AUCKLAND BAND OF HOPE Auckland, May 27,

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 373, 1 June 1889, Page 3

AUCKLAND BAND OF HOPE Auckland, May 27,

We append reports of two speeches made at the Band of Hope Union celebration on Friday nsght, which were crowded out of our last issue :—: — Sir George Grey said he had often stood in this hall in the presence of vast concourses of persons, but never had he felt greater pleasure than on the pres nt occasion. This was truly a hope for the future. (Cheers.) Ho could not believe it possible that the youna people of this city attending a great meeting ot this kind, summoned for so vast a purpose, should be otherwise than greatly impressed by what they saw around them, and so long as they lived would carry about with them the lemembrance of meetings of this ki- d. These meetings wei c a sign to them that early in they were pledged to a career ot great usefulness, and as far as possible, promote the causethat had already produced such great benefits for the world. It was only those aged, like himself, who could fully realize the change that had been wrought with reference to temperance in the British Nation in the period of the lives of single men. He remembered when the army and navy alike were generally addicted to intemperance, now they could see what a change had been produced in their soldiers and sailors with reference to that vice ot drinking. Temperance had produced vast differences in society in many forms. The lash had disappeared from the urray and navy and no longer were men in terror of the* degradation of buch punishment. Temperance had banished it and in various other ways it had wrought changes. (Cheers.) It was with great delight he found himself there in the presence of that young company and knew that they were pledged thus early in life to endeavour to carry on to its consummation the greab work that had such ends. (Cheers). Mr George Aldiidge said he felt as if bis blood were couising through his veins much faster than usual as he listened to the stirring song: of the children. It seemed to him that occasions like the present were seasons of review. During the \ear, when each body was steadily plodding and striving to win people that they might be fortified against the temptations of drink, they sca> eel y realised that they were part of one grand army working in the same cause. They were bounded by their own narrow sphere. But when the annual festival came, then the steady plodding workers' hearts were cheered as they looked upon the children, the representatives of so many more bound with common ties, and saw so many kindly sympathetic faces there- They ought not to forget what the great aim of their work was. Jt was that they might see the iay when the drink traffic should no longer be. (Cheers.) The training of their children in piinciples ot total abstinence gave the promise of the time when thedrink trafficshould be no more. They sometimes saw in the newspapers paragraphs that spoke of the advanced age to which those who drank attained. They could afford to pass by unheeded such arguments against their work — that bladder had been pricked long ago. Those who came in contact with humanity ab large they saw the evil effects of the drink, and were working that this misery and suffering might be lessened. In a part of South America the people had no sanitary arrangements and great mortality wa* the result, but because some of the people e&capcd that was no argument why a similar state of things should beallowedtoexisthere. They wanted something better and not worse. Temperance workers had one grand aim in view, they looked forward to the accomplishment of their hope that this iniquitous traffic in strong drink will bo destroyed. A "Clergyman" writing to the newspapers had suggested that it should be regulated. They did not regulate serpents and wild beasts, they destroyed them. They did not try to regulate the pestilence, the smallpox and cholera, they tried to eradicate them, and he thought the same should be done with this traffic. His sympathy was entirely with prohibition (cheers), and he thought it should be on the programme of every temperance worker, and he considered the Bands of Hope to be the best nurseries of prohibitionism. They were instilling the principle^ into their children that they might have them on their side, that they might be factors for good in the State, and that when the time came they might carry their principles to the ballot box, and then the end they desired would be accomplished. Mr Aldridge urged all those present to send their children where they

> 1 I might have the. principles of temperance instilled into them. It was for them to see they did not stand in the light and interest of their own children. Parents had a great responsibility in training their children in the right way, and who knew bub that among these rows of young faces there might not be the future rulers, politicians, Cabinet ministers, or perhaps a Premier, ><nd what a grand thing it would be to have him on their side if such a one there was. In conclusion he urged his hearers, whether working alone or in bands, to aid the movement with heart and purse that the land might be free from the strong drink curse. (Cheers.)