WELCOME TO J. W. JAGO Auckland, Feb. 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 347, 2 March 1889, Page 4

WELCOME TO J. W. JAGO Auckland, Feb. 26.

A number of Good Templars and other temperance workers assembled in the hall, Albert-street, last night, for the purpose of publicly welcoming Mr J. \V. Jago, P.G.YV.C.T. of New Zealand. As many of those present wore the regal ii of the Older, the audience presented a pleasant appearance. Mr W. Glo\er presided. Sir "William Fox and the Rev. W. Miller, of Onohunga, were on the platform. The proceedings were opened by a pianoforte solo, which was played by Miss { Belcher. The Chairman explained that the n.eeting was what was called a Good Templars' reception meeting to welcome Mr J. W. Jago, who stood before them that night as President of the Congregational Union of New Zealand He was also a Uood Templar who had passed the highest honours in the colony. He was a strong prohibitionist, and had helped the mo\cmen6 in eveiy way possible. As Grand Chief Templar he was only too pleased to welcome his brother and introduce him to the audience. They intended to have a lively mee f ing interspersed with musio. He would ask Sir William Fox to address them. Sir Wiliiam then came forward and welcomed Mr Jago on behalf of the Alliance. He expressed irreatgiatitication at welcoming ?o able and energetic a labouicr in the temperance causo as Mr Ja,2o. He had known him in all phase?, both as woik r and writer, as editor of the " Herald " in Dunedin. He a«?ui ed Mr Jago of the warm sympathy and congratulations of those present. Mr C. Taylor was next called upon to sing. He favoured the audience with " The Scout." Mr W. J Speight next addressed a feubrief words of welcome to the visitor. In temperance ho believed they were nearly all evolutionists. Fiist a man abstained, then he tried to curtail the drink tiaHic, and finally he became a prohibitionist. (Applause.) There weie some men who Aveie created in the last stage, and his friend Jago was one of these. lie therefore welcomed him on behalf of the Prohibitionists. He wished they could net a little of Mr Jagos spirit infused into some of the Auckland temperance fiiends. There was nothing like abstinence foi the individual and prohibition for the State. The Rev. Mr Miller, Congregationalist, welcomed Mi Jago as an old friend who came to represent templary in its nobler and higher aspect. To many, templary was a-soeiated with a meeting for amusement, but to the right minded it meant much more. In their initiations they recognised the presence and power of a Divine Being. In Bro. Jago they had the exemplißcation of a true templar, one who had recognised the true beauty of templary. Last year the Congiegational Union had recognised the labouis of Mr Jago by electing him to the highest position in their church for the year. Mr Jago showed them the Christian side of templaiy. Miss King next sang, " Some Will Find Their Lo\e Too Late." Mr J. T. Garlick welcomed Mr Jago on behalf of the Blue Ribboni&ts of Auckland. Ho thought that even as the various denominations were good, as they kept up a heathy rivalry, so it was well to have various classes of Temperance workeis. It was said that Bro. Jatro was a representative of the Christian Chuich ; wou d to God that all the members of the churches were with them in the temperance work. Mr .tago also represented that mighty power, the press. He wished that their own pies 3 in Auckland advocated their cause a little more than they did. Mr John Limb siid fiat he had known Mr Jago about 45 }eaie asco in Glasgow, when they were both connected with the Glasgow Temperance Union. It was that body that staited (he collce stands in the streets, Saturday evening conceits and Bible women. He expressed gteat pleasuio in again meeting his old fiiend. He could assure them that he was a true temperance man who had stood the test. He himself had been almost 50 years a total abstainer, and he fancied he Avas not a bad specimen for 72 years of age. He exhotted all present to remain faithful to the temperance cause. Mr Taylor was then called upon to sing '' True, True Till Death,"' for which he was loudly applauded. Mr Jago came forwaid amidst great clapping of hands. He said that it had gi\en him great pleasure to \isit Auckland. He had been in Kew Zealand over a quarter ot a century, but heictolore the geographical configuration of the colony had prevented. He was too wearied to speak at any length, as he had only armed that morning ; still l.c was always ready to speak in commendation of the pi-ineiple advocated by the ordeis lepietented on the platform. His meeting with his old fiiend, John Lamb, had bi ought back pleasant reminiscences. Thing's had changed since those days, for then they had to encounter troubles scarce now ?een. He hoped that they would not look upon him as the prodigy descubed by the preceding speakers. He was only an earnest man, with the truth ingrained, and eager to piopagate it amongst his fellows. Let them do the same, and then, as Longfellow said : " And departing, lca\ c behind us Footprints on tho sands of time. ' He contended that Good Templary embraced within itself all that the other temperance ordeis advocated. Their membeis should remain total abstainers for life. But he was soi ry to say that many did nob remember that. He could state that there were in the colony to-day thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, who had pas&sd through the order and dropped out, yet still weie faithtul to their pledge of temperance. Good Templars should also be prohibitionists, and could have nothing to do with the regulation of the liquor traffic. They must stiive to sweep it away as a thing pernicious to mankind. Good Tcmplarism also embraced Christianity, if they weie faithful to their litual and organisation. It al^o recognised the duties of cibizen.ship, and called upon its members to do their duty towards the State. Therefore in urging the claims of Good Templarism he was speaking for all the others. True Templars should be the most earnest temperance workers in the community. They should keep the electoral 101 l in their lodges, so as to have every voter marked, so as to be able to bring them to the poli when wanted. He also believed in developing the social sentiment in their lodges ; still, Templars should go forth into the highways and. proclaim the temperance principles. If they did that, then they would have an organisation capable of plaeiny their banners upon the citidals of their enemies. If they had failed to recognise their responsibility in the past, he hoped that they would awaken to their duties. Then they could go forth like the Templars of old to fight their enemies, and to fight a nobler battle than those old Knight Templars ever achieved. Down South the temperance party had been apt to look with admiration at the work done in the North in the way of advocating temperance principles. He feared that both" North and South the Templar Lodges wanted stirring up. Still they were doing good work in the South, for bhey were

making prohibitionists. It was wibii joy they found that in the Duneclin town belt they had over 500 ratepayers who voted &traight for bho piohibUion ticket. That senb down the value of the property in liquor shops 25 per cent, the next morning. In Roslyn the highest prohibitionist candidate was only beaten by 5 votes and the lowest by 15. Ths battle would be fought ap^ain next year, and so on year by year until bho victory was won. The movement uas also extended to Ravonsbouine and other suburbs. Regulation meant favouritism, while prohibition scned them all alike. Theie was nothing like raising the distinct principle- of licei^e or no license; then they know how they stood. But when they tried to compromise it was compromising with the devil, and they might be sine he would outwit them in the end. Ho concluded by exhorting all present to .<=et to work and do something for (Jod and humanity. j\lr French shortly addiessed the meeting, after which a vote of thanks was accoided to Mr Jago and those who had assisted during the esening. The meeting then adjourned.