The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-08-21 00:00:00

GOOD TEMPLARS DISTRICT MEETING Al
WEST MALVERN. -

The usual quarterly session of the Worcestershire I
District Lodge of the Independent Order of Go •;c1
'Pemplars was held at West Malvern Institute on
Monday. Toe session was opeued by Bro, Poeie,
District Worthy Chief Templar, who preside e a id
urged party consideratiens to be laid aside, and
that everything be done to runlet: ties great
temperance cause.'
Tne District Secretary, Bro. A. H, Saunders of
Stourbridge, read his report, which seowed that
there were 715 members in. the district; there
were, however, some lodges from which he had not
received any report.
The District Superintendent of the Juvenile Tem-
piers, Mr.. George Smith, of Worcester, read his re-
port, showing that there 444 members of this
portant branch of the order in the district The
D.W. Treasurer's (Bro. Tomlinson, of Worcester,)
report showed a small balance in favour of the
I lodge, the accounts having been audited and foiled
correct by Bro. W. Spurgeon.
The Lodge adjourned for luncheon, after which
business was resumed. Amongst the resolutions
passed was the following, moved by Bro. George
Smith, "That this district lodge congratulates Sir
Wilfrid Lawson on his regaining his seat in Par-
liament at the eieneral Election, and rejoices that
the hon. baronet is in the enjoyment of a satisfac-
tory state or health. The lodge also gratefully
records the important fact that nearly 300 ire.mbers
have been elected to Parliament pledged to support
Local Option. Further, the lodge expresses a hope
that Sir Wilfrid will, on an early date, takesteps to
initiate a debate in Parliament, so that politic d
temperance may be kept prominently before the
country, and the 282 local option members have an
opportunity of voting upon some definite measwe
of Liquor Law Reform.' This was seconded by
Bro. W. Cooke, and supported by Bro. C. E.
Brambley. It was resnlved, on the motion of Bro.
J. A. Hooper, seconded by Bro. W. Scott, 'Tut
this District Lodge earnestly requests all subordm-
ate lodge members and electoral superint.enientg
to give immediate and special attention to the a:I
important and urgent question of electoral reform."
It was moved by the -Key. W. Spurgeon, •ecoudeet
cy Mr. R. W. Tomlinson, and resolved, "That t. is
district lodge of Worcestershire has beard with
deep regret of the decease of the Rev, Callen
Amphlett, and desires to tender its sincere sy,a-
p.ithy to the relatives and friends of th-2 family in
this their hour of trial and sorrow. The lodge
further gratefully recognises the important ie riices
r ndered to the cause of temperance and lirensiti:4
relorm by the philosophical utterances and courage-
ous acts of the revered Canon, and rejoice, to eJ-
tertain the conviction that "though being dead he
yet speaketh," and that his beneficial inflnen.e,
,till lives, and will be an abiding inspiration e
emperanee reformers."
A vote of thanks was accorded to Ear; Beauchamp
ior his kindness in sending a basket of grap aid
melons to the district lodge.
All the above resolutions were unanimously
passed.
After tea had been partaken of, the company
adjourned to St Ann's Well, where an open sir
iileeting was held. The Rev. Mr. Chapple, Wos-
leyan Minister, of Brierley Hill, opened the inept-
lug, and the Rev. W. Spurgeon, and Bro. Poole
(Dudley) also spoke.
Brvther Brambley urged upon good temnlar3 the
necessity of voting for temperance candidates
whetier they were Liberals or Conservatives. They
lad in thet division a baronet and banker, wilt),
from all he had learnt of him, was most widely re-
spected, and a gentleman as geuerous as he was
good. There was, however, one thing he lacked,
3ir Edmund Lechmere lacked energy for and eye,-
path}, with the great temperance movement. Trie
publicans had great influence in the country.
Sir Edmund knew this and acted accordingly
What was the good of wealth and plenty if the,
were living on the volcanoes of vice? Drink we,
the great curse ,of the nation. Sir Edmund Leo '-
mere, instead of helping in the temperance move-
cent supported the publicaus. At Eveshate they
dad in Sir Richard Temple a baronet who supported
local option, and he was a man who deserved their
support. He believed Lord Salisbury and Lord
Randolph Churchill, now at the head of ati.iirs.
eould do as much as ti ey dare for the temperaute
people.
The meeting closed with the singing of the
Doxology.