TOPICS OF TALK.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 314, 5 March 1875, Page 3

TOPICS OF TALK.

Good Templaiusm appears to be fortunate in its name, fortunate also in its adoption (with lit tie variation) of the ritos and decorations already found to be popular in established benefit societies. Good Templar-ism does not, however, depend upon its regalia altogether for its attractiveness, as we find Sir Wilfrid Lawson—the doughty champion of Permissive Legislation—entertaining 5000 Templars in his own park, dressed in a shooting coat, and boasting of it. It would; nevertheless, appear that the name Good Templar is the real root of the' societies' success. There is sorae'bing chivalric about it. > Wo are led- to'fancy -the, members of the new Order as descen- * dants of the Knights of Malta, followers of St. Louis,.or'.enrolled as members of our own lion-hearted Richards' body guard, with lance in rest, charging Saladin and his ,' Possibly the founders of the Naseby Lodge may object to suchacomparison being personally pressed;'further. They might prefer a simile borrowed from JDou Quixote —the worthy knight oh Rosinante preparing to charge the windmills, accompanied' by Sancho Panza on' Dapple. Be-that as it may, if the Good Templars'have been' fortunate enough to escape the ridicule in general-freely showered upon total abstinence movements,-they owe this immunity to little else discoverable to their name. Whether total is the real cure of the social eiUye are suffering -under -or not-is ground. Certainly it, and it alone, is effectual iu recovering many —otherwise incurable drunkards—and impartially recovering and prolonging life-in'many others. Its greatest Value is in forestalling drink, in preserving the young from the poisone'd decoctions offered at the shrine of Bacchus. The grid when himself dealing out'the ruby" red .in excess .enough;' but, when .'aided iby'" his ybtaties, -not for' sociality but for profit, he 1i5.... m urder-.. ous. The juices of the grape and of the com -which in their,pure state are «to gladden the heart of filtered- through ,the, hands' of.', the,! e,x-' porter, -the, importer, ,and the- retail ; . traderyand mixed with sulphuric acid,' logwood j and ■ othe»" Vile ingredient's,; well deserve stamping out by a crusade*;' Templars." Beyond ,this,;.fis help,-, • fng to,put down the ridiculous habit of men -drinking what they,'do.-not want, and what they, do not lil£ej, '(Good Templaria'm pu'the,,Goldfields\is well wor-, thy of support; .-.'.■...,-,;•.,:. i .,,.. 1 . ~.,•:

Sin Geobse Ghey'is ..prettysure to. be retarneclaa.Superirjitendqntof Auckland, and, as Superintendent, is equally as sure to'be sent/to 'they House of Representatives. To suppose.,he v will be able, merely by weight'of name, to.oppose Mr. Vogel in his sehemo of.Cen-, tralisation ;ts'n. for Iprn. hope, supposition. , ISfone.will know'-Better than Mr. Vogel how. to.dfaw.th'e/ line between the retired Governor and the private eit'zen .publicly elected as Superintend ■dent;-or member of Assembly; Sir G. Grey's weight in the House :: will .be merely the weight he can create there. That weight and (hat influence will be under rather than over valued,.becnuse much wjU be expected , JCven with the assistance of Dr. Featherstone, should he g+ve up the .A gent-Generalship as threatened, and secure a seat in the House, any-opposition, based on longlife to Provincialism must be futile. . .♦• 'Dea/tii is to look a little less ghastly —if the Dunedin clergy and laity are to have their way. Besides, while rendiog-the hearts of those- who survive, death is no longer—while taking advantage of the careless hours of sorrow—to allow the undertaker to ruin families under the pretence of respectful decency. "What aie we the better, or what are we the worse, for having ' plumes waving over our mortal remains for a brief half hour ? TVhat are we "the better or what the worse for knowing that ourrelativcs will have in many cases to either run unduly into debt, or else to deny themselves proper change of food, in order that unhealthy black' clothes shall be obtainable. Adults have their own senses to guide them, and if they choose to makeguys ; of themselves out of respect to the vacillations of public opinion well and ppod, it is no one's business. It is different, however, with children. It. is nothing else than a minor act of cruelty to drape, out these little ones ill dismal mourning. Appreciable sorrows come quickly enough without such anticipations. For tbe sake of the children aTono the efforts' of the Dunedin Funeral Association are deserving of all praise. '