GOOD TEMPLARISM AT ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 403, 28 October 1874, Page 3

GOOD TEMPLARISM AT ROXBURGH.

(From our ovm Conespondent.) Friday evening last, there was a meeting held in the Schoolhouse, Roxburgh, to take steps to open a Good Templars Lodge. A good number were present, among them some of the fair sex. Mr. Bloxham having heen voted to the chair, stated that the object of the meetingwas to endeavor, to form a Good Templars Lodge at the above-mentioned place. Having heard of the great benefit Tuapeka had derived since a Lodge was opened in that district, he and some friends determined to try the same object at Roxburgh, after having made inquiry as to the |benefits and advantages derivable from it. Others, however, had been taking active steps in the matter before he did so. Mr. Glass had received a letter from the Secretary of the Lodge at Lawrence, as to the cost of starting, and also the rules of the Society. The letter was to the effect that the charges necessary to working the Lodge would be as follows : — Charter, with ritual from Grand Provincial Lodge, £4 ; expenses of officers to open Lodge, £7. A hope was expressed that at least three dozen collars of the Ist degree would be required ; also, that any member joining after the Lodge was opened would have to pay for their own regalia. The preliminary expenses would have to be advanced by those interesting themselves, to he repaid out of the funds of the Lodge — a thing very easily done if they exerted themselves to get sufficient members. The Lodge should be opened the first week in November. In conclusion, the Secretary of the Lawrence Lodge (Mr. G. B. King) expressed a sincere hope that they would meet with every success in their present movement. The Chairman then stated that he should be very glad to give any gentlemen any information in his power as to the rules, &c., &c. Mr. Glass suggested that the Chairman should read a few of the rules, and explain what the general object of the Society was. The Chairman then stated that it. was necessary that; there should be at least fourteen members before a Lodge could be opened. The Lodge could not be broken up without the consent of at least ten members. That any member should neither buy, make, sell, furnish,or cause to be furnished, any spirituous liquor, wine, beer, or cider. That no one should be eligible as a member under twelve years of age. No reflected or suspended person should be proposed or admitted as a member, within three mouths of such suspension. The great object of the Society was to endeavor to stop the great evils of intemperance, and to furnish social amusement without tho usual temptation. Many who were in the habit of talcing a social glass did so, not for the sake of the drink, hut for tho social enjoyment and conversation which they could not find elsewhere. Bu^fche meetings of the Good Templars were msde enjoyable to all by readings, recitations, songs of temperance, &c,, &c.. He did not think it would be difficult to raise the necessary funds to meet the expense of opening the Lodge. He would call upon Mr. Manuel to express his opinion of the subject, Mr. E, Manuel said that it was well-known that he had been a total abstainer for many years, that he was always willing to further any movement having as" its object the doing away with drunkenness. He thought it wasevery man'B duty to do so. Rechabites, Sons of Temperance, and Grood. Templars were all Orders started with that view. It was proposed some time ago to start a Lodge here, and he hoped this time the movement would succeed. The expenses are light : the fee for initiation being 26. 6d., and quarterly subscription, Is. 6d. He hoped all here would join, for he thought the sooner a Lodge was started nere, the better for the place. The Chairman said that Mr. M'Coy, while at Roxburgh, had spoken -eery highly of the amount of benefit that had been done at Lawrence by the opening of the Lodge, and had persuaded parties here to use every exertion to establish a Lodge at Roxburgh. He (the Chairman) might add that the Society of Good Templars were supposed to assist one another — especially, in cases of sickness. A committee was generally formed of three members to visit members suffering from sickness. Two members were also appointed to watch the sick by night. Some members had suffered considerably in temporal matters by belonging to the Society ; but he was happy to state that Good Templars had felt it their duty to .assist them in every way in their power, procuring them situations, &c, &c. In concldsion, he would state that it was the opinion of one who had joined the Society *•" nine years ago, that the social advantages conferred on membere were so great that any joining would never v/ish to spend his time at a bar or in the parlor of a public house. It was then moved by Mr. Manuel, seconded by Mr. R. M. Smith. = " That in the endeavor to form a Good Templar Lodge, a list will be 6tarted at once to see how many persons be willing to become members : expenses of opening said Lodge to be borne by them, to be repaid out of the funds of the Lodge." The Chairman then invited those present who intended joining to give in their names, upon which some 20 or 24 names were taken by him, among them were some of the ladies' names. He said one lady, he considered, was worth two gentlemen, as they took more interest and exerted more influence. He hoped all those who had signified their willingness to become members would try aud persuade others to join also. He would also state that to him it seemed very hard that though this was a small township it provided for four or five publicans, their wives, and families, and yet could not provide sufficient funds to • induce a medical man to remain in the place. It was proposed by Mr. Manuel, seconded by Mr. Glass, " That Mr. Bloxham be appointed Secretary to communicate with Lodge? relative to opening," &c., &c.— Carried. A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman.~ At the close of the above-mentioned meeting, Mr. R. M. Smith said that > as there had beefi no meeting on Wednesday evening last, as had. been proposed, for the-purpose of endeavoring to raise a medical fund, and us he did not think the public feeling had been sufficiently tested, he, would suggest that a committee be formed at once, and members appointed to canvass the district. Several gentlemen expressed their regret at the probability of Dr. Niven's leaving the district, and bore testimony to his reasonable charges, successful treatment, and kindness and attention to his patients. Proposed by Mr. Glass, seconded by Mr. Manuel, " That a public meeting be held this night week at the Schoolhouse, Roxburgh, in order to test the public feeling as to the adTUtbflity of raising amedical guarantee fund." — Carried. The meeting then dispersed,