THE BLUE RIBBON ARMY AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1749, 20 September 1883, Page 2

THE BLUE RIBBON ARMY AT CAMBRIDGE.

4, Tin: unexpected success which attended the meetings m connection with the above temperance movement held in the Public Hall and the Baptist Tabernacle, Cambridge, last week, is an unmistakable indication of the piogie&s which tliitj great movement is making, not only in the Waikato district, but in the community of New Zealand as a whole. Never has any movement of a like character, and having in view the same object, buen leceiveel with so much favour at the hands of the working clashes, or been attended with more satistactoi yiesults. The blue libbon insignia a very happy device to indicate the membeis of the older, and thus to a gieat c\tent prevent them from violating then pledge, and abandoning their good lesolution. Almost m every quarter of thi~, disInct at the piesent time laige numbers of blue libboniteb may be found, and thebe include some of the oldest topers of theii respective villages. The meetings at Cainbndye last week in connection with the Gospel Tempeiance Misbiouweie attended by laige .uuhenceb, with the result that theie aie now m that dibtuct about 130 members of the order, no less a number than fifty ha\ing boon enrolled on the occasion lefened to. The speeches of the speakers who addressed the meetings at Cambridge, particularly those of the liov. T. Spurgeon and S. Macfarlane contained many bti iking lefeio ices and facts legaivl mg the baneful effects of lntempeiance, and the soothing influence and happiness which total abstinence from all intoxicating liquor aiForded to all, paiticularly tlie woikmg population, which .suffeied most from the hoiuble ravages of incessant debauchery. Many of those present at these meetings, it is said, wont purely out of curiosity, but the influence of what they heard and considered seems to have had biich an effect upon their minds that they became pio.selytised almost without knowing how it was done. A somewhat amusing incident happened at one of the meetings of last week's mission. Mr Spurgeon was relating an illustration of how the blue ribbon insignia was abused by some people. An unmistakable tippler, of the professional loafer stamp, came to him one day in Auckland, and asked for charitable aid. He was a strict observer of the laws of temperance, and Haunted the blue ribbon ostentatiously. He (Mr Spurgeon) asked him how long he had worn the badge; and the reply allowing that he had donned it many years before ever the organisation which it indicated had been thought of, it was thought fit to pass him on. " This man was a relentless drunkard' said Mr Spurgeon, whereat one of the same type, who was sitting in the body of the hall, and who had evidently come to make things unpleasant, shouted out " Hear, hear." Mr Spurgeon retorted he was very happy to find he was there, but that when he last saw him he was in Auckland. Such missions as those of last week are pregnant of much good, but if the " Army" wishes to attain the object which it has in view, its members will have to ledouble then exertions, and call up all their power and influence to their assistance. There is, one paiticular branch of the oigamsation which is as yet deficient in its working —the native department. We are not oblivious of the gicat elt'oits put forth by, and the good work which has attended the efforts of the Rev. Mr Fairbrothel at Kotorua. Here, it cannot be denied that much lias been done in retrieving the Maoiis from the awful state of debaucheiy into ■which they had fallen thiough the example, temptation and encouragement offeied them by European tourists. But there are many other native districts equally in need of attention with Rotorua. Much good work might be done at Whatiwhatihoe, Puniu, Maungatautan, Cambridge and Te" Aroha, but in reply to this the moving spirits will say : We have no funds, and this work costs money. The Salvation Army, which has not a more i praiseworthy object in view, has quite a mine of money at its disposal, formed from the accumulated subscriptions of its members, and we do not see why the Blue Ribbon Army cannot derive a fairly large revenue from the same source by which to equip its men, and secure the services of proper officers for the native work. We have on previous occasions brought this subject under the notice of the temperance leaders, and we hope we have not written in vain. Weekly meetinges have been organised for Cambridge, East and West, to be held in each place every alternate Monday evening. An important meeting in connection with the movement will be held in the Tabernacle to-morrow evening.

The Mission at Hamilton. The third meeting of the Gospel Temperance Mission was held in the Public Hall, Hamilton West, on Tuesday evening. Mr J. Wiseman, of Auckland, presided. There was a very fair attendance. Owing to the unavoidable absence of several members of the choir, only a few selections from Sankey's book, were rendered. The programme was as follows : — Chairman's address ; reading, " The Cost of Drinking Alcoholic Liquors," Mrs Home; reading, "The Broken Glass," Mr Geo. French; reading, "Total Abstinence or Moderate Drinking," Mrs Dukes ; address, subject — " The Blue Bibbon : Its advantages to the wearer a,ud to the temperance. ,ca.use," Key. J. Dukes. At the close twelve new pledges were taken. -The meeting was very enthusiastic throughout. Miss Campbell kindly presided at the harmonium.

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