ORDER OF RECHABITES

Evening Star, Issue 17925, 22 March 1922, Page 7

ORDER OF RECHABITES

ITS NEW ZEALAND JUBILEE,

This year the Order of Rechabitcs—a friendly society which for fifty years has worked quietly and unostentatiously in. our midst—will attain its jubilee, and the event will bo celebrated in Wellington in April. As early as 1843 a branch of tlio 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-tree, flax, and fern, meetings were held and certificates of membership issued. Air J. W. Andrews, J.P.,, of Ashburton, has to ithia day the certificate given _to bis father by the Nelson branch in 1845, and, needless to say, it is highly treasured by its possessor as a irerson-al lime with those early and interesting days. _ Then the order lay in abeyance for a, decade, till in I 860” the 65th Regiment arrived in Auckland, and with it came as regimental tailor Sergeant William Johnson, who by his efforts amongst the soldiers civilians was able to set up a "tent" of permanent duration in the northern part of the colony. When the time came for him to receive his discharge from the regiment, Sergeant Johnson decided to remove to Wellington. Here he became associated in an effort to start tho order with tho late Mr F. 11. Fraser, who was afterward's M.H.R. for Te Aro. In this they were successful, and on December 15, 1856, the Hope of Wellington Tent was opened, Sergeant Johnson becoming its Chief Ruler and Mr Fraser its secretary. Sir William Fox (at that time Mr Fox)* joined in with the early workers, and with other active spirits set about spreading the influence oi the order. Branches were opened at Napier, Grcytcwn, Grafton, and Blenheim. construing tho New Zealand Central District, No. 86, and on December 31, 1872, when the first district meeting was held there were present at that meeting William Johnson, Francis 11. Fraser, George Sago, Eustaf Janson, Henry Bowater, Gilbert Carson, John Beck, D. Robertson, R. M. Reed, and R. Jennes. Tho only surviving members of this meeting aro Messrs Gilbert Carson (of 'Wanganui) and R. Jennes (now residing at tho Lower Hutt). Tho order to-day has over seventy branches in the Dominion, and counts its members by thousands. The jubilee celebrations, which open at the Town Hal! on Tuesday, April 4. will be attended by above 100 delegates coming from all parts |of New Zealand. Part of their function will be to welcome the delegates who are coming overseas from Britain and Australia. Of these the principal is Mr Amos Tomlinson, oi Southport, England, who is tho present High Chief Ruler of the order. With him is Air J. 11. Lear-Caton, of Birmingham, who to-day occupies the position of Past High Chief Ruler in England. The Australian delegate is Mr John Vale, of Melbourne, who has filled the position of district secretary to tho Victorian Rechabitcs for soma years.