INSTITUTION OF GOOD TEMPLAR LODGE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 533, 19 October 1875, Page 2

INSTITUTION OF GOOD TEMPLAR LODGE.

Ik compliance with requisition signed by sixteen residents at Ngsruawahia, * Special Deputy's Commission was forwarded to Bre 0 O Montrose, of Hamilton, by Bro W J Speigat, Grand Worthy Chief Templar, of the North Island, authorising him to inititute a Good Templar Lodge at that township. Saturday last was fixed for the ceremony. The only plaoe arailabie for the purpose was a large housj, next to Mr Veith's newly established " Good Templars' Restaurant, 1 * which was kindly leat bj that peutlemtan. At the appointed time, hall-past ss?eno* Saturday night, Bro O O Montrose, aeoojapanied by sorcral member of ths Hop© of Waikato Lodgu, j entered the building wearing the regsfia usually worn by the order at open lodge meetings. The room was occupied by a goodly assemblage of persons, who were anxious for information as to the nature and objects of Qood Templary, aad in compliance with this wish Bro Mootrose delirered a short lecture on the subject Ho J stated that the principles of the order wen total abstinence, from.intoxicants, enforced by a lifelong pledge, and the absolute prohibition of the manufacture, importation, and sale of intoxicating drinks, As to the possible objection Izhat the pledge should not be life-long, he argued that if the benefit of total abstinence wereonoe adnitted, it followed as a bgioal consequence that it must be life-long. He enlarged o* the eril* of drunkenness, and the necessity for that united and organised action amongst teetotallers which the order of Good Templary contemplated. Be «*. plained that the Order was not directly beneficiary, the object being rather to do good than receire benefit, but that the wide-spread organisation of Good Templary, and the prinoiples of charity and love for our fellow creatures incut-, cated in the Lodges were often the means of affording relief to afflicted and distressed brethren. He also stated that in connectien with eaok lodge there was a Committee whose elufcy it is to visit the sick, and bring cases of distressed members under the notice of the lodge, who always promptly and liberally proride relief by speoial ■subscriptions. Furthermore, the organisation was of great adrantage to persons trareflinf, u it was a ready means ef introduction to friendi,»nd aid in oases of necessity. Males aad females were admitted to the Order on a footing: of per* feet equality as to eligibility for office. As to the objection made by some people to the admission of females, he argued at some length on the peculiar fitness of woman to take a foremost position in aft social reforms such as the Tempersnee morement, of their influenoe for good orer husbands, brothers, and sweethearts, and of the softening and humanising spirit they infused into lodge meetings. He quoted frem a return shewing that the order of Good Templars included upwaris of 1,006.000 members, with 64 Grand Lodge* and about 14,000 sub-lodges, and that amongst its members are « FioePresident sereral Gorernors, Clergymen, Members of Parliament, Merchants, officers of the Army and Nary, and members of «rery profession. "^» Order of Good Templary, said tha speaker, taken root ia Great Britain, Canada, United States, Germany, Fiance, SwiUorlaud^pain, Portugal, Holland, Belgium,; Sweden, India, China, Japan, Cape Colony, Australia, New Zaaland, Sandwich Islands, Ac The membership was fraternal, all being entitled to the privileges of the whole Order. The mode of work was the employment of competent lecturers, printing of Temperance Works, formation of Temperance Libraries, and prompt and consistant action during elections, &c. In reference to the matter of secrecy, the speaker said there was nothing con•cealed from any feonest inquirer but the teft< signs and words, which ware necessary in suck an Order to prerent imposition, but the lodges frequently held <epen meetings, to which tke general public were admitted, and their laws were open to the inspection of anyone who desired information. He wished to disabuse the Minds of those present of the idea that there was an oath. There was only a solemn declaration, in whioh the initiate pledged himself or herself that he or she would sot " make, buy, •ell, use, furnish, or caise to be famished to others as a beverage, any spirituous or malt liqnours, wine, or cider ;" and to " discountenance the manufacture, sale, and use thereof, ia all proper ways." Good Templary, he explained, respected the Christian religion. All the lodge meetings and ceremonies were opened and closed with prayer, and there was nothing in the teachings of the Order inconsistent with our duties ja citizens, and as Christians. At the close of tliSs brief lecture, the names of those desirous of joining were taken down, when the following signified their wish to become members of the new lodges : — Messrs T Taylor, J Salmon, H Johnson, J Kane, M Sheehy, C Yeith, W Bell, W Goodwin, C BeH, O Jarrett, H Wulf, W Soper, W Griffiths, J O Heill, J Fitzpatriok, and T Berne. A lodge was then opened in the usual fora, the following being the officers i — Bro O O Montrose, WOT) Sister M Montrose, W TT j Sisters Buffey, stnr andjunr, 11 H S, and LHS; Bro MePhersen, PWOT:Bro Browne, WS; Bro Mylrae, WFB, tndT-; Bro Hsmmond, WC; Bro Salmon, W M ; Bro Cox, MDM) Bro Young, WIG; Bro Poole, WO G. The abere are all members of the Hope of Waikato Lodge, who had come to assist in the institution. Sixteoa members were duly initiated, and the lodge was named by a rote of the majority the " Star of Waipa." The lodge then proceeded to eleofc officers when the following were duly elected :— Bro Jarrett, W O T ; Bro Sheeny, W V T j Bro Fitipatrick, WS; Bro Veith, WT ; Bro Wulff, WP S i Bro Taylor, WM ; Bro Griffiths* WC ; Bro Bell, WIG? Bro Blair, fO^. The officers were then duly installed by Bro O O Montrose, Speoial District Deputy, assisted by Bro Browne, G W 8, and Bro Salmon, G W M The regular weekly lodge meetings were appointed to be held on Fridays. After this business Bros C O Montrose and MoPherson addressed the newly instituted lodge ; a Tote of thanks was accorded by the. Star of Waipa Lodge to the members of the Hope of Waikato Lodge, for their kind assistance in the institution ceremony, coupled with a special veto of tkanks to Bro O Longbottom for his exertions in making prelimiv^ nary arrangements. The business haying t/* urinated, the lodge was closed in tke usual ***** ncr, and the brethren adjottraed to a gun/" 1011 * supper, proridedby the members of tb< Star of Waipa Lodge,* 1 Bro Veith disab^f the duties oi caterer in a kighly-em'ai'Bt manner. The proceedings throughout werf^ nn * r * c^ r *»«d by the utmost harmony, and goo* erdee, *>