RECHABITE ORDER.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17431, 17 April 1922, Page 9

RECHABITE ORDER.

HIOH OFFICER WELCOMED. The Jubilee of the Independent Order of Rechabitee is at present being celebrated in New Zealand, and some distinguished members of the Order have come from overseas to be present. Amongst them is Bro. H. J. Lear Caton, of Birmingham, Past High Chief Buler, who was accorded a civic reception on Saturday morning, wihen the Mayor (Dr. Thacker) presided' over a small attendance. Bro H. Holland introduced Bro. bear Caton, whose services to the Order, he said, had been very distinguished. lhe Order had done great work, during the war, and 11,000 members had given thenlives, while the widows and orphans were greatly indebted to the Order for the assistance it had given ilhem. The Mayor said that tho High Chief Ruler, Bro. Amos Tomlinson, and Bro. J Vale, Victorian treasurer, werev owing to their North. Island menta, unable to be present. They,, with Bro. Lear Caton, comprised the delegation to New Zealand. The Oraer, proceeded Dr. Thacker, had a million members, and ranked third amongst friendly societies. RechabiteG had dona magnificent service during tho war, whSeby their example of temperance and tolerance they were a great and steadying influence in community life. In returning thanks, Bro. Lear Caton said that it was a pleasure to visit a Dominion that had done so much to assist the Empire during tho Great VVar. Great Britain was at present in tho throes of great industrial and economic trouble, but tho heart of the nation still beat absolutely true, and the people, were untouched by the waves of anaroay 'which were sweeping over Europe. Tito Rechabite Order had shown great loyalty during the war, and 150,000 or its members had gone to tho front, seven winning the Victoria Cros3, and 430 gaining other honours. The Order, had been established only 86 years, but it had during that time accomplished, much, largely owing to its missionary and pioneer 'spirit, and though it had started with eleven members, it had spread to the whole of the Englishspeaking world. When the Order was only seven years old, Bro. Alfred Saunders had arrived .in New Zealand (in 1&16), and toad established a tent in Nelson, and another in Wellington in tho following year. However, it was not until the '7o's that the Order became firmly established in New Zealand, but in the last 50 years it had increased fiftyfold in membership. The Order had high ideals, which members consistently tried to uphold. It believed strongly in working amongst the rising generation, and its juvenue membership was equal in numbers to that of the next three friendly societies put together. Entering the ideals of the rising generation was the only means by which a community could hope to attain greatness. In conclusion, Mr Caton spoke of hia recent trip through America, which he described as a great republic. The Order, ihe 6aid, worked for temperance, thrift, and brotherhood, and personally he thought that a "dry" Empire would be as big an asset to the world as a ••dry" republic. Bro. A I'. Hassall welcomed Bro. Caton on behalf of the Canterbury Provincial Council;

SUNDAY MEETING. Mr J. H. Lear-Caton, Past High Chief Ruler, and Mr John Vale, of Melbourne, of the Order of Rechabites, addressed a meeting in the Grand' Theatre last night. Dr. Sandston presided. Mr Lear-Caton referred to the great change that had taken place throughout the world .on the subject of alcohol sinco tho institution of the Rechabite Order in Britain in 1835. He urged that the Christian Church should free itself of all complicity with the liquor tra ffi c - , ■,.- T i j Mr Yale taid that when Mr Lloyd George made his memorable declaration "We are fighting Germany, Austria, and Drink, and the worst of these i 3 drink,'' he was flunking of drink-induced slackness at the time when the safety of the Empire depended on all doing their hest Britain grappled pretty well with the problem during the war period ; it was a pity that there_ was now a drift back to pre-war conditions.