WANGANUI BROTHERHOOD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13528, 9 November 1911, Page 8

WANGANUI BROTHERHOOD.

There was a very fair attendance on Sunday, despite the inclement weather, at the usual meeting of the above. The Rev. S. Bailey addressed the meeting, the chairman being Bro. R. B, Horsley, The title of the address was “Echoes of the National Conference.” The twelfth annual confeornce of the various brotherhoods and P.A.’s was held .on September 18th, 1911, at Exeter Hall, London, France, Germany, America, Canada, and Africa also sending delegates. A representative crowd of 10,000 persons was present to hear the incoming president’s address. Rev. F. B. Meyer was in the chair, supported by Messrs Masterton and Henderson, M.P.’s, vice-presidents. Sir W. Robinson Nichols, of the British Weekly, gave the first address, on “What is the Brotherhood Doing with its Powers?” followed by Mr A. G. Gardner, of the Daily News. The' incoming president (Rev. P. M. Godfrey) gave his introductory address, entitled, “True Patriotism,” laying stress on the great want of a new patriotism, which shall place Divine purpose above party politics. The dignity of the Crown, he said, could only be secured by the dignity and wellbeing of the people, true dignity, based not on passion, but reason. A "nation’s wealth lay not in gold and diamond mines but in the purity .of the people; its strengtli not so much in rifles and Maxim guns, as power was passing to the people, for the vote must direct national-affairs, and to neglect the people was to court national disaster. Speaking of .the drink evil_ he said it must go, and with it social impurities. Mr Bailey hero mentioned that a message had been received from the leading men of the labour-movement at Home (Will Crooks, Thomas Burt, and others) wishing them success" in the fight against the drink evil, regretting themselves that they in the Home Land had not the splendid opportunity the men of New Zealand had of ending the drink traf. fic, and asking the pertinent’ question: "Is the drink evil to become the curse of New Zealand, as it is of England to-day?” Reverting to the conference address again, Mr Bailey said, “We were out to fight against war, which was a standing disgrace to our civilisation, while , applied Christianity was the truest patriotism.”