MR W. GLOVER AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 10 September 1884, Page 2

MR W. GLOVER AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

(Wellington Evening Press,)

The first public demonstration in connection with the Gospel Temperance Blue, Ribbon Union crusado took place at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening. , The Rev, W. C. Oliver presided, and the back of the stage was occupied by an amalgamated choir from thevariouß churches, under the'conduotorship of Mr Macintosh, The proceedings weie initiated by the singing of hymn No. 15 of Sankoy's collection, after which the Rev. Mr Redstone read a portion of Scripture and engaged in prayer. Another hymn having been sung, The Chairman briefly introduced Mr Glover to the large audience, who received the lecturer with . loud' applause. Mr Glover commenced his address by reading the pledge, and explained that his reason for being in New Zealand was that the health of his friend, Mr Booth, the leader of the Blue Ribbon movement, had broken down the winter before last, arid after a visit to the South of France, it was thought desirable by his friends that he should go to the Australian colonies, and he (Mr Glover) had been' asked to accompany and help him, They arrived in Melbourne in January, and finding the weather hot, went to Tasmania; where they had been very successful, At Hobart they bad had as many,as 6000 attend their, meetings, and the Bishop and Premier had adopted the" blue." He was sorry to learn that the Bishop was away from Wellington at present, so that he could not get him, butjie hoped to get the Premier. The Blue Ribbon movement arose out of what was known as the Murphy movement in America and Women's Whiskey Clubs. Mr Booth had come out to Australia and he (Mr Glover) had come to New Zealand, and now he wanted to know what Wellington could do to strengthen the mission. He believed that Wellington would be like Auckland and other, places. The lecturer gave . some anecdotal illustrations of his own and others experience in the movement, and urged that the moment that money was withdrawn from the drink traffic, that moment; would Rep the money spent in legitimate trade. In England the Chancellor of the Exchequer had stated that 13,000,000 less had' been received for drink than in the year previous, but the Postmaster General replied that he had <£3,000,000 more in the Savings Bank than ever he had had before. If drink went down, everything else would go up. The lecturer then alluded to the gaming habits of the youth of the colonies, and hoped that efforts would be made to counteract them, and concluded with a pathetic adaptation from "Paradise and the Peri."

At the close of the address, the audience were invited to put on' the symbolic blue ribbon, and in response 150 persons of both sexes oame forward and were supplied by Messrs Coster and Johnston. / . . ;

.Last night Mr Glover gave; his second lecture at the Theatre Royal to a house packed from floor to. ceiling. Up to ,the present' time 569 persons .have joined'their Qaiise,;V 1 Mr Glover will leoture again at the Arcade to-night when doubtless another large audiende will greet hita.