THE BLUE RIBBON ARMY IN GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1159, 11 October 1883, Page 3

THE BLUE RIBBON ARMY IN GERALDINE.

A large meeting of the members of the Blue Bibbon Army and Band of Hope waß held in the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldinp, on Tuesday evening last, the Eev W. B. Hayes. President, in the chair. The meeting was. opened by singing and prayer. At this stage the members of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, 1.0.G.T., were announced for the purpose of paying an official visit. On entering they were received most cordially by the President, who isavited the officers to addresothe meeting. A very interesting and varied programme w& g on P through, in which several of the children acquitted themselves in a verj creditable manner. A duet,' Wonderful Words of Life' was sung by Miaß Andrews and Mrs GlaBS in a manner which please all present* Mr Huffey gave a very interesting address in wbioh he recounted his 30 years' temperance work, his experimee being that the temperwic* mep

Itad the sidn t.f the movement. He also bore pleaaii g testimony to the manner in which the work amongst the young was being carried out in Geraldine for their spiritual and temporal good, and earnestly appealed to the parents nf the children to one mrage them in thnir work. Mr Waite, vice-Preeilent, also bore testimony to the great go-.d which was being effected, and was looking forward to the t'me when the Church would be too small for their meetings. A trio was then beautifully rendered by Mies Andrews, Mrs Glaes and Mr T. Sherratt. At this stage, at the invitation of the President, a number of persons, young and old, came forward and donned the blue. Before the meeting separated the Chairman gave a very forcible address, showing very clearly that the Temperance work was making rapid Btrides, and gave several intanoes which had come under his own observation of good resulting from its operations. The meeting oloeed with the Benediction. We must uot conclude our report of the meeting without passing a high enconium on two little members, the Misses Prisoilla Coltman and Minnie Dnnlop, both aged about four years who sang a duet, 'Beautiful Mirth of May,' in a very pleasing manner.