TEMPERANCE ENTERTAINMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 71, 3 September 1879, Page 3

TEMPERANCE ENTERTAINMENT.

The Ffowerfof Fading Lodge, 1 6.GKT., gave the second of a series of entertainments m thp^.aehgphrqovni'.OD' Thursday evening. There was q. very large attendance, the room boing densely crowded.' Mr. Thompson waV toted to the. chaii?. Th^e CHAiEirAN, m opening the prpceedinga observed that' he was' pieased to see so manypresent, as it proved how increasinglj popular their entertainments Were becoming, ?>nd -.-tfiptight tliafc such pleasing re- tnioni •were calculated to do good. He reluted some ptere9ting faets-in • connection - with the, temperance movement, and he con||dw^ that it was tlio duty of over/ man

o give his cordial support to tfie cause. The object of their open meetings was to ; give outsiders some iniight into the working >f Good Templar lodges, and ;enabl,e th.em ; thei'eby to perceive the good that was being done by their agency throughout the country. No one could deny that it put money in -their pockets, and m times of depression like the present lie considered that was a good and substantial l^ea^on for their joining the Good Temphvvs. - : , As itheir programme wag a long one, .fre, would not, detain them with further' renaarks, bu>fcali' upon the next speaker. - :>; • Mr. OaklbYj who on rising was warmly applauded, proceeded to deliver an .address on " Good Templarism," expiaijjiog at soiije •length, the duties of members of the Ordl-r and the objects qi their organisation. He pointed out the mistake often committed of taking "fancy drinks," and warned his hearera against indulging m such, as, m the majority of instances, they were made with intoxicating liquors. He stated, that a .pledge-book had been opened, whicli he invited all non-members of the ropder jbq come forward at the close of the meeting and sign. The maiij object of the pledge was to prevent those subscribed it from "shouting" or furnishing intoxicating drinks to others. .' ■ ';■-■ v-o-V;;' ■■-;- - . . ..... ;,..., .,;-, ;

Messrs. Nicholas and Andbews gave, m pleasing style, a duet, "Bruce's Act," which caused great merriment. The duet was encored, and the demand was willingly complied with. The Drum and Fife Band played a seleotion.iri very 'creditable style. •/■/: '■:-,, '::-'■. Mrs. Douglas sang a temperance ode — "Welcome, dear Liberty"— irnrery effective style, anrt was warmly applauded. Mr, Benjamin addressed the meeting at some length on the evil of intemperance, directing his yemarks principally to the baneful effects winch the use of intoxicating drinks produced on young men. He exhorted young ladies to join tlieir body, and lead their aid m combating the evils wrought by the demon strong drink. Mr. NIOHOL recited an amusing piece, entitled " People will talk," which was wejl received. The Key. P. W- Jones, m a short address, traced the rise and progress of Reclmbitisrn. He explained that the Order of Reohabites was a friendly society composed of total abstainers. Beside 3 being an extensive temperance organisation, it possessed the additional advantage of being the means of rendering assistance to its members m tiroes of sickness. The rev. gentleman then read an extract on the subject from a temperance paper, which he thought would intelligibly explain the constitution of the society. If ten members would give m their namps as willing to join a branch of the Order, a tent might at once be started m Feilding. He thought such an institution desirable, as it was incumbent on all to provide against times of adversity, instead of depending on chanty. (Applause.) " Mr. Bowateb, of Sandon, as a Rechab,ite of ten yeara standing, could testify to the large ' amount of good that was being done by the Order. He would earnestly impress on the younj; ladies the - folly 'of attaching themselves to auy who, were not total abstainers. (Applause) 'as it meant misery and* ruin to themselves and their children. 1 He would, be glad to render every assisi tance m inaugurating a Rechab'te Tent m Feilding. " He advocated th\s being done as he felt convinced it would do good. A Trio—" Dance Durden," by Messrs. Nicholas, Tarrant and Andrews, was sung -very effectively and evoked loud applause. Mr. Tarrant spoka. at greav lengt-h on Teetotalism. He was a strenuous advocate of temperance and should always, do what he could to further the cause. He harra'eel many cases m which the demon drink had done its ' fell work, bringing degradation misery and ruin m its train. He deprecated the habit of finding amusement m the vacaries of drunken men which he con? sidsrod more a subject for regret. The latter portion of the address partook of a political character and after eulogising Sir William Fox, the speaker took occasion to impress upon his hearers the duty of voting for the local candidate. Mrs. Dottg-las sang a temperance ode — "Join the Temperance Band"— in very pleasing style and this brought the entertainment to a close.