BAND OF HOPE.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 31, 5 January 1884, Page 2

BAND OF HOPE.

The usual fortnightly meeting of above wis held in the Wealoyan Chapel on Monday evening last. Mr Ilott in the chair. The meeting was unusually small, md the programme not tfp to the usual statuhud, owing to the uhsence of so many of its supporters for the Christmas holidays. The meeting however was made, specially interesting by nddres^es given by by Mr Ashby, from the Thames, and Mr Joseph Newman, from Auckland, both well known workers with causes of temperance. Mr Ashby, in course of hisremarks, said he hopod tlie day would sot come when men would not be returned who would make or permit this sale of drink and Licensing of public houses as now. He related some remarkable instance^ of men personally known to him, who were changed from perfect demons when under the influence of drink, to .steady respectable men, with happy comfortable homes, when enabled by the grace of God t<> give it up. Hu also told how ho once found some 201bs of horse flosli in a brand \ birrel on cutting it in half. He strongh urg"d all who belonged to the movement " t<> show their colours and wear the *• bit of blue," and those who hail not yet joined to do so at once. Later on Mr Newm.m gave a long and mo-t interesting address, in the course of which he stated that he had- been a teetotaler for over 45 year-. He gave a brief sketch of th* life aivl career of John Cassoll, the on • time Manchester carpenter ami temperance, advocates — Liter on proprietor of the world famed CasflelPs canister coffe»>, and ultimately head of the well-known publishing firm bearing his name Ho iilao sketched the careers of Francis Murphy, founder of the Bine llibbon Arinv, and the late President (xartioUl. Hr> next referred h> the f.tct put for.yard by Mr Andrew Clarke., Chief Physician of the London Hospital (who often hi»s 140 * p}iti< i nts und r his charge), ti it 7) our of o Very 100 cases that cuuu uudiv hi^

cure, ilirectly or'induvotlv, were brought there through drink ; and added that from hte own persona! knowledge 19 out of 20 06 the woman und nearly us l;irsfe a percentage of the men incarcerated in Mount Edin Gnolf Anuklind) wrjro there from a similar cause £5 year on un average spont by tivery mm woman and o-hild in New Zealnnd on drink/ Let our text be— To live for those tnat love uh. For those that know us true ; For the heaven that .smiles above us, And awaits our coming too. For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that n^eds resistance, For the future in the distance, For the good tliat we can do. The Arolm Hand of Hope now numbers between 90 and 100 metr.bers.