GOOD TEMPLARS' PICNIC AND CONCERT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 357, 7 January 1876, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLARS' PICNIC AND CONCERT.

New Year's Day was in everyway favorable for the Good Templars' demonstration* The morning was cloudy, but as the day advanced the clouds disappeared, and the: sun shone out quite warmly. A better day for a picnic could not be conceived.; About 10 p.m. members of .the Order and others were to be seen bustling about, preparing for the procession, begging rosebuds, fitting op puggrees, &c. A little before noon.the procession was organised, and the brethren and sisters, arrayed in the insignia of ,-the: Order. stepped off from the Masonic Hall, headed "by both tile kxSf bands' of music. Next to the bands was borne a banner bearing the inJBcription, " Train up, a.child.in th« way he should go and when h.e is old he will; not deKt from ■ it; then marched the juvenile Ige, distinguished by a'rosette worn on She right breast? following the juveniles and heading the members of the Subordinate Lodge and the visitors (who mustered, strongly), came another banner, on which appeared the words, "Glory, to God in the Highest,. Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Men "—the rear being brought up by the officers. The procession marched through the town, and thence to the spot chosen for the picnic—a paddock kindly lent for the occasion, where were erected swings, refreshment booths, &c. Swinging, boys'foot racing, the inevitable "kiss in the ring," dancing, &c, served to wile away the time until luncheon was ready; which having been partaken of amusements were again ani kept up delightedly until 6 o'clock, when the procession was again formed in its pristine order, and the picnicers, tired, but well pleased with their day's amusement, returned to Naseby. A picnic on New Year's Day has become an understood thing in Naseby. The Oddfellows have the credit of instituting the custom, .and it has been perpetuated by them for five years, but this year they retired from the field to allow, as they expressed it, other societies to try their hands. The Good Templars have shown that thair abstemiousness does not at any rate prevent, them making the annual New Year's Day treat as enjoyable as it up to the present has always been. The concert in the evening in the Masonic Hall in a id of the hospital was very enjoyable, and was capitally attended. ' Almost all the acknowledged amateur talent in Naseby took part, besides,the addition of a few who came out of their shells for the occasion The smging was*|uite up to the usual standard—the gem in that line being perhaps the duet of the " Gips Countess," by Bros. Spedding

|.f»nd Morrison. As usual the services of our "wtoteur pianista (in accompanying the va.feoua songs) were called into requisition, 'ind, as usual, their parts in the entertain-' inent were capitally executed. "The distinffi{ 8 ™« feature of the evening was undaufctj «Ujr the recitations, which were rendered! in ,:»style.far above the average; The tasklof 1 choosing the best performance in that class j »so delicate and so difficult that we sb-^jk I ST ,r~ conte nting ourselves with remarking a that all were, in our opinion, masterpieces, of I recitation. It is believedthat there, will .re- | mam to be handed to the hospital, after the |payment of all expenses,/something over *£lo. The Good Templar's deserve'«# fthanks of the pleasure-loving communitqwor \! providing such thorough treats as their *>iei nic and concert were. 4