GOOD TEMPLAR AND RECHABITE GATHERING AT WOODVILLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 277, 26 October 1883, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLAR AND RECHABITE GATHERING AT WOODVILLE.

The anniversaries of the Good Tempi r and Rechabite podges were celebrated m the schoolroom at Woodville on. Monday evening with a public tea and entertainment. A large number of persons sat dowa to a most sumptuous repast supplied by Mr J. Sowry m his usual satisfactory style. After tea, the 'tables were quickly cleared, and the •nterfcainment, which was lengthy and Ta,riedj, .was commenced. Mr Worboys occupied the chair, and opened the proceedings with a short prayer for God's blessing on the Temperance movement, after which he called upon the choir under the leadership! of Mr T. Moore, to Bing, "We have a foe to fight, bnysi" which was effectively rendered, and the Rev. Worboys then delivered a telling speech on the evils of intemperance, and the benefits and. blessings of total abstinence. Song, Mr S. Hutchins and family' "uawn of Day" was received with applause, The chairman then call, d upon Mr D. C. Cameron, GKW.J* ; 1,0.R.,t0 deliver an address. That gentleman came forward, arid explained his experience m the Temperance cause. For some nine years he had devoted the whole of his time to the Temperance cau6e, and was gratified to receive an invitation to be present at this meeting. He hoped the Kechabite Tent would be largely iocreased by this meetiug, and fhat everjone present would give their heirtieat support m

forwarding this great cause. H* <*xp»"liiteii- largely* and ably, en the evil effects of the drink traffic on the family circle and domestic happiu4?s. Since he had b en secretary to the Grand Lodge, some eleven or twelve years, no less th»n 450 Lodges . had been Opened m New Zealand. This was wonderful progress. In many places to his knowledge, hotels had been closed through the Temperance organisation. Some few years ago ministers of the Gospel did not appear ta agree with totil abstinence principle?, now he be lieved fu ly five-sixths of them were standing up for the Temperance cause, and fighting, valiantly. . P^iament bad oven recognised the necessity of stand- ! n SJ>Jthe ca-ise to a large degree, and - it was steadily increasing m popularity day by day. It had been argaed that hu'sbaade, inmost cases, pi event women becoming memoersjofthe Temperance (body, tut he did not think this could be so. A voice — "The wives | would influence the men." The speaker , then went on to urp.e the, young to I din? to Temperance while young. [ Mrs Moore, sang •• Little Nell," a pa'hetie piece, -which was rendered m sweet voice, and raoeived with ap% plaaf c. . Sir W. Fox then came forward and delivered a iengtay and telling speech, during which he was several times cheered. He was proud to see \Voodville advancing so rapidly m point of population, particularly m seeing a neirejuper, the physical representatire of which be saw at the table before him. He hoped the paper ,, which was a most valuable addition to the prosperity of the p ace, would strive to suppert with its might that which was right, and suppress that which was wrong, and against the welfare of the community. He considered the advent of a second public-house a backward step m the annals of the township. He estimated that m the past 12 years more ' than our'natioml debt had been spent m the liquor traffic, a fact which was t perfectly astounding. The Hutchins family next sanir "Silently the Shades of Evening," which was received favorably. Choir, "Waiting, Working, Pray*^ ins a hymn full of sentiment and 1 pathos, and was accordingly well apreciated by the audience. The fiev. Jtfr Clover next delivered a long speech, m which he was several times applauded. He exj * iated on the evils of intemperance, even m its form of "sp-cilled? , moderation, and ex-. ported the audience to one and allbsc jme members of a Temperance organizttion. In Sandon; he "'saiS,' the Blue Ribbon Army had almottdoVed the hotel, by the starving-aut process. The choir sang " Never Forget the Dear Ones,'' which was decidedly ttt ; masterpiece of the evening. Another speech by Mr Levy, and the benelictlon was pronounced, the meeting dispersing at about 10 o'clock, after, spending a highly enjoyable and intellectual evening's entertainment.