RECHABITE SOIREE AT THE THAMES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 971, 18 March 1871, Page 2

RECHABITE SOIREE AT THE THAMES.

The Rechftbit-e Order, we are glad to say is rapidly extending in this Colony, We quote the following from the Thames Advertiser's report of the first annual soiree of the Star of Hauraki Tent, Auckland, at which Osmond Lewis, Esq., District Secretary,occupied the chair :

The QHAjBjJiAN made a short statement in which he mentioned many of the advantages derived by members of the Order of Rechabites, The Premier (Mr Wm. Fox) he stated had become a Kechabite in last October, and he believed from, the steps that were at present being taken by the Order, that great numbers in the North Island, and all New Zealand would soon become Rechabites. He was pleased to. see the great progress made by th© Order on the Thames, and the very energetic steps the members, had taken in getting permissive clauses introduced in the new Incensing Bill. He sincerely hoped the members of the Rechabites, as well as all classes of total abstainers, would still continue to use their best endeavors to promote all, causes which would tend to do away with the liquor traffic.

Mr Jones then read the following first annual report:—" The dial inguishing feature of this order irom others, instituted for a similar purpose, is, that all its rnembeis aie required to sign and keep intact a pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors ; and, while due allowance is made for human weakness in breaking even the strongest resolutions, yet a breaking of this pledge, thrice repeated, causes a mem-., ber to forfeit all his privileges; thus it. will be seen that no inducement is. held out to any, to become members, but those who purpose commencing strict total abstinence. A little more than twelve months since the idea was first publicly noticed of the advisability of starting on this goldtield a Tent in connection with the Order; a few met together, and on the 11th February, 1870, the '•■ Star of Hauraki Tent' was duly opened by the representative from Auckland of the N.Z. District; and on that occasion there were only eight men with sufficient faith in the ultimate success of the movement, whp. came forward to form the Tent. These eight men, at the end of the first quarter, had increased to twenty-one, the second quarter to twenty-seven, the third quarter to thirty-six, and now there are upon the books forty-four members, with six candidates for admission. This, considering the very depressed state of the place at the time of the formation of the Tent, and the unsettled nature of the employment of many who otherwise would have joined us, we look upon as a very successful result of our first year of existence. Financially we are in a sound position. All those who have been connected with us for the six months are entitled to, when sick* 15s. per week at present, and we are in hopes of soon making it ,£1 per week, in order to be on the same level as the Tents in Auckland ; and in case of death, to half funeral allowance, .£lO. Those joined twelve months are entitled to the same sick pay, and full financial benefit, viz., £2O, whilst all on the books have medical attendance and medicine for themselves and families. The cash in hand to credit of sick fund being £40 —no small sum to be received in so shoit a period. A pleasing feature in connection with this fund, as showing the low rate of sickness amongst us, is that since our formation the small sum of <£3 has met all our sick calls." Mr Speight moved the adoption of the report, and made a number of remarks upon the advantages of Recli; abitism. He recommended everyone to, be connected with some benefit society^

and the Rechabites if possible. He said if the working men of the field paid more attention to the system of benefit societies, there would be no necessity for the many subscription lists which were continually going round for relief for the families of men who were unfortunately injured by mining accidents and other casualties. Mr Somerville seconded the adop tion of the report, which was carried. The Chairman stated that for the last nine years there had not been more than about £SO spent in paying sick expenses for the members of the Auckland District, and that there was about ,£2OO to the credit of the Sick Fund. In the same time there had only been three deaths. From the statistics of the friendly societies it had been found that the average rate of sickness and mortality had been less in the Rechabites than any other society ; which was, no doubt, in a great measure owing to the total abstinence principles .of the members.