Progress.

Freethought Review, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 June 1884, Page 5

Progress.

DUNEDIN FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members of the Dunedin Freethought Association was held on May sth, the President (Robert Stout, Esq.) in the chair. THE REPORT. The following report was read and adopted:—“The committee, in presenting their annual report to the members, have to express satisfaction at the continued success of the Association during the past year. There have been two events of importance to Freethinkers in Australasia during term of office of the executive. These werea conference of Freethinkers held in Melbourne in August, and the founding of the Freethought Federal Union of New Zealand in March last. The committee hope that both these events will tend to give still greater solidarity to the Freeth ought movement, and help forward the day when there will be absolute freedom in the expression of all views. Considering the prevailing trade depression, the funds of the A ssociation have kept up fairly. The total receipts for the current year, including rents, lectures, social gatherings, subscriptions, and members’ tickets, have been ABOI 12s 3d, while the expenditure on current account has been £912 7s. There has been an expenditure on building account in addition to this, and the committee hope that during the current year the amount still owing on building account will be paid off, and that the expenditure on current account will not be so heavy. As the members are aware, two lecturers not members of the Association have given us lectures—our old friend Mr. Charles Bright, and “ Ivo.” Mrs, Bright has also given several addresses, and as lion, secretary of the Exhibition Festival, has given us valuable assistance. The Exhibition Festival, which is to close on Monday, has been a great success, and to the ladies who are working so well, and to those who have been kind enough to forward donations, the committee beg to tender their warmest thanks. The committee have much pleasure in also presenting the report of the Children’s Lyceum. -Robert Stout, President.” l [ The Lyceum Ladies’ Committee have to report that dining the past year the Children’s Lyceum has met regularly on Sunday afternoons. The average attendance from January to May of the present year was— 43 ; girls, 41 ; total, 84. The number on the roll for the same

was— 78 ; girls, 64; total, 142. This shows that the attendance has been somewhat irregular, but the smallness of the average attendance as compared with the roll number is explained from the fact that the majority of the children are of tender age. The committee, however, intends taking steps to ensure greater regularity of attendance. During the year a library for the children was established, and it now contains 350 volumes. The committee has to thank the numerous friends who generously contributed towards the library, and hopes that during the next year the number of books will be considerably augmented. The committee is glad to state that the children have had regular practice in singing under Mr. Lister, and it has to thank that gentleman for his kind attention and trouble. During the yearno pains have been spared to interest, and at the same time instruct, the children, and the committee hopes that all members of the Association will endeavour to send their children to the Lyceum, as it believes that the future welfare of the eethought Association and the growth of Freethought in this city, to a great extent depends upon training the children in the doctrines of'Freethought.— Cheyne Farnie, Hon. Sec. Children’s Lyceum." ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were duly elected for the ensuing year:—President, Robert Stout, Esq.; Vice-presidents, Messrs J. Stone and W. M. Bolt; Secretary, Mr. T. Farra; Treasurer, Mr W. Malcolm; Committee—Messrs John Parker, Thomas Low, T. C. Farnie, W. Dickson, John Marshall, . M - Harris, I. N. Watt, F. Chapman, M. Jackson, Thomas Cullen, and W. Clarke. The Ladies’ Association nominated three, the choir two, and the band two members of the committee.

exhibition festival. The second anniversary of the opening of the Lyceum Hall was celebrated by the holding of an exhibition festival on the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd of May. The “festival "consisted of a bazaar and an exhibition of several pianos, bicycles, sewing and knitting machines, boots and shoes, books, &c., &c. The festival was a great success, and was largely patronised by all sections of the community. It was entirely got up by the ladies of the Association, who of course obtained assistance from all and sundry ; and its wonderful success is in a great measure due to the unflagging labours of Mrs. Charles Bright, with whom the idea of holding the bazaar originated. That the idea was an excellent one, and that the festival was worthy of patronage, is proved by the fact that the net proceeds at the conclusion of the bazaar and Bruce auction amounted to £l7O. The festival was opened by an address from Mr. Stout, the President of the Association. The Hall was tastefully decorated with flags, kindly lent for the occasion by the City Council. The walls were hung with pictures, the frames of which were prettily wreathed with ferns, while everywhere the eye was relieved by a profusion of greenery and a pleasing contrast of colours. Stretched right across the proscenium, and facing you as you entered the door, was an emblem with the motto “Truth for Authority" beautifully worked in various-coloured roses. To your left extending the whole length of the hall, were the various stalls, groaning with an accumulation of articles, varying from fancy goods and fine raiment, from jewellery and ornaments of all descriptions, to woollen socks and dressed dolls. These were presided over by the sweet sirens, who lured you not to destruction, but into, first, an examination of the said articles— calm, cool, and critical; then into admiration thereof ; then, by judicious diplomatic questions such as “ Isn t that beautiful—and so cheap, you know!" into damaging and suicidal affirmative answers thereto, after which an ignominious surrender, marked by the transference of the coin of the realm to the lady of the stall, in exchange for the article you have prematurely admired. Down the centre of the hall, and along the right hand side, were the various exhibits. Several bicycles and knitting machines, exhibited by W. Melville & Co., of George Street, attracted a lot of interest. The knitting machines were constantly working, and for the moderate sum of 2s Gd you could obtain from there a pair of socks of any shape, size, or pattern, and enjoy at the same time the ecstatic privilege of seeing them knitted. Several of the Wertheim Sewing Machines, exhibited by the Dunedin branch of the Company, could also be seen and heard in full work. A magnificent grand piano, and several cottage

pianos, forwarded for exhibition by Mr. J. A. X. Kiedle, the manager of the Dunedin Piano Warehouse, were much admired, and the " grand," particularly, was brought into frequent requisition. Besides these there were greenstone exhibits, jewellery, boots and shoes, bride's-cake making, machinery of different kinds, and various other exhibits too numerous to mention. An efficient orchestra (sometimes under the leadership of Mr. Parker, at other times under Mr. Kelly, and, at other times still, the ladies' orchestra) discoursed sweet music during the afternoons and evenings of the fair. From time to time, also, the entertaiment would be varied by the singing of the choir, by the soft choruses and jocularities of an amateur minstrel troupe, or by solos and recitations. And if yon wished to be rid of the gay and giddy throng, and be for a time at least free from the cares of the world, you could rest at ease at the tea and coffee stall, and, for the modest sum of 3d, calmly and benignly and indolently sip your coffee in a dreamy, far-off kind of way, made more romantic by the murmur of music and laughter and indistinct prattle of conversation, until your reverie is rudely broken and your romance shattered by the sordid exclamation of " Oh ! Mr. So-and-so, do go in for this raffle; we only want three more, and it's only half-a-crown a member —and such a sweet, pretty bonnet I" Reluctantly, and with a dissenting smile, you feel called upon to disgorge another dime to the general stock, and with the faint hope of escaping similar • appeals, you accompany your fair sister without mercy—- ■ round the room in search of other half-crowns. But it is of no avail. During your journey you discover that you • are famous. Everyone in the room — that is, everyone who ' desires a half-crown for a raffle—knows you by name, is a personal friend of yours, and pleads, oh, so earnestly, to be allowed to put your name down on her list for this or for that, that invariably you give in, and, like a man popular and famous should do, part the required sum. However, I must say that the fair rafflers were not too importunate, and during the whole time of the festival I never heard a single murmur of disapprobation, or anything, in fact, except evidences of the utmost good humour on the part of everyone. The raffling of the goods always appeared satisfactory, and the fact that a very large portion of the money raised was obtained from goods voluntarily bought at the stalls, shows that at least a large per centage of the articles were useful and not merely ornamental. The Ladies' Association is to be congratulated at the

success of their venture, and I think that the ladies, especially Mrs. Bright, deserve the sincere thanks of the Preethought Association for the very considerable sum of money they have been the means of placing at the disposal of the Association.