ORDER OF RECHABITES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17429, 13 April 1922, Page 3

ORDER OF RECHABITES.

DOMINION JUBILEE. The Order of Rechabites attained its jubilee in the Dominion this month, the celebrations in connexion with which having commenced in Wellington last week, delegates being present from Britain and Australia as well as, from all parts of New Zealand. The overseas delegates will visit Christdhurcn. this week, and will be tendered ft civic reception on Saturday by the Mayor, and a conversazione in the evening. The principal overseas delegate is Mr Amos Tomlinson, of South' port, England, who is the present High Chief Ruler of the English lodges. With him is Mr J. H. Lear-Caton, ot Birmingham, who occupies the position of Past High Chief Ruler in England. The • Australian delegate is Mr . John Vale, of Melbourne, who has filled the ?osition of district secretary to the lctorian Rechabites for some years. ' The Order of Rechabites as it is known in the Dominion to-day was a product of the British Army,, although the name is Biblical in origin. Long before that, however, there were Rechabites in New Zealand. As early as. 1843 a branch of the Order was opened in Nelson by a few advocates of temperance, who came amongst'the first batch of settlers, and for some time, amidst ti-treo, flax and fern, meetings were held and certificates of membership issued. Mi J. W. Andrews, J.P., of Ashburton, has to tins day the certificate given to his father by the Nelson branch in 1843. For a period of somo seventeen the Order lay in abeyance. Then in 1863 the 65th Regiment arrived in Auckland, and with it came_ns the regimental tailor Sergeant William Johnson, who, by his efforts amongst the soldiers and civilians, was able to, set up a "tent" of more permanent duration in the northern part of the colony? Sergeant Johnson subsequently removed to Wellington, and on Decern-; ber 13th, 1866, the Hope of Wellington tent was opened, Sergeant Johnson becoming itw Chief &?%• Brahtljes 1 were openeoTalso'in Napie'rV Btenfleiip,; and Greymoutb.' 5 In February, 1872,, another charter' was granted to New'. Zealand, to be numbered 86 and situated in Wellington. The charter reached New Zealand at Ahe end of September,, 1872, and by this date two other branches bad been opened, one a£ Oofton, with Sir William Fox as its chief, ,and a second branch in Wellington. These six branches constituted the New Zealand Central District No. 86, and on December 31st, 1872. when the first district meeting was njfeld, t" e f e were present at that meeting: William Johnson, Francis H. Fraeer, George Sage. Enstaf Janson, Henry BowaterV Gilbert Carson, John Beck, D. Robertson, R. M. Read. R. Jennos. The only surviving of this meeting are Messrs Gilbert Carson, of Wanganui, and R. Jennes, now o resid» ing at the Lower/Hntt. .