The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-02-08 00:00:00

4./PESING OF THE GOOD TEMPLARS HALL,
WEYMOUTH.

This very interesting event to Good romplora and
especially to the Weymouth side cf the tewn, came off
with unusually favourable circumstances, on Wednesday
last. hone time before throe the members of the I.G.G.T.
assembled without preconcerted order at the new lodge-
house, which we have before described, and by the hour of
opening of the lodge, the capital risen was tilled, there
being scarce standing room. The tegolia, white, scarlet,
blue, and purple, were all called into requisition, for
members front hope of Weymouth, I:otten, and Hercules
Afloat, supported their brothers and sisters of "Flower of
the West, and even when there seemed to be no room for
more, a further contingent arrived from Portland. and
other neighbouring lodges, among whom were those of
Broadwey, Chickerel, Abbotsbury, Preston, am The
room is neat and commodiously furnished, And the plat-
form, altar, seats, atc., are all in fresh and wholesome
agreement with the new house. The only thing to which
we are leas used in Weymouth was the red briars showing
in the walls; but this example was set in the Imildini:if
Christ's church, and there is so much light in the
Templars' Hall that there was not any heavy appearance
it was light from end to end. The walls were I with
pictures in neat frames, the charter, of course. behind
the chair. In front were a motile:: of flowers kindle
given by Mies Greavea The Omir is in is roliwd platform
reached by two steps and faces the windows, which look
towards an extensive view of Retitled* lake, with its two
bridges and the darn, and further towards Uwe). mid
the Ridgeway bills. Immediately at the back the ground
rises perpendicularly, so that some young denizens of
Cluipelhay-street and Love-lane almost looked over the
windows above the Chairman's heal; but the frosting
prevented their seeing the rites, and the panes are
covered with wire net. But so many persons in this
neighbourhood have been benelitted by this Order
that the Hall will doubtless fast lweinue one of the
most popular buildings in the locality, And • friendly
curiosity was already shown. Insole, the place was a
model of good order and some brilliancy was shown in
the adornments with gold and silver lace, fringe. Anil
stars, the bead officer who fouml room on the platform
being mipecially resplendent The Most Noble Marquis
of Townshend, and his lady the March est were the
honoured guests, anti they were supported by Mr. Carey
Read, whom we call the father of the lodge and founder
of the Hall, Mr. Wescott, District Deputy for Dorset, Mr.
Glover, Dl). for South Manta and others. About three,
Bro. Wescott allied the lodge to order, and after the
usual examination to see if all present were Templars in
good standing, the rites preliminary to installation of
officers were gone through, and then the Noble Marquis
with Bro. Glover, under authority (min the Grand Lodge,
installed the OfilOars for the coining quarter in due form.
Members of the Order %ill understand what was done,
suffice it to say that, even with the pre-sure of an already
overpacked lodge, everything was conical eut in the most
perfect manner, and in such a way as to be a credit to
"Flower of the West" Bro. Mendell presided at the liar.
moninm. . . . _

After the installation, for the "good of the Order," Bro.
GLovitt gave a short address, remarking, with regard to
the County Election, that he was sorry they had no candi-
date to put forward who would pledge himself either to
the Permissive Bill, or to closing of the public-houses on
Sunday. lie added that Good Tempters are now fighting
against the "moderate " drinking customs a the age, for
at a dinner of the Licensed Victuallers' it was said by •
Mayor that every respectable publican was opposed to
drunkenness and favourable to temperance. Therefore
we attack the drinking customs, leaving Licensed
Victuallers and such to deal with drunkenness—(hear,
hear).
Bro. Wencorr, in reference to the election, remarked
that he thought it would do injury to their cau-se to
attempt to put up a candidate when there was not the
least chance of carrying him.
The Marquis of TOWNSIIEND expressed the pleasure he
had in being with thew and in seeing they bed such •
commodious lodge-room. This was the first time lie had
attended such a meeting; hut he hoped to attend many
others, lie had thought it right to join this organisation,
for it contended against drunkenness, which has now
become so great an evil that it requires every means to be
used in order to put it down.
A vote of thanks was proposed and seconded to the
noble Marquis and Marchioness, and :arried by cordial
acclamation.
Tea was afterwards provided, and in the evening a
public meeting was held at the ILelcombe Regis National
school.

At the tea meeting the new lodge room was tilled, and
also the room below, yet the friends were obliged to have
a ...rand tea, for about PM were thus entertaineiL
The evening meeting W•to lie) I in the Dirl4' National
in, the main leak, of which was quite tilled. isn
the pl itf..roi wore the 11 mink of T. ownthewl (in the
chair% the M irchione44 if .r.wn.hen I, Rev. E. Bolton
(Glancester.street Omit !11, Mr. T. w. ;WWI% D. D. S nith
Ilant4, Mr. 11 .1. I)ro.vn, Rev, Mr. I Mr. Carey
Read, aad a choir (primal) illy from Hope chapel), Mr.
Bartlett 1,1.,.. id in gat the itiano. The entertainment c-on-
meneeil with nin " hurrah for the queen of England."
The Cu %muss, who was receive I with applause, said
the friends mi. ha I got up thi4 entertainment to inaugu-
rate the owning if the new Tettiplane Hall could not
have done hotter than liv providing what w.es to enjoyable.
But he hope I they would not hate sight of what was pro-
fitable as well a 4 enjoyahle, for they were embarked in
one of the greatest causes that over drew man and women
tagether—fapplau-e). The results of to-day's undertaking
would reach fir beyond the locality where the lodge was
Every-in, present, he hoped, would feel it a
'lily to abstain from strong drink, for it was of no use to
what well to the cause unless we abstained ourselves.
, Although it might seem dictatorial, he was convinced of
thi We have to overcome one if the strongest feelings
, of our nature, that of custom, and it wax most difficult to
induce large numbers of the people to give up what they
enjoymi. But it was very easy to un without it, and after
the esnerienre of three ye mil total abstinence he felt
better than even when he took a moderate quality.
Song, Mim PARSONS : "I love the merry, merry
sunshine':

Song, the Choir: "hail to the Chief."
Rev. E. 1101.-rox then delivered a capital address.
Song, Mr. Dovr.v: "Th. Anchor's weighed."
quarteft, Mr. Ihtvgn, Mr. I 'ROCKER, Mk§ CARTER, and
Miss l'altßoNS: "Johnny Sands."
The COAIRMAN bride none remarks no two other
sultjects beafles temperance, at interesting iii that,
namely, the Omani of doing co.ol in other wet". In the
country had 'seen established the Band of Charity, the
idea being obtained from the Band of llone, hut it em-
braced the flevelopeinent of all parts; of the Christian life.
It embraced the developinent of all ;vats of the Christian
duty— never t I take the name of ilad in vain, never to
tell a falsehood, never to wrong another, never to he cruel.
For this purpose monthly meetingt were held, and beside
that, broil Was distributed to the poor. Another object
writ the forming of a fund to relieve distress among the
poor, stippartefl by shilling subseriptiona yearly, for there
was really a large amount of distress unrelieved through
want of proper organisation. Mr. Read would, lie was
sure receive their sulferiptions and co-operate with a coin-
iiiitt!ee for this desirable purpose —(apnlause,.)
Song, the Choir : "The M ateh on Rhine."
'the Rev. Mr. Cstisotat told what induced hint to
become identified with the temperance ratio'.
Song Mr. CROCKER, "Let ma like a Soldier fall."
Dilet, Messrs. Povidt. and NIARINALIMY. "Alto Well."
Sang, Miss J. Ittuff, "I heard a Siffrit g. "—(enoned).
Mr. T. ii.ovidt, 11.11., said there had I•cen a great
increase of drunkenness among the Wofileß of the land, as
fated in the bail!, Telegraph; but other papers said the
rause was het-luso the holies wore such small bonnets on
the tops of their head —(laugliter), The small bonnets
cannot neuralgia, and the 110etors could find nothing for
the neuralgia hut intoxicating drink. After an eloquent
tpeceli against setting the example id drinking, and
encouraging the brewers to not up hollneA fir ruining people
with one hand, while they gate to churches and cathedral
with the other, lie called upon all to aid in cruthing out
the infin.ter drink, which was ruining our nation—
(applaute).
Song, by the Choir: "Song of the New Year."
Trio, Messrs. Paver, Marshallsay, and Cracker:
Arthur first."

"When

Song and Chorus: "Beautiful Sparkling Water."
Song. by the Choir: "Awake, :Killian Lyre."
MrMissysm said their good friend and brother Mr Read,
who hail done so much to make the day a success, had
aske.l him to move a vote of thanks to the Noble Marquis
for his presence here to-alay—(applause)—and he would
take upon himself to add a vote of thanks to the Mar-
chioness.—There was great applause, and the vote was
carried by the company holding up both hands, followed
by repeated a..plause.
The Noble CHAIRMAN TICHTOSs4NI to theni how
much obliged he WWI for the very kind welcome they had
given to ltins and his wife, and concluded by proposing a
heartt clt vote of thanks to Mr. Read, for his exertions in
the cause of Good Tem pl.sry—(applause).
COATES seconded, and the vote wai unanimously
carried. with applause.
The hair and company sang "Cod SAVO the Queen."
11.. tid. was taken at the :Mora