The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-09-20 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND GOOD TEMPLAR I'.

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The Templar Hall warn well filled on Thursday evening
at a meeting to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the
introduction of Good Teuiplary into this country. Bro.
W. C. Hulmwood, of Weymouth, Dorset D cr., was
to have presided,_ but being prevented, the presicney
WM invested in Bro. sad Rev. J. Davis, M.A. (Brid-
port.) There were present on the platform the Grand
Marshal and D.O.T. Giover, from Southampton, Rev.
E. Francis, Bros. Coleman, Diment, Monteith,
Hockey, itc., itc. Mr. C. Warren presided at the
harmonium, and the Senior Temple Choir gave some
excedent gime and songs at intervals between the
speeches,
Thy rev, chairman apologised for the absence of Mr.
liolmwood, and thee spoke of the facts originating
the order in the town of Birmingham. Daring the
preceding year nearly 50,000 persons had joined the
order. They now had 90,000 acluite, and ald.ult 50.000
members of the Juvenile acid Senior Temples. The
, temples were of more importance even than toe
, lodges, they were their hope, so he would urge the
adults to entourage and help them in the important
work. Through the instrumentality of the order
20,000 drunkaids have been reclaimed.
Brii. Monteith sad he had been an abstainer for 46
years, and was not yet tired of it. He believed it was
the duty of people to deny themselves for the sake of
example, and to encourage each other to hoid fast
their principles.
The Pre-ident spoke of the Good Templar and
Temperance Orphanage, whose existenoe was due to
their order. The T mperance Hospital was engaged
in solving the prAlezu whether alcohol could not be
dispensed with in eic.kaess. Their order had a deal of
influence in the pasties( of the Irish and Welsh Sun-
day Closing Bills, and be hoped that before another
anniversary they would be able to spathe( the Sunday
Bill for England. (dear.) General Roberts had
borne strong test.mony that soldiers did not need in-
toxicating dilute, so they had drawn witnesses from
the army as well as the navy.
Bro. (.lover, in an able speech, said that at the grand
Lode) at York at the end of November next it wee
believed that an increase of 10,000 in their member.
would be declared, for although they had suffered a
decrease some time sines, their numbers bad been
increasing largely of late. He (the speaker) was one
of the English delegates at the Right Worthy Grand
Lodge of the World held at Belfast recently, and be
found that ptogress from all parts of the world was
most encouraging. They had passed in the House a
bill for Sunday Cloei Lig in Ireland, and Mr. Gladstone
sold Mr. Warton over the Welsh Sunday Cloeiug
fur when Mr. IVarton went to the House one morn.
ing he found they had passed the Welsh Bill. So
v'though Mr. Wartun was generally wide awake, he
wad caught napt.iug for once (laughter). No doubt it
was the snuff he took, for he had been told that that
was all the people of Bridport ever gut for him—just
a pinch of snuif (loud laughter). He would strongly
urge the lodges to du all In their power to light down
the national &agrees.
The Rev. E. Francis next spoke. He was not •
Templar himself but he earnestly joined with them
in their work. Hs was in favour of Sunday Closing,
and as for the loss sustained by the revenue in the
event of the traffic being closed altogether, be felt sure
that when that time came there would be less gaols,
wockhuusee, and police protection required (applause)
Missionary work le India had been much rota dad by
the introduction of drink, and beheld it that Christain
ministers and men ought to help or lead every in .ve•
merit, for the :melioration of those around them. They
were on the side of victory, and if they were earnest
and persistent they would have the victory.
At the close of the speeches, votes of thanks were
passed to the chairman, the speakers, an I the choir for
their services, the mewing closing with the benedic-
tion.

A public tea wit+ laid in the hall during the after-
noon, partakon of by about 90 persons. Bro. F. Long
laid the tables in his usual good style, giviog satisfac-
tion to a I present.