The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-26 00:00:00

TEMPERANCE FETE AT THE HEALTH.
EXHIBITION.

A very successful temperance fits was
.held on
cSoantiniredcatiyon with th
at
itthele Church
f Englandonoal Health
ilothExliition
Temperancein
Society. In addition to the ordinary attractions of
the eihibition there was a public temperance con-
ference in the Royal Albert Hall; a concert in the
Diocese;sanie a buildingnothoefr "
concert voicesf
flirokme
numtheberßct
voices
from the Diocese of London, both under the leader-
shiplo of Mr. G. J. Chapple ; a competition for the best
banner exhibited by any branch affiliated to the society;
and finally, a great mass meeting in the Albert Hall. No
fewer than SO,OOO visitors passed through the turnstiles.
At the conference, which took place in the morning, the
Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, who presided, said it
must be a cause of deep thankfulness to every earnest
heart to observe how speedily public opinion had
consolidated on the subject of temperance. There
was nothing more hopeful in regard to their future
than to notice how what at first were scattered and
sometimes incoherent efforts in the cause had at last
grown together into a firm expression of intelligent
public opinion. In illustration of this he alluded to
the five resolutions which were passed only a month
ago at the great meeting held at Liverpool. One of
those resolutions urged the diminution of facilities
towards indulgence of drink; another pronounced in
favour of popular local control; and a third distinctly
recognised and confirmed the necessity of Sunday
closing. They might also well derive encouragement
from the progress made by the Blue Ribbon move-
ment. Public men were not ashamed to say a kind
word for this movement, the Prime Minister himself
regarding it as gratifying and speaking well for the
future of this country.
The Rev. J. W. Horsley, chaplain of Her Majesty's
prison, Clerkenwell, read a paper on "Rescue Work,"
in which he said the most superficial inquiry would
reveal the fact that the majority of backelidings would
never have occurred but for the absence of providing
sponsors or guardians, for at any rate all new members
of a society who were known to have had temptations
to intemperance. Mr. R. Sawyer described the
progress of temperance among railway servants, and
Aliss M. Nevill spoke of the need of the Women's
Union. The Rev. N. Dawes, chairman of the
Juvenile Union, said that the interest felt in the cause
of temperance at Eton, Harrow, Marlborough,
Charterhouse, and other public schools, as well as
at the Universities, was one of the most hopeful and
encouraging signs of progress, and Major Malet, of the
awwith
Army Temperance Union, gave a gratifying account of
the spread of total abstinence in the army, and denied
that soldiers as a class were more prone to drunken-
ness than civilians. The Rev. Canon Ellison, president
ld medal, Temperance
Soc
behalf of the executive, presented Mr. Weston, the
of
e lt-hken own Churchp pedestrian, sf r Englandin, h a gold
ytetachoend
to which was a bit of blue riband, in recogni-
tion of the admirable services he had rendered the
society by the lectures and addresses which he had
delivered throughout the country, and of the
wonderful pluck, perseverance, and strength he
had shown in his recent walk of 5000 miles. Mr.
Weston acknowledged the compliment paid him, and
the proceedings closed with the Benediction.
lathe evening the Bishop of Liverpool, who was chair-
man of the great mass meeting, saidthatinternperance
was the greatest enemy against which ministers of the
Gospel had to contend. He heartily thanked God
that the Church of England had taken up the tempe-
rance cause in the way she had. The Church was
now awake to the evils of the day; and upon what-
ever other points her bishops and clergy might be
divided, they were resolved to unite in the grand
cause of temperance. The Excise returns showed
there was a falling off in the demand for strong
drink; but satisfactory as had been their progress in
the past, their motto must still be "Onward, forward,
excelsior." How much remained yet to be done in
the matter of Sunday closing, for instance. In
Liverpool, though it was not famed for temperance,
a great majerity of the people were in favour of
Sunday closing. He urged them to press the subject
of Sunday closing upon the attention of Parliament
until they obtained a complete victory. The licensing
laws required amendment; and he hoped that Satur-
day evening would be rendered more temperate and
sober by an insistance upon the earlier closing of the
public-houses. Mr. E. Stafford Howard, M.P., in a
speech which was well received, advocated as a means
of promoting temperance, the elevation and improve-
ment of the amusements and recreations of the
people, and concluded by moving a resolution in
favour of Sunday closing. This was seconded by Mr.
Mark Knowles and unanimously adopted; and the
proceedings which were agreeably diversified by the
singing of Professor Andres Swiss Alpine choir,
shortly afterwards terminated. The grounds of the
exhibition were brilliantly illuminated and were
densely thronged.

The belle of a party was standing in a thoughtful
mood, and on being asked in what she was so
absorbed, answered—" I was trying to think whigh
I enjoy most—to hear myself praised or my rival AV
down."

ScnoLAßstur.—Butler (on leaving after his Month's
Warning) : "Then I wish you 'Bong Swor,' Madam
—But what's the good of speaking French to youl
, You don't understand the language ! '—Punch.
ARABIA INruux.--The Soudan.—Punch.

The fifty miles amateur bicycling charr.pionshlp
was held at the Crystal Palace last Saturday, and was
won by F. R. Fry Clifton, 8.C., by a yard only, the
full time being ..hr. 51rnin. 16 3-5 sec.

BRIGANDAGE IN TIIIIKEY.—PubIic security around
Constantinople is reported to be in a very bad state.
At the village of Tchekmekeny, near Scutari, and
about eight miles distant from Pers., while the popu-
lation of the village was in the mosque, a band of
well-armed brigands came to the door of the build-
ing, and after firing several volleys at the ceiling,
entered the plam and rifled every individual of his
money and valuables. The Government officials of
the village, consisting of a zaptie and a tax collector,
gave up their arms, which the chief of the brigands
returned, saying they were Government property, and
he did not wish to have any unpleasantness with the
Government. The village of Bozkhali, also within a
few miles of Cie capital, was attacked, and rfllaged bit
brizands durira the past fartnieht.

J.J.Uv-a•