The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-10-25

Aa6 1880 80
wait upon him or her Immediately. and endeavor
by kindness and iaithfnlness 10 rescue the weak
one. Enquiries are also made respecting the
health of the members, and If any are reported
as sick provision Is made Tor their being visited,
and if necessary waited upon. If any have been
absent from the Lodge for three successive weeks,
they are also visited to ascertain TIE cause. and if
any are in circumstances Of indigency, help is al
forded if possible. Arrangements are also made
for visiting, holding meetings, delivering lectures,
preaching sermons, and means are devised for
raising the fallen, protecting the endangered,
strengthening the weak, comforting the sorT0w-
ing and extending the influence of our Order
throughout the locality in which the Lodge is sit
uated. All the meetings are opened and closed
with prayer, conducted with cheerfulness and de-
corum, and are highly calculated to elevate the
social. intellectual, and moral natures of those
who attend them. The result of this careful or
ganization is, that the violated pledges do not on
an average exceed five per cent, and some Lodges
show a still more gratifying state of affairs. Thus
the working of this great Temperance Society.
this 'Teetotal Freemasonry is shown 10 be wise
and efficient, so far as it relates 70 the protection
and development of its membership.
IL remains for me to show how we are endeavOr-
ing to secure that part of our programme which
relates TO the suppression of the liquor traffic. In
attempting this, we have to deal with the public,
and especially with the middle classes-the work
ers in modern society. At present the majority
Of these are either but partially enlightened or
misinformed as to the true nature Of the drink
trafhc.-they DO not generally see how 1t affects
the sober as well as the drinker, how 1t operates
on the future as well as on the present. Now we
aim at changing the current of public opinion on
this gigantic eVil,-and by the employment of
competent lecturers, by securing the cooperation
Of Christian Ministers who are TEMPERANCE advo-
Gates, and by the distribution of temperance lit
%erature, we hope ere long TO bring about a differ
ent state of things, and then by prompt, consist
ent, and united action at our elections, we conf
IDENTIFY expect to be able through our representa-
tlves IN Parliament to secure an enlightened, a re-
formed, a Christian legislation on the drink trafic.
The Good Templars cannot consistently aid in the
election of drunkards, or those who uphold the
drinking customs, and though we have been
laughed at, yet the influence of the temperance
party is beginning to be felt, and we intend to 90
on with this great work OF social reformation.
At present q thousands are being made drunk by
Act of Parliament, - and we are determined, if
possible, TO put an end TO that state of things, and
get the laws so reversed as to be on the side of
sobriety. Large numbers of our fellow country
men are being robbed and killed by the common
sale of intoxicating drinks, and the whole colony
Is burdened with a taxation, In order TO defray in
part the natural consequences of the legalized
traffic therein. We intend to show from statistics
and other sources, that more husbands, brothers,
fathers, sons and children, are slain annually by
drink, than by the sword or modern means of
warfare; that poverty, pauperism, prostitution,
lunacy, and an attendant crushing taxation re-
suit from this God-cursed traffic; that the founda-
tions of purity, integrity, honesty, industry and
prosperity are being undermined by this demon.
alcohol; that our social, moral, and political in
situations are threatened thereby, and our national
greatness seriously marred, if not actually en-
dangered by the continuance of the present sys-
tenn. In the circulation of correct information
consists Il chief work of Good Templarism. We
can nv the means cfa ta6 SOOpor or I Nor roocb
those who only need to know their own and their
cOuntry's interest, in order to be led to WELD a
power against alcohol which will deprive it of its
license to rob and demoralIze men. Every
elector has a mind that may be informed, and a
conscience that may be aroused, and every Good
Templar has a power by which that mind and con-
science may be affected" 1t is with q view to
the votes Of electors chiefly, that we unite our
energies to affect the public mind. And while
call well instructed Good Templars believe the
Permissive Bill to be sound in principle, benevO-
lent in aim, and one demanded by the exigencies
of the nation and the age" yet they believe that
1t Will be better to utterly abolish by law the
manufacture of Intoxicating drinks. For this, as
our ultimate object, we labor, and we look forward
with assurance to the time when success shall
crown our efforts.
Dear reader, | earnestly and affectionately in
vite you TO come and join us. | appeal to you on
behalf Of the poor degraded victims of intemper-
ance, who may yet be reclaimed by your assist
ance and example. On behalf of many a worn
and wasted wife, and in pity to thousands of neg
lected, furnishing, and d~isgraced children, touch
not, taste not, handle not the accursed thing which
has produced this contamination of moral and
social misery for the SAKE of the virtue, the
morality, the happiness, and the prosperity of
our country. help to stay the plague. Remove
the cause Of intempeTance-drink-and the effect
will cease. This is the only remedy. Take away
this stum~bling-block from before the people, saith
Il. X II H. -I-FH A. - -
and God even our own God shall bless rs.
a SUMMARY VIEW OF GOOD TEMPLARIsM.
The Principle IF the Order are these-Total
abstinence, enforced by a Lifelong Pledge, and
the Absolute Prohibition Of the Manufacture or
Sale Of Intoxicating drinks as beverages.
The Policy of the Order is broad, allowing
Subordinate Lodges to act according 70 circum-
stances, localities, and times.
The Basis of Good Templarism is Non-benef-
ciary-the object being to do good rather than re-
ceive pecuniary benefit.
The Financial arrangements are such as do not
present an obstacle to the poorest joining us-the
Initiation Fee and Quarterly Dues being as low
as the necessary expenses of the Lodge will allow.
The Membership consists of about zoe, 900 per-
sons, both sexes are admitted and on a perfect
equality, and all are entitled to the privileges of
the Order.
The Mode of working is simple, every member
Is a worker, but competent lecturers are employed,
Temperance Literature is circulated, and united
and consistent action is taken at the Municipal or
other elections.
The Results are most encouraging. The vio-
lated pledges do not exceed FIVE per cent. on an
average, annually; large numbers of inebriates
have been reclaimed; whole districts have been
freed from the curse of drink, and the Order is
now the largest and most successful Temperance
organization in the world.
Commercial Importance Of the South Sea
Islands.
An earnest struggle for commercial supremacy