I.O.G.T. GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1610, 21 July 1887, Page 2

1.0.G.T. GERALDINE.

One of the popular open meetings of the Welcome Retreat Lodge, Gera dine, was held in the lodgeroona on M'>nda. ■ ast, and was one of the most successfu ever held, The room was packed t<. excess. The W.C T., Bro. fu. Logan occupied the chair, and the following programme was successfully earn" - out

Song, Bro. W. Oilman, jun l ' Every Bullet has its Billet,” Song, by a lady, “ Banbury Cross,” Song, Mr K. Morrison, “ I can’t make up my Mind.” Recitation, Mr Hiskens. Song, Bro, W. Stonehouse, “ The Gallants of England.” Mr Barker, of Peel Forest, next addressed the meeting. He expressed the pleasure ho felt at being present that evening. He had expected to attend only an ordinary lodge meeting and was pleasantly suprised to find such ft meeting as they had that night. He thanked the brothers present for electing him as District Lodge Deputy. It was now several years since he had joined the Good Templar organisation. It was some time before he could see his way clear to do so, as, although a blue ribboni'f himself, he thought the Good Templars were to a certain extent a body of fanatics. It was owing, however, to the consistency of three or four of their number in Peel Pores! and their endeavor to do good to others that showed him that there was something in it worthy of attention, and finally this led him to join. He would say to everyone that the sooner they joined the better. No one had an idea of the beauty of the ritual of the order till they joined it. There were some things in the ritual that they coaid not make known to the uninitiated, but he could assure them ail that there was in the ritual, aud in the order itself, were things that tended to ennoble and elevate a man. True there were inconsistent members of the order, just the same as there were inconsistent members of churches of all denominations ; but he contended that the public had no right to judge the order by the inconsistencies of some of its members any more than they had a right to judge a church by the same standard. He invited them ail to come and join the order, and then they would see tor ihemselves its beauties, He was very glad to see that they held these moailogs—they served to bring the order before the public. Some Good Templars thought it was not quite the thing to sing songs that were not strictly temperance pieces. He could not quite agree with that, but he thought the subject of temperance was not sufficiently brought forward in the pieces that were selected. Some people said that Good Templars did not uphold the temperance cause as they shoutd, but simply came together, to have a convivial meeting. He could assure those present that there were in the order very many red hot total abstainers who were doing their very best for the temperance cause. Lie hoped that Mr Glover, of the New Zealand Alliance, wou'd be able to come to Geraldine and hold meetings next week. He explained that the alliance was a political institution consisting of a band of men who had banded together to do their utmost to obtain prohibition for New Zealand to have the Locoal Option here as in some parts of America, so that it a majority wished to have no public houses in a district they may be able to shut them up. The coming election would give th«m an opportunity of showing whether as Good leraplars they were true to their pledge to endeavour to put down drink in every form. They would have an opportunity of having Mr Glover and of banding themselves togoalher to try their best to induce their member to promise to vote for whatever temperance question the alliance or any other temperance organisation might bring forward. He hoped that every Good Templar present would do his best to help the meeting of the alliance and to forward temperance by every means in his power. (Applause). Mr Waite also addressa 1 the meeting. He was very glad to see so many there as such meetings did good. Ha was happy to say that a great many of the young people were coming forward aud the lodge was increasing in strength very much. Ho urged upon the members to do their utmost to induce others to join them. Ho could also testify to the beauty of the ritual of the order and could endorse alt that Mr Barker bad said. He was glad to hear that Mr Glover was to visit Geraldine and be hoped that visit would be productive of great good. Buds and Coffee were then banded round. Reading, Mr Fergusson, Song, Miss Andrews, “ Remember or Forget.” Song, Bro. W. Colt man, ** Dickey,” encored. Song, Bro. E. Logan, “ The Old Log Cabin in the Dell,” encored. Song, Bro. 4.-. P.- Brooker, “ The Cabin on the Mississippi Shore.” Song, Bro, Stonehenge, “ The Rose and the Shamrock,” encored. Duet, Misses M. Donlop and A. M. Ooltman, “ Star of Peace.” Song, Bro. Baker, “ Our Sailors on the Sea.” Recitation, Master Gore, “ Bruce and (be Spider.” Recitation, Miss M. Dunlop. The singing of the National Anthem terminated a most enjoyable evening.