Tomperancs Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3148, 21 March 1879, Page 3

Tomperancs Meeting.

After the closing of the usual weekly meeting of the Star of the Thames Lodge last evening, the doors of the Lodge were thrown open to the public, to give them an opportunity of hearing the Eev. Mr Jones on the subject of temperance. There was only a comparatively small audience present, owing to the short notioe and the wet evening. Miss Chilcott opened proceedings with a pretty overtttre on the piano, and after a few remarks by the Chairman, the speaker was introduced.:^ He said he had for years been connected with the temperance movement, and every effort in that direction had his sympathies, and he was glad to find some work going on at the Thames. He of opinion that much of the ; misery/and want now complained of in England could be traced to the drinking propensit^e* of tjhejptorking classes. He found that the colonials here supposed that they were 'ahead of " new chums " from the old country, but he regretted to see that they were been victimised by what hade^pne so'much damage in our Fatherland. He humorously referred to? the many deitees of those who had con-' tracted a liking for alcohol, and related instances. He had known oneoldgentleman at Home who had,long been, held in bondage^ to the cup, but who, through the persuasion of a friend, gave it up, and. was the means of saving not only himself,, but a family who had followed nis.ba^ example, = Aftd showed how tejmpjßranc'e led toMrtu&nS I'conduct: speaker having made a pau.se in his speech, Miss Chilcotfwas asike'd to favor the audienoe with a song, and "Maggie May" was rendered in a very pleasing manner, the young lady playing -her ■ own accompaniment. Bro. Merchant gave a recitation— " Can a drunkard be a man," being well received by the audienoe, after which Mr Jones continued his address, pointing out ambng other things the necessity for having political interest on their side, and he trusted that the' New Zealand Parliament would yet pass a prohibiting measure concerning the liquor, traffic,! He men* tioned the progress in Auckland in the work, referring particularly to the success of the movement ambng the yoarig. The speech* was along and somewhat rambling one (for which Mr Jones apologised,, as. he was not prepared), but was listened to attentively.