MR MATTHEW BURNETT'S MISSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2338, 5 July 1886, Page 2

MR MATTHEW BURNETT'S MISSION.

Mr Burnett, arrived iii'Marterton'on Saturday, and in tho evening, ( according to announcement, made his appearance at the Wesleyan Church, where he addressed a sympathetic, if not large, audience. He was supporfcid; on tho platform by the Bevs.-D. Fulton and J. N. Buttle, and Messrs Holdaway, Easthope, and C. Dixon, delegates from the Good Templars, Eechabitei,and Juvenile Templars respectively, who welcomed the lecturer on behalf of the various orders, and denominations on behalf of which they appeared. Captain Robinson, of the Salvation Army,-{.alio extended the "right hand of fellowship" to Mr Bur-

nett onbehalf of the " irregular" army, of Masterton, In the absence of the Rev. Mr Ward, Mr Weston, of Carterton, expressed his satisfaction at the visit of Mr Burnett to the Wairarapa,. and cordially welcomed him in'the name.of the southern portion of the district. A table was .arranged at the end of the Church, on which were displayed a number of pledge cards and blue ribbons, and a committee of ladies was in attendance to attend, to that important part of the business, Mr Gappor presided at the harmonium, arid Mr E. Duncan led the choir. Mr H. A. Stratford, R.M., at the invitation of the Rev. Mr Buttle, took the chair after the introductory service. He said he had been for many years a public lecturer, and could speak from experience how trying it was to the patience of the lecturer to have a proay chairman. That would be his apology for'the briefness of bis remarks. He held that a ohaivraan was not responsible for the viows of tho lecturer (Mr Burnett: Hear! Hear!) It was not even necessary to be in harmony with the views of the lecturer (Mr Burnett; Hear! Hear!) The name of Mr Burnett was a household word, and disclosed by anticipation the subject of that night. As the chargers of old, in battle array, champed their bits and pawed the ground, eager for the battle, so the temperance lecturer champed his bit, eager toeutor into the fight asjainst that great army represented by Bass, Allsop, Dunville, Kinahan, Hennessy, Wolfe, and about forty others. He finished up a long list with Kilmarnock whiskey, amidst roars of laughter. In this lie' begged to join issue with tho lecturer. He was an advocato for whißjcey, and notwithstanding the. eloquence and force that would be brought forward that night againut its' use, he considered a little pure whiskey beneficial at times. (The audience, which was composed almost entirely of temperance advocates, began to look very glum, and the representatives, of temperance on the platform dropped 'their lower jaw, and looked as if they thought they had made a mistake in the choice of a chairman. He went on, however, notwithstanding the disappointed looks around him,-to impress upon thorn the necessity .of whhiky, should they use it, being pure. If they had any doubt as to its quality let them consult some Highland friend, as they were noted judges, Horeconviiendedthem to take a six ounce phial full at bedtime, to a wine glass full of pure raw spirit, (which is likened to the " uakejtruth,") add a Bpoonful of oatmeal and rub it into thier chaps and chilblains. (The audience was greatly rejoiced at that turn of the Chairman and relieved its feelings by choeringjand clapping of hands,) " Young ladies," he said, "take my advice and keep some' for your chaps." (Roars of laughter) "Oh, I don't mean tho chaps you mean." (increased. laughter.) He recommended them to use what was left to clean the plate. He thought he had proved that whiskey was not always a curse and he would ask Mr Burnett to endorse his sentiments. : ' ' The Chairman then introduced the lecturer, Mr Matthew Burnett, who, after returning thanks, expressed his great pleasure in being able to pay a visit to Masterton. He would like to have been welcomed by the minister of the Church of England, and the priest of tho Roman Catholic Church. His platform was broad enough for all. Wherever he had visited increased attendance at Church had been the result,, and the various temperance and benefit societies had augmented their numbers also. ■ He' looked upon tho meeting that evening as chiefly an introductory on'o. The business would begin in earnest at the Theatre Royal moetiug on the following evening He referred to the pleasure he experienced on meeting in Masterton an old friend of his from Victoria, and was glad to find him settled in the town arid with- his family doing good work. He' alluded to Mr Duncan (cheers,) He spoke of the •work done at his mission on the' West Coast where 3200 pledges had been taken, and of that number there were. at least 300 who had joined tho 1.0. G.T. ordor. At Roefton, Deniston, and Waiuangarua, three new lodges had been opened, the direct outcome of his mission. Speaking of the juvenile lodge he said if they could only save the children, within twenty-five years there would be auoh a manifest change in public feeling in regard to the drink traffic, as could hardly be realized. Speaking of the Presbyterian Church, he expressed himself under great obligations to that Christian organisation. His reference to the Rev W. Wills and Dr Stewart of Dunedin was received with cheers. He told tho meeting of the pleasure it gave him when he heard that the Rev J. N. Buttle, who was a host in himself, had accepted the onerous duties of Secretary to his Masterton Committee (cheers), and if he liked hard work- there was a good prospect of his getting it (laughter). He (the speaker) thought he had exhausted the vocabulary of words and names in connection with strong drinks at his recent meeting at Petono, but thoir Chairman that night had mentioned names that, were quite strange to him, and he should not neglect to add them to his list on the next occasion he referred to them (cheers). He deprecated too much solemnity in a chairman. It made the audience feel dull. He liked those who came to hear him.once to come again He would like to have seen a representative of the local press on the platform to give him a welcome. Few men could say what he could of tho Press. During the twenty-three years of his work not one section of the secular press had uttered or caused to be uttered one unkind word.against him. (Cheers). ■ Coming to' the practical part of the business, he said he would like his mission in Masterton to be a great success. He wished it to be distinctly understood they would never hear from his lips one word to interfere with the conscientious scruples of anyone. His platform, he wished them to believe, was as broad as humanity itself. It had been & mistake with the temperance party in years gone by to look upon those who did not go so far as themselves as enemies. He believed there were many'who had never taken the blue ribbon or joined any tornperance organisation, who were to be regarded not as enemies but as sympathiag friends who would be glad to visit the homesof any person who wanted assistance to get clear of the thraldom of that enemy of peace—strong drink, and by every kindness, gentleness, brotherly love, and chavity try to introduce into their homes the pure angel of temperance. Ho would like to go outside all organisations for that purpose. ' He.' wanted the good wishes ..and practical cooperation of all classes of' tho community, their tradesmen,' merchants,.'and professional men, and ,he bolieve'd. tliey would get, it.. (Hearl Hear!) The lecturer gave one cf his. pictures from real life, a grilling instance of a man with every inducement to succeed failing through. drink, and from the same cause going down to the lowest dregs, being rescued through the mission labors; ( He then urged upon the Temperance pe'ople to d 0 their duty. He would not believe it possible for any ohrißti&n man or woman to fail to help in the cause. Let them make an effort for the sake 'of the weaker brother. He "urged parents' to educate thoir children to look- upon intoxicating drink as an evil. He concluded by asking that a thousand names might be added to the Temperance .iM as the result of his mission to the Waira* rapa, (Cheers),.•■••.. j-i ~. The Chairman said it might aurjmsi as

t know that he (the Chairman) diiiiiitd to '■' ";''' be a champion jn the cause of tcnii)or^|ictt.. ol'perhaps more years' standing, tha'nja'ny one-present, He could not? parage, ;his, : ,^ v abstention as a. virtue as; hejbaL'y cared forspiritß, except forchaps anH,chilr. J ;t ' . j niains, • (Laughter).; ABJa*coroner or! '■' years' standing',' ho 'had been an .'.eyo'.;'.' witness of many, sad .scenes; whibh'iff; thomrfolves would he enoughfymike, him ';• -'" f lodge himself neverto-fouohLintfl-xipaiits. ' , Although he- wore had >• K always been known as the man who never '. shoutod, and; was never, should ipr. ■"' ■'•■ Some twentv-two year! ago!hV made?; ptie exception. He was in the goldfields tricfc,- and in passing a group "of 'men' hb|f heard the remark "There goes a man 'l' who is too moan ton shout." flo turned ■. round upon them and said, "You are talking at mo, come along I'll shout for you." ■. About a dozen followed eagerly, ' ■ and he waked them into an applewoman's - shop, and shouted nearly a pound's worth.. of apples for them. He aßlsed tho»e whe: [ were about to join the temperance tarty not to be too hasty to parade the blue;Many conscientious persons thought they were:doing noharni by taking glass of winißj arid therefore if;:they;wiskei.tp win thohvovor thoy mußfc-'iidt' do "or" Ay.v thing that might imply " I am better'than you." On the other hand they were not to;be, ashamed of their colors; but through Q& everyday-life live jpf \Mj , 4H,,, were .going to]wear the..blue! 1^ jt not be" .stained. He instanced ( a cabman in Melbourne who drove his fare, to.; the .end of, his. journey,, „; flo alighted at'ah hote!,--and in response to an invitation, cabby said, "I'll take a whiskey." " Why man," said tlio faro, "yoii'vo got the blue ribbon on!" " Yes," said tho cabmauj • " 1 wears it 'cos the gents alius shouts'when they sees it oh." That was what, ho Meant by-«oiliiigtlii' igj blue ribbon (cheers). ■'• -" •' * -••■>{*•". ™ At the conclusion the lecturer invited all who had not taken the blue ribbon te come fornrd and do so, and in response •' about a score signed the pledge... , ~',;,'. ', : -' !i ' OIf'SONDAY ■'-/■■' a '-- Mr Burnett preached in the. forenoon at the Presbyterian Church and iii the eveniug at the Wesloyan Church. In" the afternoon he addressed a children's meeting at tlm:Theatre!.;when4f4/,nanies;:bf children, teachers smipirents were added to the list of total abstainers. ..At eight o'clock Mr Burnett again visited the' ' Theatre and addressed a monster meeting there, when, at the. conclusion; a great many adults signed the pledge'.; ."■