GOOD -TEMPLARISM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 298, 16 October 1873, Page 5

GOOD -TEMPLARISM.

The .papers to hand by this mail give account of the annual sessions of the Grand Lodges of Good Templars. We oull tbe following particulars , from the report of the meetings of the Grand L.oJi?e of iSngland as affording evidence of the remarkable spread of the Order, in tbat country. The meetings wore held, in Bristol. Preparatory sermons were preached in many churches and chapels on tbe Sunday. On Monday there wajs a precession, attenjded by about 7,000 persons, and a $te in the Zoological Gardens, at which, about 1,2>0j00, persons were present. T.he proceedings on tha Tuesday were inaugurated by » well-attended prayer meetjag at seven. a,m, At half-past nine the

Grand Lodge was opened, when about 2,000 persons received tie fourth, degree, there being nearly another thousand thera who had " already received that honor. These repre- * senred 3,100 lodges throughout England,; with a membership in good standing of 183,982. Mr Joseph Malms, Grand Worthy Chief Templar, presided, and in the course of his address stated, amongst other items of interest, that the membership of the order in England included 892 ministers of religion. These included Primitive Methodists, 205 ; Independents, 135 ; Wesleyana, 125 ; Baptists, 95; Methodist Free Church, 79; Bible Christians, 49 ; Church of England, 30 ; Presbyterian, 22 ; Methodist Mew Con. nexion, 21 : Calvanistic Methodista, 14 ; miscellaneous bodies 95 ; Home missionaries, 25. The financial statement showed that the gross receipts amounted to Li 22,824 Is, and tbat the net profit for the year was L 3.515 4s 4£d. The amount received for capitation tax was L 3.228 9s ll^d ; far charter fees. L 1,746, 746 4s 4d ; for trade supplies, L 5.459 0s 3£d. The Grand Worthy Chief Templar receives a salary of LSOO a year, and the Grand Worthy Secretary. L 350.