MR. TWOGOOD ON TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4855, 13 October 1876, Page 2

MR. TWOGOOD ON TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —Happening to be in Wellington this evening, my attention was called to a speech delivered by the Rev. Mr. Twogood, in which, if correctly reported, “ he expressed great distrust of the Good' Templar and Rechabite societies, which, he said, were generally composed of men who for their misconduct and shady transactions in business had been turned out of other societies. It seemed to him that men joined these societies, but drank when they pleased, trusting to a fine of ss. to whitewash themselves again.” Your reports are, to use the expression of his Honor the Chief Justice, “careful,” and I fully rely upon the faithfulness of that of the Synod, and of Mr. Twogood’s address thereat. I do not presume to speak on behalf of that large and influential body, the Good Templars, but being honored with the position of Chief Ruler by the Wellington District of the Independent Order of Rechabites, I feel impelled to lodge a caveat on behalf of that order. It is difficult, sir, to write calmly of the baseless

and perfectly gratuitous assertions quoted above... Certainly the rev. gentleman spoke on a subject concerning which he knew almost nothing; or, if not, then he. knowingly and wilfully slandered a body of men and women who will bear favorable comparison with those who compose any other friendly society, whether physically, mentally, or morally. Our district comprises some 500 members; the whole order, 30,433. The probity and self-control of our members has resulted in our becoming, man for man, the wealthiest friendly society extant; our accumulated capital being this year £141,213. Mr. Tidd Pratt, Registrar of Friendly Societies in England, pronounces the I. O.R. the healthiest and wealthiest society in that country. So far from being composed of the excretions of other societies, the large majority of our members never did belong to them, but joined a temperance benefit society that they might aid in forming refuges for their brothers in the flesh who have fallen through strong drink, and might gain the pecuniary advantages which their temperate habits justly entitle them to. As to the remainder, who are rescued perhaps from the gutter, it ill becomes one whose calling is to “ rescue the perishing,” to bemire those who are attempting similar work, and to ridicule the unfortunates themselves because they are not at once and entirely free from lapses.—l am, &c., Jno. 3. Richardson, D.C.R.,1.0.R. Parsonage, Greytown, Oct. 12.