THIS BLUE RIBBON ARMY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1416, 10 November 1885, Page 2

THIS BLUE RIBBON ARMY.

The recently formed branch of the Blue Ribbon Army at Winchester has gone to work with much energy. On last Friday there was a large attendance nt the tea and entertainment held under its auspices in the Winchester schoolroom, and everything passed off spleadidly. After the tea —which was of an excellent kind, and partaken of by a large number of persons—was disposed of, an entertainment was held, the Hon. W. Rolleston, M.H.K., in the chair. The Chairman said he had come there that night, because, though not belonging to the Blue Ribbon, Army he should be sorry if it were thought that he did not recognise witli gratitude the great work that was beiug done by the movement throughout the colony and indeed the world. He would speak of it from a political point of view no farther than to say that so far as the State derived revenue from drink it would be a good thing if they ceased to derive one half-penny from that source. The country would be in a better position to rinse revenue from other and more legitimate sources. He did not wish to give statistics in support of the doctrines upheld by total abstainer*. He was glad to be able to say they had accomplished a great work in the reduction of the consumption of alcoholic liquors and intemperance. The great work they had in view was the promotion of social happiness in domestic life, and it seemed the Blue Ribbon movement had done much in that direction. They had something further to do : they had to provide inducement to men to create homes. They ought to create organiHatiotis like Building Societies, in which men could invest the money saved from non-indulgence in drink, and also try to create homes for their families. There were three or four great curses of social life in this colony : drinking, gambling, over-speculation and over-borrowing. The forces they had to bring against these —and he spoke particularly to the working classes—were organisation, co-operation and selfreliance ; the formation of societies tor the acquisition of land ; the fostering of reading rooms and other modes of rational enjoyment. Games and sports were things into which they could also enter with advantage. As regards gambling he might tell them that £IB,OOO had been spent laat year on consultations in this distressed and embarrassed colony. For his own part he was pleased if his presence there was a testimony to the fact that a large portion of politics was really the solution of these social problems. But he would not weary them by Fpeaking at any greater length, as ho did not think thatlong speeches were desirable on such aceasions. The Rev. Mr Thorn is next addressed the meeting. He heartily congratulated the Army on its good bsginning. Tiiey had to grapple, said he, with one of the greatest evils of the day—intemperance. Lilce a cancer, it was hard to remove successfully. The wholesome advice of the Chairman respecting reading roems for young people he largely sympathised with. They niust go further— endeavor to purify the homes of the people, and have real good literature there. It was a matter for thankfulness that "the House " was taking the matter of social evils in hand; but far more should be done in other directions, as the trend of public opinion indicated. What was really wanted in every place was more true Christian manhood and womanhood. If such were obtained wo should, liko our adorable Master, live for others and not exist for selfish or personal purposes merely. The highest type of man was self-sucrificiug. Very happily the Chairman had spoken of intemperance as a demon. It was a demon, and as such should be driven back to its own place. The Rev. Mr Clark said ho looked upon Winchester as one ot the most beautiful places in New Zealand, and often regretted to see two public houses in it. If the ladies of the place took up the question of temperance these blights would soon be removed from their midst. A young lady went from England to America to get married, aud after having arrived there found her intended husband addicted to drink. She at once told him she had not come 3000 miles to marry a drunkard. If all young ladies spoke like that few young men would drink. Dr Elliott, of St. Louis (America), had said that he had witnessed that citv visited by a pestilence, and by war, but that the curse of drink was worse than any other calamity. He spoke of the evil effects of drink, both externally and internally, and gave msny illustrations of its evil effects, They did not wage war against publicans, many of whom were large-hearted and generous men, but against the drink. He might say of them as the Yankee said of the bugs. The Yankee said that he had no objection to bugs, but he hud a great objection to the way they got their living. The R<?v. Mr Hamilton next addressed the meeting. He agreed with the previous speaker that Winchester was a beautiful spot. He also said the Blue tfibbon movement was not aggressive but defensive. He told the story of the Sphinx, which used to eat 14 maidens every year. How much more destrueuve was strong drink. In the Old Country it devoured 30,000 every year. He told a sorrowful Ule of a man who j

turned his wife and child out on a frosty •light, and found them fnz"n to death ni'xt morning. He also cut off the hand of liis son the same nisht. Many years afterwards the same mm confessed what he hsd doae, at n temperance ineetiop, and begged those present to take warning from his experience. The first man to go up to sign was the eon, whom he had not seen since the night on which be had cut off his hand. He strongly urged all who had not taken the pledge to do so. During the evening several songs, duets aud recitations were given. Mrs Glass and Miss Andrews sang a duet very creditably, and Miss Hawke gave a recitation with g'ood effect. Miss Dunlop, accompanied by Miss Andrews, sang " The Little Bit of Blue," and Miss Kirby " Come and Sign the Pledge To-night." Both songs were well rendered and highly applauded. Mr Shallard also contributed a. song and was applauded. Muses A. Klee and M. Austin, two little school girls contributed a dialogue, the burden of which was whether the Bible favored total abstinence or not. They spoke distinctly and well. Master Cooke gave a recitation with great effect, and Acquitted himself admirably. Between 15 and 20 persons took the pledge, and donned the blue. The Rev. Mr Thomas moved a vote of thinks to the Chairman, and the Ret. Mr Clark seconded it. The Rev. Mr Hamilton moved a rote of thanks to the ladies who presided over the tea, and spoke eulogisticaily of the way they had discharged their duties. Sir Robert Smith moved a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had come to assist them from Geraldine. They were very much indebted to thetn. All the votes were carried by acclamation. Mr Cooke announced that on that night week an entertainment in aid of the school would be held. The meeting closed by the Rev. Mr Hamilton'pronouncing the benediction.