TEMPLARY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1555, 12 February 1879, Page 3

TEMPLARY.

At the meeting of the Hope of Christchurch Lodge last night, after Borne candidates had been initiated, the Lodge was closed, and then the hall was open to the public, when a very pleasant and successful open meeting was held. The chair was taken by Mr J. Harding, of Napier, wh© gave a short address, exhorting the members to faithful diligent work in the temperance cause. He reminded the Templars of his previous visit with Bro. the Hon. S. D. Hastings. He had more recently visited that brother in the States, and was happy to tell them that he left him well and diligent in the good work. People often found various faults with Temphry, but as he was certain no earthly society was without its faults, they could not expect Templary to be perfect • but this he, after a long experience, could say, ho had never found anything in Templary to be ashamed of. There was a very good znusic-il programmo, the first part consisting of-Part song, " Onward to Battle;" song, "Close the shutters, Mr C. M. Gray; reading, Mr Farker; song, •'Eileen .Uannah," Mrs 0. M. Gray. The Chairman then called upon the Kev. J. a. Smalley, who, in commencing his add ess, expressed his approval of these open meetings, and said he would always bo ready to do what ho could to assist, and hoped the Christchurch Templars would assist their Sydenham friends by attending their open-air meetings, one of which he would uitorm them would take place next Sunday. He spoke of the pleasure ho had experienced in hearing Mr Harding the night previous on the Maine Liquor Law." Some people seemed to tancy that this law was fast becoming a dead letter; bat he was enabled on the testimony of his friend to say this was not so. On the contrary, so convinced were

the inhabitants • f thoso parts of the excellence of such a regime, that thpy were going to m ike their laws still more strict. He noticed that persons who spoke their mind freely on the ternrerance question were called •'enthusiast*." Now he would toll them never to object to this term, as " enthusiast " was a grand word. It signified " God within us." All the great reforms that had been accomplished in the world's hi.tory had been the work of enthusiasts. One thing he wishsd to caution bis hearers on. Ho, too, often heard the words applied to a drunkard, "He is past all hope." To that he gave an emphutic denial. There was always a slight spark of manhood left, and so long as that was so there was always hope. He ((noted instances which had come under his knowledge lately, when he believed, by God's grace, a thorough reform had taken place. A tempera co advocate t hould never be afraid, not even if he stood as one against the world, for they must remember they had the Divine power on their side, and God would work with them if they sought His aid. The se ond part of the programme consisted of songs from Misses Chawmer and Parker, a duet, " The Convent Bell 9," from Mr and Mrs Gray, and a song, "The White Squall," from Mr Broadbelt. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the chairman ard Kev. J. Smalley, and the la Hes and gentlemen who had assisted in the musical part Tho evening closed with the part song, " Good Night," sung by several members. The attendance was good, there being nearly two hundred present.