TEMPERANCE.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6371, 19 February 1886, Page 3

TEMPERANCE.

MB BURNETT'S MISSION.

Mr Burnett's Christchurch mission was commenced last evening. At seven o'clock a-large concourse of people gathered in Cathedral square, and about a quarter of an hour later a procession, beaded by the Addington Workshops Brass Band, started on a> -march through the principal etreete of tbe city. The several societies represented were:—The Women's Temperance Union, the Good Templars, the Sons and Daughters of Temperance, the Bechabites, the Blue Bibbonists, and several Bands of H*pe, and other temperance organisations. The Blue Bibbon Brass Band, which has J recently been formed, took part in the proi cession and in the march, and afterwards in the thoatrefrendered good service. Soon after eight o'clock a very large meeting was held in the Theatre Boyal, where Mr Burnett received a most enthusiastic welcome.

His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr A. Ayers, presided. The Bey. Mr Keall, of Colombo road Wealeyan Church, offered prayer. After which Mr Anss expressed the great pleasure he felt in welcoming Mr Burnett to this city. Mrs Packe, on behalf of the Christchurch Women's Temperance Union; Mr Cutler, of the Sons of Temperance ; Mr Shaw, of the Beehahites; Mr J. T. Smith, for Mr Efford, of the Independent Order of Good Templars; the Bey. Mr Bedstone, on behalf of the ministers of the city; and the Bey. F. W. Isitt, on behalf of the Blue Ribbon Societies and other temperance organisations, tendered very cordial and enthusiastic greetings to Mr Burnett. Mr BtJBHBTT, who on rising to reply was received with enthusiastic cheering, spoke very feelingly of the great kindness he had received at this his first appearance in the beautiful city of the plains. He spoke in glowing language of the excellent work done by Messrs T. W. Glover, B. T. Booth, Sir W. Fox, and Mrs Leavitt. He then, after congratulating the meeting on the gloxioni victory jost gained in the

I fflect&n of foSr* of titf tpomi&nßtPißsmag smart* *fe AJbans, reviewed the rapid *■**■ *4 .lemsexance-canse haa made within littler mow than fity years. Hβ stated, among otter thing*, that the Church of England Temperance Society now Mβ in ita raoke six Biehops, 600,000 members. He also •*■**':***£? drink bill for Great Britain had a t the tost five years been redurel from 41«M»0.000 (to which, he said, M»fiOO£0Oi mere jjhould have been added) to JBiaO,OOO.OOO. Mr Bornett spoke highly of the efforts ladies are successfully making to epreaoT the principles of temperance; and after reviewing his own Misdon, to which he has devoted the "flower of his youth and "the prime of hia manhood, and » which he has taken nearly 120.000 pledges, he spoke very hopefully of hie Chrietchnrch Miflflion. Aβ Mr JJnrnetfe voice was not in good condition last nijtht, hia lecture was shorter than was intended, and the Eev. Mr Williams, of Lyttelton, was called to deliver an address. Mr Williams spoke very highly of Mr Burnett'e services in Lyttelton, and gave a very encTnraging account of a great victory recently won in Atalanta an important city in Georgia, America, where, by a vote of the people, all the drmk saloons have been closed. This evening Mr Bomett will deliver hie popular lecture on •' Father Matthew and J. B. Gougb, and to-morrow evening there will be sgreat Temperance Demonstration on the Market reserve, the meeting to be addressed by Mr Burnett and Mr Crewes. The Blue Bibbon Mission choir will be present, and will eing appropriate pieces in the service a: the theatre this evening.

In the absence of Mr Matthew Burnett, Mr J. Crewes delivered a lecture in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lyttelton, on Wednesday evening last The Bey. W. J. Williams presided. The Wealeyan Church choir were present, and sang a good selection of Sankey*s Hymns. The hall was comfortably fall, and the lecturer was listened to with marked attention. At the conclusion of the lecture, a number went forward and took the pledge, and donned the blue ribbon.