THE RECHABITE ORDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10209, 11 April 1911, Page 5

THE RECHABITE ORDER.

BRO. PHILIPSON, H.0.R., IN

MASTERTON.

WELCOMED AT THE STATION.

Bro. John Philipson, High Chief Ruler of the Independent Order of Rechabites, who is touring New Zealand in company with Bro. C. W. '

Churchill, Past High Chief Ruler, arrived ill' Masterton at midday yesterday, together with Bro. F. W. Ward, District Trustee of the 1.0. R. He was welcomed by the Mayor (Mr J. ji. Coradine) and Bros. W. M. Easthope (secretary), J Prentice, A. Hendry, 0. Pragnell, D. Threadwell, and C. Pearce, at the railway station.

VISIT TO CARTERTON.

In the afternoon Mr P. L. Holtook the visitors, together with several local brethren, for a motor cr.r drive. The party first visited Carterton, where Bro. Philipson was introduced to a number of the officers of the local Tent. From Carterton they went to Gladstone, thence back to Masterton. Bro. Philipson thoroughly enjoyed the outing, and was struck by the fresh appearance of the country generally.

MEETING IN THE TOWN

A public meeting was hekl in the Town Hall last evening, when His Worship the Mayor presided over a fair attendance of the public. The chairman stated that it gave him great pleasure >.to introduce the head of the Rechabite Order. He regretted that there was jiot a large audience. Mr Coradine extended a hearty welcome to the officer. THE HIGH CHIEF RULER. Bro. J. Philipson, High Chief Ruler of the Order, said he considered the Rechabites were honoured in having 'Mr Coradine to occupy th>? chair. He expressed his warm thanks for the kindly welcome extended to him, and for the attention given to his comfort. Wherever he had gone, Britishers had given him hearty receptions, and when gatherings honoured him, they honoured the Order, and in honouring the Order th?v honoured the principle for .wjr.eh tlu Order stands—temperance. He congratulated Masterton people on having carried No-license, and wished them success in future. The speaker stated that he had altogether initiated HQS members into the Order, so that \he had done a good deal towards helping along the Order. Bro Churchill and himself commenced their tour oiv j cember 28tli, 1910. They had trav- ' elled 5000 miles in India, and had I, come through the Australian States. |At Bombay a very distinguished Inj dian, who had taken a firm stand in [his country, had given them a hearty j welcome. He had said that the Brit- | ish occupation of India had been pro-

vidential, because it had given them equal justice for every man. (Applause). In Australia almost all the prominent men they had met had said (notwithstanding the fact that , there were already 65,000 of the Order in Australasia at present), "You can't do better than send us more Rechajbites out here." The Order • had .been in existence for seventysix "years, and in New Zealand it had been established forty years. At the end of 1909 the Order had a total membership of 515,000 persons. Speaking of the providential side of friendly society Orders, he said that their support was one of the first-dic-tates of prudence on the part of those people generally who required to look to the future. Since lie had joined the Order no less than £5,000,000 had been distributed as sick pay. The Order was undenominational and no one with "conscientious scruples in this respect need keep away. Their present tour undoubtedly signified that the Order of Recha bites was world-wide. No review of the Order would be complete unless it laid emphasis upon the fact that they stood for "thrift, abstinence/ brotherhood, . and—rio meetings in public-houses."' / They were pledged—every member of the Order—neither to take, make, or give to others intoxicating drink; and to (do all possible for discontinuance of the use, manufacture, and sale of intoxicating liquors. Members had to pass the doctor and then pass the public-house—forever afterwards. He quoted from learned authorities in support of the theory that the taking of intoxicants was injurious. He urged upon his hearers that they could do nothing better as citizens than to help along the Reehabite Oiv der, and also to assist in the cause of temperance. (Loud applause.) The local secretary (Mr Easthope) moved a hearty vote of thanks to Bro. Philipson for his interesting address.

The motion wa'3 seconded by Mr D. Threadwell, and carried by acclamation. ■ The Mayor was also accorded a vote of thanks for presiding, on the motion of Bro. Pliilipson, seconded by District Trustee, Bro. Ward. SOCIAL .RECEPTION. A social reception was ileTa subsequently, in Mr Hankin's tea-rooms, when Mr 0. N. C. Pragndl presided over a very good gathering. Tho chairman spoke on behalf of the local Tent, ;vxl' Moerrs C. Perry (Od;!f?U----ows), E. Prugrrll (Dniidsi, Forstor (Carterton Rechabites), S. O'Began (Hibernians), MiirpV ('Foresters), and Darroch(President of the Friendly Societies' Council), also welcomed "rn. Philioson. A speech of welcome to Bro. Ward was delivered by Bro. L. Andrews.