of the colony. [Loud applause.] The lodge was then closed with the usual ceremonies.