DEDICATION OF THE NEW HALL, I.O.G.T.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 114, 23 April 1880, Page 3

DEDICATION OF THE NEW HALL, 1.0.G.T.

Last evening the dedication of the new Hall erected in Grove Hoad by the members of the Blenheim Lodge 1.0.G.T. took place. The room wa3 tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens, and was filled to its utmost capacity with members and friends. Brother Earll, G.W.C.T. occupied the Chair, and amongst those on the platform were the Revs. Shirriffs aud Carr, Air Girling, Mr Je'lyman, Mr Ching, and others belonging to the Order or sympathising in the movement. The ladies and children were numerous in the body of the Hall, and all present appeared to take a deep interest in the proceedings. Pressure on our space, in consequence of the length of our report of the Agricultural Society’s meeting, and the necessity for making room for other matter already in type, prevents us from giving a full report of the speeches. The proceedings were opened by some introductory remarks of the Chairman as to the objects of the Order. This was followed by ehe Choir singing “Home” and a recitation by Bro. James. The Choir then gave : “ Go work in My Vineyard.” The Rev. Air Carr then addressed the meeting on the meaning and objects of the Order of Good Templars, which was an Institution attracting world wide attention at the present day. As to the meaning of the letters “ 1.0.G.T.," - when i a little boy in Auckland was asked what they stood for, he replied, “ I often get tight.” Their meaning of course was the “independent Order of Good Templars.” They were “ independent ”of strong drink; They were an “Order” so as to have a proper working organisation, and their object was “ good.” They were like the Templars of old as they had a crusade to perform against the drinking customs of society. It had been proved on the authority of some of the most eminent men in the medical profession, and by experience, that intoxicants were nrt necessary to health, but the reverse. Iu the Red River expedition under Sir Garnet Wolseloy, great hardships and privations were borne by the men, and those who took no intoxicants but drank tea. coffee, cocoa, and such like beverages were strong and healthy. The same result was obtained on voyages to the Arctic. Alen remained strong aud healthy who were abstainers from intoxicating liquors, aud those who partook of them suffered. He himself had, in a lesser degree, goue through hardships iu the North Island, where he had a widely extended,and rough circuit to visit, and he often got wet to the skin, and had to drag his boat across mud flats, but he went through all this without injury to his health, and he never, on these occasions, took a drop of strong drink. Years ago, wheu lie was a young man in the Old Country, it was the universal practico to prescribe brandy and water when you got wot through, but that doctrine was now altogether exploded. It was proved to demonstration that intoxicants were not only not necessary hut that people were far better without them. They increased tho action of the heart, making it do too much work and disorganised the whole system of tho body. He wished all would give up their use and would also give up the pipe aud renounce altogether the dirty habit of smoking. Choir—“ Who’s ou the Lord’s side.”

Bro. Cliing then addressed the meeting, explaining how the Good Templar Lodge here had "been moved about from pillar to post in finding a place of meeting, and how it had ultimately been determined to buy a piece of land and build a hall of their own. This had been accomplished, hut not without difficulty. They had paid £CS for the land, and had borrowed a small amount at 10 per cent., which, with"funds ill hand, and tho assistance given in labor and material, had enabled them to get on so far. Bro Earll hail got them the timber at cost price, and with him (Mr Cliing) had done the carting for nothing. Mr Burns assisted them, and Mr Daikee built the chimney, charging only for his assistant’s labor. They had an average rttcndance at the Lodge of 40. They had 97 names in their books last quarter, and at least 25 had been since .added. 'f he objects of the Society were to raise the fallen anil prevent others from falling. It had been intended to start a juvenile ledge, and this would be done as soon as funds would permit, and then he and Bro. Jellyman would throw down their pipes end knock off their tobacco, for the sake of the example to the young. When Brother Jellyman said ‘l’m ready,’ he should be ready also. The Society was in need of assistance, and when the collection ami made lator on in the evening, he hoped all would contribute to it. He concluded his remarks by reciting some verses, the refraiu of which was “Close the ale-house door.” Choir —“ Close to Thee.” . Recitation—Bro. James.

Choir—“ Washed in the Blood of the Lamb.” Recitation—“Tlie Arab’s farewell to his Steed.” —Bro. Wemyss. The Rev. Mr Shirrifls then addressed the meeting, saying the question was one of very great importance indeed. Everyone admitted that tho excessive useof intoxicating liquors was a veay groat anil serious evil, anil was also a very common one. You could never take up a newspaper without seeing some evidence of this’, and you saw it also in the streets. Only that evening he saw two men walking along the roail, one of whom certainly was in the stato described by fhe Irishman who said, “ It was not the length of the road but the breadth of it that tired him.” The Temperance cause was advancing, hut it was advancihg slowly, and the reasons why it did not progress more were in his opinion, want of unity, want of a sense of duty, and feebleness of Christian effort in the work, without which no undertaking could prosper. In speaking to total abstainers lie would say, by becoming abstainers you admit that it is a good thing to abstain : therefore it is your duty to do so and to do all you can to persuade others to do the same. The way of the world was to “ look out for Number One,” hut Christianity—he used the word in its broadest sense—taught us to help others also, and even to undergo some self-sacrifice for their sakes. Those who were not abstainers must act according to their own consciences, hut all who believed it was a good thing to abstain should regard it as a duty to do all they could to promote the good and useful objects of the Society. Choir—“ Guide us Saviour.”

Brother Jellyman urged the claims which the Good Templars had on the storekeepers. A working man who spent the best part of his wages in drink could not have his wife and family so well fed and clothed as a Good Templar, and it was a fact which they had often observed that after a man had joined their Order his wife and children were better dressed and seemed happier anil better off altogether then they were before. The objects of the Society, as had been stated, were to raise the fallen and help others from falling. Ho referred to the want of funds which were required to line and paper the Hall aud to further the cause, and made an earnest appeal to all to give something and to join the Order. Choir—“ Scatter seeds of kindness.”

Brother Girling moved a vote of thanks to the ladies singing in the Choir, and stated that he had himself been a victim to strong drink, which hail got such a power over him that he felt lie should soon be in a drunkard’s grave if he did not give it up, and he made a vow, which he believed was registered in Heaven, that lie would partake of the intoxicating cup no more and he had kept it. That was how he became a Good Templar. A collection was made in the room and £6 17s 2d was added to the funds. Subscription lists were also laid on the table with names for various amounts set down on them.

The proceedings terminated by. the Choir singing, “ Sign the Pledge.” The entertainment was a most successful one. The pieces sung by the Choir were given with great taste and feeling, and each and all of the speakers seemed earnest and thoroughly at heart in advocating the cause of Good Templarism.