RATIONAL SICK AND BURIAL ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Volume 6729, Issue 6729, 22 October 1884, Page 2

RATIONAL SICK AND BURIAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting in connection with the above was held in the Kensington Hotel last evening, and as showing the interest taken in the proceedings, the holding capacity of the lodge-room was taxed to the utmost. Those, however, who had attended in anticipation of further lively passages were disappointed, for Mr Reade, who had hitherto played an important part in the proceedings, did not put in an appearance. The Chairman (Mr S. H. Carter) said: This is a special meeting, gentlemen, called to hear the report of Mr Coverlid and myself in regard to the affairs of the Society. In presenting this report we propose to deal first with this man Reade, and to give you full particulars of his career, in order, if necessary, to justify the action we have taken in the matter. It appears that Reade arrived at Port Chalmers some time in 1883 in the ship Dunedin, under the name of Bennct, and at once represented himself to ministers and others as an ordained Church of England minister and temperance lecturer, and also pretended to b# an accredited agent of the British Imperial Sick Benefit and Life Assurance Society of Western Bridge road, London. Ho also stated that this Society had paid his passage out and commissioned him to open up branches of the Society In New Zealand ; but we find that he really worked his passage out os a ship’s baker, and Captain Whitson advanced him money in London to get his clothes out of pawn. During the voyage ho conducted prayermeetings and preached several sermons, but a fellowpassenger informs us that his religion was soon estimated at its true value, and he was actually detected stealing the ship's flour for the sake of getting a little profit on bis own account. He was also generally very objectionable, being at one time knocked down by the boatswain. He at once started at the Port os agent of the Imperial Society, but finding business bad ho went to Waikouaiti and tried to obtain there the appointment of Maori missionary, and also canvassed the district to enable him to build a church, of which he was, of course, to be the pastor. Finding that he was unable to raiao the requisite amount of funds he went to the bank at Waikouaiti, and tried to induce the bank to advance the money—a proposal which, 1 need scarcely say, was politely refused. He also managed whilst at Waikouaiti to make the acquaintance of a single lady of independent means living by herself. His visits at last became so frequent and prolonged that she hod to get the assistance of the police to keep him away. We next hear of him as a temperance lecturer on the Flat; and he also managed at this time to ingratiate himself into the good graces of the Rev. Mr Ward, who took him to bo what he pretqqded -to bo—a thoroughly Christian young man ; and Mr Ward allowed him to preach in his pulpit, and he prayed very fervently at his prayer meetings, and it was the very fact of his friendship with Mr Ward which induced Mr Dyson to join him in establishing a branch of the British Imperial Benefit Society. Mr Dyson went to the expense of getting an office fitted up and a lot of printing put in hand f but before the thing was fairly started Mr Bonnot suddenly disappeared, taking with him the entrance lees and moneys of the Society, and leaving Mr Dyson to pay ail liabilities—a matter of LlO or more. He next appears to have obtained a situation under the name of Reade as canvasser for the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, and we find him at Outram, where he took proposals and first premiums from several people, and again exhibits the weakness of sticking to all moneys received instead of sending them to the Dunedin office. Ho also preached at Greytown, and, having finished his business in Outram, we find he levanted without paying his board or livery stable bill. He next goes to Brighton, still as an agent of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, and whilst there preached regularly, but some people out there took exception to his divinity, and in reply to a letter in the ‘ Taieri Advocate,’ from one who was not a believer in his doctrines, he wrote to the •Advocate’ on March 15 last. [The letter was here road, and in it Mr E. A. E Reade, the writer, claimed to be a duly-ordained minister.]

Mr F. Fulton here stated that there were several gentlemen interested in the matter outside the lodge-room. They were under the impression that signs, grips, and passwords were necessary to entitle them to admission.

It having been explained that the meeting was a public one, several persons crowded into the room, which was already filled, making the heat almost unendurable. The Chairman went on to say that they next found Reade at Kuri Bush, He thou appears to have preached at Kuri Bush, and at once fell in love with a young woman who was in the congregation, and he persuaded the Rev. Mr Stewart the very next day to introduce him to the young lady and her parents. He immediately proposed, and was accepted, and he lived on them and at their expense for over three months, and every preparation was made for an immediate marriage. His true cnaraoter was ascertained, however, and I will now read a letter from the Rev. Mr Stewart describing our gay Lothario’s retreat from Kuri Bush:— In regard to Rennet, I am glad to inform you that he was obliged to dear out of Kuri against his will. , . He sail ho had plenty of money and rich friends, but he could never show any of his money. He had stayed with them over three monthsand paid nothing. He got a job at life insurance, and said that .be was doing great things. The marriage was about to take place. The ‘ brews’ were ordered, and the bride’s Cake was exhibited In a window at Otakia for some time. . . ’, Jt wos Ycported before that that ho had been seen more than once the worse of drink, but his friends could not believe it. However, when ho tat down to drink ho ’ bedamo very insolent. The father of the girl got a big stick and chased .him out of the piobe. Whert he started to run he took up the bride's cake and ran with it, but bo bod to drop it. Three days afterwards three men came inquiring for him. It appears'that he 'hod insured a number of lives and never returned any money to the office.’’ I have also hero a tailor’s

bill (or MO iOa from Mongiel tor making hia weddingsuit, which he never took delivery of; and a notice in the 1 Taieri Advocate ’ dismissing Readc from canvassing for tho Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society. Our next account of him is in June 1884, when under the name of James Ernest Oliver he is engaged as pig-feeder and general handy-man for Mr Waldy, at the slaughter-yards just beyond Roslyn. He met with an accident while there, being thrown from a horse, and ho was admitted to the Hospital, where he gave an Immense amount of trouble, and by making false aoousatlonsagalnstawardergotthemandlsmissed. He then tried to get another warder into trouble by making accusations found to be untrue, and after being very insolent to the doctor was forcibly ejected from the Hospital, being ignominlously run out by the scruff of the neck. His next appearance in public was afour Police Court on August 28, charged with theft, and there he pretended to be a medical doctor. We next hear of him as Dr Montgomery, in anything but creditable society. In September his name is again Reade, and he obtained tho agency for Dunedin of the Rational Sick and Burial Association. He obtained this appointment by this letter, and it seems to date from September 13. He called on Mr Coverlid on Saturday, September 27, and induced him to become a. director of this Association. He also called on me and induced me to become a director, statin* that he had managed the affairs of tho Society in Christchurch for six years, and in consequence of his success In the work and the trust they reposed in him he had been appointed district agent to open up the Society in Dunedin. This statement, of course, was a barefaced lie. He had then got a few members to join tho Society, and he opened a lodge and instituted a series of ridiculous signs, passwords, etc., which are totally foreign to the Society. His strong weakness for the fair sex induced him to admit ladies to the Society and Society meetings, in direct violation of the printed rules. We also find that, in consequence of his neglect to satisfactorily account for moneys collected, the Christchurch headquarters suspended him from October 2. Of the subsequent action of Reade in connection with this Society I need say nothing, as the facts are well known to you; but it is self-evident, from the foregoing narrative, that he has lived, ever since he came out here, by a system of lying and imposition : and the trouble which Mr Fulton, Mr Dyson, Mr Coverlid, and myself have taken to expose his rascality will not ho wasted or thrown away if it be the means of preventing him from continuing his tricks any further in our midst. And now, as to our action since being commissioned by you to act on your behalf. As you are aware, I telegraphed to Christohurch, and have since received a letter inviting full particulars as to how we proved Reade unfitted to act for the Society. In this letter Mr Colenso, the secretary, intimated his intention of visiting Dunedin. On Saturday, October 12, Mr Coverlid and myself wrote to Christchurch, but having received no reply up to yesterday morning we sent the following telegram:—“To James Colenso, Christohurch. Have you any reply to make to our letter ? Meeting to-morrow night.” To that yesterday we received tho following reply “ Received your letter on Wednesday, with full report of meeting. Compel Reade to give up all books belonging to the Society. Ladies not admitted. Reade suspended from 2nd October. All accounts to be passed over to Carter.” That represents our action in the matter since the last meeting. Wo consider we have been treated with very scant courtesy by the headquarters at Christchurch. After receiving our letter it was distinctly their duty to forward a very full reply Immediately for the information of members down hero; but they have not done so, and we have now to suggest three courses of action for you to consider: — 1. If you think it desirable, after discussion, to adjourn in order to give the Christchurch headquarters more time to place information, and also for us to be able to inquire as to their stability. 2. Whether it would be bettor to continue the Society altogether separate from Christchurch, and form a headquarters of our own here in Dunedin. We should thus have entire control of all funds, and save the trouble and expense of frequent communication with Christchurch; or . 3. Whether It would he advisable to allow this branch of the Society to lapse, and take no further action concerning it. These are questions we should be glad to have discussed fully oy the members, when no doubt a satisfactory conclusion will be arrived at One thing we deem of importance, and that is that as Reade, Bennet, Oliver, Montgomery, or whatever he likes to call himself, has still our money to account for, and also has the books of the Society in his possession, that he be at once called upon to give up all the moneys and property of the Society which he is at present holding. This, gentlemen, Is all we have to report to you, and we now leave the matter for your disoueeion.

Mr Saunders ; All I have got to say is that Reade is a "skunk,” every inch of him. —{Great laughter.) Mr Fulton said that in view of the report just read a great deal of credit was due to Messrs Carter and Coverlid for the expose they had made. Since he had been served with a suit for libel at the instance of Reade a letter had been placed in his hands which showed the man’s history before he came to New Zealand, and it was no better at Home than it had been shown to be in Otago.— (Laughter.) If the Association were to be continued it would be necessary to ostracise Reade from the rights of membership.— (Hear.) He moved—“ That the chairman and the secretary be empowered, with such other gentlemen as the meeting may choose to nominate, to continue this or some such similar organisation; also, that the thanks of the meeting be tendered to Messrs Carter and Coverlid for their exertions in the matter. ” —Carried.

Mr Fulton next moved—" That it is the opinion of this meeting, in view of the report just made, that Mr Reade alias Bennet be and is hereby expelled from our Association.” Mr Saunders : I beg to second that motion with all my heart.—(Laughter.) The motion was carried nem. dis. Messrs Carter, Coverlid, Saunders, Green, Alldrcd, Enfield, and Seehoff were appointed a governing body to arrange for the formation of a society similar to the Rational Sick and Burial Fund Association; and the proceedings then terminated.

The Rev. C. E. Ward desires us to state that Rennet did not represent himself to him as a minister, but claimed to be a lay preacher, and as such conducted service one Sunday night at the Primitive Methodist Church at Kew, South Dunedin.