Temperance.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 22, 26 August 1893, Page 12

Temperance.

GOOD TEMPLARY IK NEW ZEALAND. ITS MAJORITY APPROACHIKG. From tlie August number of the Temperance Standard (Dunedin) we learn that all the lodges in the colony are asked to celebrate the close of the Order’s first 21 years in the colony. The members ox the Southern Cross Lodge, Invercargill, the pioneer one of the colony, have decided to mark the event by a gathering on the 9th of September. From an interesting sketch in the Standard of the establishment of the Order here we make the following extracts ; In the year. 1872 the Rev. B. J. Westbrooke, having joined the new Order in England, had become pastor of the Primitive Methodist Church in Invercargill; and, with the enthusiasm which then seemed to characterise all who were admitted into the sacred rites of the 1.0.G.T., lie set about the formation of a Lodge in the most southern town in the colony. Before leaving England he had obtained a Deputy’s commission from the G C.T., and had brought with him all the necessary material for organising Lodges. It was on the evening of the 9th of September, 1872, that the first meeting was held in the coloiw for the purpose of starting the new Order. Sixteen gentlemen assembled, and determined to offer themselves as the pioneers of this new crusade. With the assistance of Sister Westbrooke, thej r were duly initiated, and in this manner our birth took place in this land. The Lodge was named the Southern Cross, Ko. 1. Bro. D. Ross was the first C.T., and Bro. D. Bonthron, the first W.B, The news soon reached Dunedin, where there were already two members of the Sons of Temperance, who had before leaving Scotland become members of the Order there. They at once set about the preliminary arrangements for the formation of a Lodge, and were soon rewarded by securing, with little difficulty, the

names of the required number of applicants for a charter, and Bro. Westbrooke immediately forwarded authority to organise the Lodge, the result being the ojjening of Pioneer of Dunedin Lodge, No. 2, on the 30th October, of which Bro. J. W. Jago was chosen C.T. This was followed, early in November, by the opening of the Good Intent, No. 3, at Caversham, by Bro. W. Ings, who, having been on a visit to Melbourne, was there initiated, and commissioned to introduce the Order to New Zealand, being unaware of the commission and action of Bro. Westbrooke. Prom this the fever for Lodges quickly spread through the southern province, and Good Templar Lodges were for a while the most popular of all societies.

In 1875 our number of members for the entire colony was about 10,000 persons, but shortly'after the South Island alone had that number of members under its jurisdiction ; and our work has gone on with fluctuating success, and is still to-day the most powerful Temperance Society in the colony.