THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 234, 5 October 1886, Page 4

THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.

Mr Burnett's Inaugural [.eot.urs,

Mr Mattitrw Bop.nf.tt, tlio Yorkshire temperance evangelist, appeared Inst night for the first time publicly in Auckland, and addressed a crowded as semblage in the City Hall. Mr Theo, Cooper presided, nnd behind him on the platform were seated about thirty members of Temperance Societies, the majority of them wearing regalia, some of the Order of Good Templars, and others of the Order of Rechabites. In the orchestral stalls there was a strong choir undor Mr Parkins, and so placed as to face the audience. Prior to the meeting in tbe City Hall, the Good Templars, Rechabites, and members of other temperanco organisations assembled, by arrangement, at the Ponsonby reservoir and, accompanied by the bands of the Salvation Army and Nowton Temperance Society, besides bearing lighted torches lent by the Newton Firo Brigade, they inarched down to Queen-street, Mr Burnett and several of tho lcadors of the causo occupying a carriage in the procession. . In opening tho public meeting, the Chairman said that its purpose was to fittingly welcome Mr Burnett, who was aptly known as tho Father Matthew of Australia, and on behalf of tlio assemblage lie cordially wished him in his work here. But they woro not only mot to welcome him—they wero met to co oporato with and assist him. That day a larger criminal calendar had boon presented at the Supremo Court than any oily in Now Zealand had ovor beforo known, and threefourths of the cases upon it were referable to drink. Ho hoped tomporanco offort would not bo relaxed until intoxicating liquor had been banished, Hymn, 'To the Work,'' choir. Brief speeches of wolcome wore (lion delivered by tho Rev. 11. Bavin, ns deputy for the Rev. 0 Worboys (President of the Bluo Ribbon Army), Mr Kobt. French (Kochabites), and Mr loshua Robinson (Auckland Total Abstinence Society). Choir—"Whore is my Wand'ring Boy To-night ':" Solo part by Mrs Bettany. Mr .1. .lonkins (representative of the Good Templars) did not know why he had been selected to represent Tomplary, seeing that ho also belonged to tho Rechabite Rand of Hope and the Blue Ribbon Army. Netdid lie know why tho four bodies should be distinguished. But these wero the days of specialism, and ho supposed specialised effort accounted for tho division, Tho Bluo Ribbon Army deserved credit for acting as a centre round'which to mass the temperance people whon thoy got such a " monster" man an Mr Burnett into this city. The Rechabites represented pounds, shillings, and ponce, and tho Templars represented those who woro exerting themselves to snatch tho " boozy " from the causo of thoir ruin. They were all delighted to read in tho Stab that night of tho arrest of that villain Caffrey (loud applause), and thoy all endorsed the verdict of tho press upon him; but not a word had been said when poor old Mary Robinson was thrown ovor the wharf the othor iay for the Bake of the little rum in hor pocket. Tho only thing said of her was that she had been sixty-three times up at the Police Court, and yet drink was ruining moro lives than all tho CafTreys in the world.

Mr W. J. Macdormott (as representative of tho Band of Hope) heartily welcomed Mr Burnett, and wished him as much success aa his predecessors had achieved. Hia present visit had taken tho Band of Hope Union Choir by surprise, but they hoped it would not be his last visit, and he could assure him in that event that the choir would be fully prepared with a musical service for the next mission.

Hymn, "Sowing the Seed," Choir. Mr Alfred Cox announced tho lecturing encasements of Mr Burnett for tho woek, provoking applause by a novel pronunciation of the words " St. Sepulchre's." Mr Burnett, who was' decorated with Good Tomplar and Rechabite sashes, was then introduced to tho audience, and was warmly recoivod. He is a tall, flight man, with a full sonorous voice, distinguished by a alight lisp. Ho began by returning thanks for tho very cordial weicomo accorded him on hisfirstpublicappcarancein this beautiful quoen city of tho North. He then explained that it had always beon hie custom to have his addresses preceded by tho singing of a hymn by the lull audionco, and ho thoroforo roquesteil. his hearers to oblige him by joining in singing " Hold the Fort," which was an ospocial favo-irito ol his own. Tho audionco accordingly roso to their foot, and, led by the choir, sang tho hymn doMred of them.

Mr Burnett thon resumed. Ho expressed obligations to tho choir and aiidionce for the hymn. Ho had put on the regalia to practically demon-trate to tho Rechubites, with whom ho hud been associated for 20 years, and to the Good Templars, whose ordor he joined in 1872, his gratitude for the leception ho had met that night —a reception which had proved to bo one of tho most enthusia.-tic outdoor demonstrations that had boen accorded him since his arrival in Now Zealand in March of last year, In order to show the breadth and catholicity of his platform, ho could havo wished to have hud side by side with him on the stage that night the captain of tbo Salvation Army, also tho clergy of the Episcopalian, Presbyterian, AVesleyan, Baptist, and other Christian bodies to say a fow words of kindly wel come. (A voice : " They will be here tomorrow night." Moroovor, ho would have been delighted to have seen there the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church. (Applause.) Although he could not boast sucli lengthy sorvice in the cause of temperance os Mr Robiuson, yet it was 80 yoars since he began his labours, and it was his pride and boast that his platform had always been thoroughly unsectarian. Ho had had the privilege of standing side by s}de, on the eamo broad, temperance Dlatform aa Dr. Templo, Anglican Bishop of London, Sir Wilfred Lawson, leader of the Local Option movement, and Cardinal Manning, that worthy follower of tho brightest of all great lights in the temperance movement, and especially pear to t(]o hpaj-t of dpar o}d Jreland, the lato illuatrious and ever to be remembered Father Mathow. (Loud cheers). Wherever the English language was spokon Father Mathew was revered for having raised one of the greatest movements that temperance could boast. Eight millions of men, women, apf} pfiildren in two hemispheres (England and America, had fcHen saved through his instrumentality, end he had loft behind him a name imperishable in the history of the tefopeirange movement throughout the world, fyfight God bless men like Cardinal Manning and like Father Nugent, of Liverpool (the Father Mathew ol Lancashire), on whose platform it had been his privilege to be welcomed the last time he was in England, whije standing beside him weje Chas. Gavratt anfj pther great lights of the movement. It would be understood, therefore, that he invited all lovers of tpmperanoe to bis platform, irrespective of nationality, social distinction, class or creed. His plfftforfß for a garter of a century past had peon CfS hroad as humanity itself. Since his advent to tijia side ftf t{je '.yprlrl he had boen welcomed by the Govornora of thß various Australasian colonies, and from none had he received greater eympathy and co-operation than from our own genial Governor, Sir Wm. Jervois. He had had on his platform Premiers and Bishops, and other gentlemen occupying tj;p very highest positions—gentlemen representing ovei-y phnse of intellectual, religious, and political opinion, standing shoulder to shoulder witii him iv the >york of rescuing the fallen, lifting up the degraded, seeking to restore to sobriety hap^ pihess ond God, the poor, degraded and lost through drink. The Mayo,? of Ipvercargill was the first official gentleman to welcc',iie hjm to New Zealand, and it was in that far Southern city that he stated his intention to do for New Zealand what he had already dpnp for pyery othpr Australian colonyvisit jts tflwi>s, villages and hamleta, and rescue fche perishing. Such a gigantic undertaking not one man in ten thousand could form any conception of. [At this stago a lady fainted, and Mr Burnett advised the application of cold water] The lecturor then went on to say that durjtig his first six months in the South Island he travelled 400 miles and enrolled more than 12,000 names in the cause of temperance. (Loud applause). During the next few months he enrolled 5,200 others, and since ho came to tho North Island he had enrolled 8,000 more. IJe cajpe (,o Auckland with great expectations, for it was tsno\vn as the great stronghold of temperance in Mew Zealand. He was grateful to the sepular press for the help it had always given hi)ii, and he recognised it as onp of the most powerful engjnps for gpod. If he lecturer then entered upon an enumeration of the temper: ance agencies at work in this city, and the names of the temperance lecturers and workers who had visited it. Having recognised among the audience and called up to the platform the Mayor of Wellington, Mr Burnett concluded with a fervid eulogy of the temperance cause and a warm appeal to a'l to join it. He asked those who had confidence in him lis a leader to hold up their h^nds, and the audience responded en masse. In conclusion, he requested all who had taken the pledge to stand up, and nearly everyone present answered the appeal. Mr Burnett expressed big high gratification at this testimonial, announced that bis stay in Auckland waa

limi'fid to a fortnight, and called for throe rheers for temperance, which were heartily '' A rail was thon made for three cheers lor Mr Burnett, and the building rang with tho lusty response. As the audience tiled out, Mr Burnett appealed to those who had not yet given in their adhesion to the temperance movement to come forward and sign the pledge.