SONS OF TEMPERANCE SOCIETY'S ANNIVERSARY.

Southland Times, Issue 1231, 1 April 1870, Page 3

SONS OF TEMPERANCE SOCIETY'S ANNIVERSARY.

• The first anniversary of the local branch of the above brotherhood, was celebrated on the evening of Friday, 25th ult., by a soiree. The Exchange Hall, the most suitable in town for such purposes, was the scene of the reunion, and was made to wear quite a gay appearance by a tasteful display of flags, ferns, and evergreens on the walls, and pendant from the lofty ceiling. The emblem of the fraternity — a triangular design, with the pltfop" Love, Purity, Fidelity," embracing its three sides, and surrounded by glory rays, executed in flowers and colored papers, occupied a prominent position above the chair. The platform was partly taken up with one table, and six others were iaid out in the body of tbe hall, leaving ample passages between. Mr Tulloch, the propietor of the building, and caterer for the occasion, had been guaranteed a hundred guests, and had made provision for nearly double that number, but as the hour drew on for the ceremonies to begin, it became evident that the most sanguine had fallen far short in their anticipations of what the attendance would be. However, the resources of the Exchange are not easily exhausted, and a few minutes' delay, with the ready assistance of many willing hands, enabled all to be seated and liberally supplied with creature comforts. Abbut^ three hundred people altogether assembled, and served just to fill the hall so as, without overcrowding, to give a pleasant appearance of fulness and bustle, the tout ensemble being greatly heightened by the flowing white sashes and badges of the brotherhood, who, to ' the number of some thirty or forty, did the part of host, and personally saw to the comforts ofthe guests. An astonishing quantity of sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, buns, fruit, confectionery, and tea seemed for a while a serious obstacle to further progress, but — what may not co operation accomplish ? "With one aim, the crowd set Yto work, and speedily cleared the decks, albeit the process of consumption was accomplished amidst much cheerful chat and genial mirth. When all had been satisfied, and the crockery cleared off,, Mr W. Pickford, the "Worthy Patriarch," or chief, of the lodge, ascended the stage and called the attention ofthe audience to the intellectual part of the programme. Having alluded to the very gratifying progress of the Society since its inauguration, a year before, and expressed his appreciation of the honor thus devolving upon him, and the; pleasure he and his brethren felt in having the countenance of so large an assemblage, he called upon James Wilson, Esq., M.P.C, Provincial Treasurer, to take the chair, a proposition which was duly seconded and carried. Mr Wilson, not having expected to fill so prominent a post, was totally unprepared with a speech, which was, probably, just as well, as there were a number of able supporters of the cause to give addresses. Although not pledged to anyone save himself, he was practically an abstainer, and regarded the .great subject concerning which they had met most favorably. Had time allowed, he might have been able to say something to the point, from his own observations and experience during a twenty-nine years' absence from the " land of brown heath and shaggy wood." These long years, mostly spent in " roughing it" throughout Australia and New Zealand, had furnished him with ample material for many addresses in favor of their cause, which he would willingly help on. In the meantime, however, he had to reserve his own eloquence, and merely crave a hearing for those who were to speak. He theD called upon Mr Crouch to read the report. Mr Crouch, whose appearance was greeted with applause, after premising that he simply appeared as deputy for the \ "Recording Scribe," then gave a statement 'of the progress and operations of the society, which may be thus summarised:—The division was opened on the 2nd March, 1869, when 12 persons were initiated, by charter from the Vie toria Grand Division, Geelong. The number admitted since its inauguration was 42; three members had resigned, leaving 38 good on the books, and one honorary member. The funds stood at eight paid up shares in the local Building and Investment Society, valued at £20, £60 deposited in the Post-office Savings Bank, and £5 6s in the hands of the Treasurer. A charter for a union of the Daughters of Temperance, based on the same principles, had been applied for. The society was in all respect a benefit society, established on the firmest basis, but none could participate in its advantages without first signing the pledge. Members breaking iheir pledge were fined for the first two offences, and expelled on the third. The Rev. Mr Stobo was the next speaker, and was cordially received on stepping to the front. It gave him great gratification to have the privilege of addressing so large an audience on so important a subject. Remembering the miserable attendance formerly witnessed at teetotal meetings, and looking at the crowd before him then, and at the numerous brotherhood with their fine uniforms, be could riot help being struck with the change for the better — a change which in its progress'bad embraced himself, as he now stood firmly forward a total abstainer from sound conviction. Referring to the prevalence of intemperate habits which were wont to prevail so universally even amongst the upper classes ** when, in Scotlaud at^least, the fact of a guest's being able td^walk to his bedchamber after an evening party, was regarded us disrespectful to the host, and deplored by the domestics as a sign of degeneracy, he drew attention to the great improvement in the morals and manners of our age in this respect. He thought it a matter for much thankralness that habits like these, when none thought shame to get "Win' fou," had been superseded to a great extent by more temperate courses, and

drunkenness had come to be*regarded not as«a glory but as a disgrace. * So lately as fifty years ago, the habits of our forefathers were such that a young fellow who could not tip off his glass, or even his bottle, was thought effeminate, and scouted as unworthy the companionship of men. Thus positive intemperance was actually advocated and encouraged as a manly accomplishment. Judges themselves*, even when on circuit, were in the habit of openly carousing, and one instance of the kind, in which Judge Herman and his colleague made themselves notorious by being drunk during an entire judicial round, was still remembered in the west of Scotland as the " daft circuit." Now, temperance principles had so far prevailed, that though many still refused to submit to restraint, none would be f >und prepared to take the opposite ground, and speak in favor of intemperance. There were still, however, relics of those barbarous usages to be met with — for barbarous they were, although springing generally from motives of friendship — but which, he. was glad to observe, were gradually giving way, such as the practice of giving wine and spirits at funerals. That was acustom he wouldliketo see done away with. Undt* certain circumstances it was right and proper that some refreshment should be provided ; but why those intoxicating beverages ? It was surely no honor to the dead to dishonor the living, and disgraceful scenes had frequently occurred even on such mournful occasions, through that pernicious practice. At baptisms also, the same foolish custo ns were inveterate. Having instanced a few cases in support of his statements with regard to both ceremonies, he said that although probably not one would be found to speak positively on the . side of intemperance, the question, What is 'temperance? still remained in dispute. Where was the line to be drawn ? At what moment in the process of inebriation did a man overstep the mark ? This was the great difficulty, opinions on the point being as varied as the disputants were numerous. Some held that a person was not drunk while he could either walk or talk. As an instance of the latitude some men allowed, he might mention a case, at once laughable and lamentable, which occurred with himself some time ago. In travelling, he came upon a man lying on the road-side. He tried to rouse him, and get him on his horse, but he was too far gone. With a sort of dreamy perception, however, of who was disturbing his slumbers, and anticipating future discipline, he hiccupped out "You'll be haulm' me o'er the coals for this yet, na' " On being subsequently admonished, however, he was inclined to repudiate the charge, until his own words were . repeated to him, when he naively remarked, "Did I say that? Weel, I couldna' hae been fou then." He, Mr SCobo, would propose to put the question in another form. Not, "What is intemperance?" but, " What is temperance ?" Looking at the question from that view, he held the line to be easily "discernible. It would be patent at once tp all who took the Word of Grod as their guide, that true temperance was this — the use of the creatures of G-od so a3 to promote the most healthy state of mind and body. To keep the whole man up. to the standard of the old Latins— a sound mind in a sound body. Starting from this premise, if it could be shown, as he held it could, that all alcoholic liquors, as beverages, were injurious to the system, then the conclusion that total abstinence was tbe only true temperance was inevitable. As a medicine alcohol might be useful, but iv that case let it be treated as other dangerous drugs, labelled and put away on the'apothecary's shelves. Physiological reasons alone, he considered strong enough to drive thoughtful persons to the principles of the Sons of Temperance. The rev. gentleman next spoke at considerable length on the moral, social, pecuniary, and political aspects of the question, and under each head adduced able arguments in support of his position. He held it to be a great duty incumbent on all moderate people, seeing the thousands who were being annually sacrificed to this great Mol-och of the land, to submit to some slight restraint upon their liberty, some little self-denial, for the sake of their example and influence with their perishing fellow-creatures. Moreover, the restraint was nothing to boast of, seeing that all that was asked was to give up what was, at best, a doubtful pleasure, while plenty of other healthy and invigorating beverages were easily obtainable. Approaching the question from all points, he found himself landed at the same conclusion — that true temperance meant, and meant only, total abstinence. And he could appeal to the people from all grounds, from, the Bible, from philanthropy, morality, money, and patriotism, to hoist the flag of teetotalism. He was glad to observe that the subject was forcing itself upon the country, that the masses were beginning to recognise the necessity of grappling with the evil. Invercargill^ to her credit, was not in this behind her sisters ; a movement was now on foot to bring public opinion to bear upon the G-overnment, and they had great hopes that some advance might soon be made in the way of getting the power of regulating the traffic into the hands of heads of families. The fact of the present Premier being on their side gave them fresh courage and hope. He was glad to see total abstinence becoming more popular, and he trusted it might go on until it had become a great, a glorious, because a triumphant cause. During the delivery of his long and able speech Mr Stobo was repeatedly interrupted with expressions of approbation, and resumed his ,seat amid hearty acclamations. Mr W. Russell, of Ryal Bush, was the next speaker, and delivered a very good address, principally on the duty of temperate persons uniting to save those who were slaves to the vice, and to prevent others from becoming so. Mr Bethune, a veteran abstainer, made a short but forcible attack on the drinking

usages of society, illustrated with reminiscences of his youth. The intervals between the •peechei were filled up by several pieces of music,, instrumental. Two young gentlemen* Messrs Wesney and Baker, played, a variety of duetts with concertinas, and a lady and gentleman did their best 'to extract melody from a jingling rattletrap of a piano— they would have been equally successful in their attempt .to produce a concord of sweet sounds had they been operating upon a panel of an ' old wire fence. Willie Steel, the senior brother of the order, also'contribnted his quota by singing an 7 original song, wr-tten by himself for the occasion, so well that he had to favor the audience with a second. Two humorous readings by Mr Wotton, were in his best style, and afforded much merriment. " Grood Night," a concerted piece by a number of amateurs, formed an appropriate finale, | and the company dispersed highly pleased. V