MR BURNETT'S MEETINGS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7549, 24 September 1886, Page 3

MR BURNETT'S MEETINGS.

Mr MaHhew.,Biirnett gave an.intcresfcing address 1 on ''Illustrious Women 1 ! in St. Faul's'schoqlroom yesterday afternoon, 1 under tho auspices of tlje Women's Christian Temperance Union. The meeting opened with singing and prayer. ■ : The Mrs Troy, then 1 read the, 32nd .cljapter of Isaiah and followed with an .^earnest appeal to those who did not belong .to the Union , already to "comq arid f assist in the grand work.' " ' ' „ '; '' "' 'Mr.Burnetit addressed the meeting, expressing his pleasure at being present on I such an occasion. He remembered holding almeeting atSydney.- 23 years : ago at the request of several women! ■ The meeting n(as announced to be held in a.'cottago,' but , that being. too small tlioy adjourned to' a ' hall, and at their first meeting thore were 100 present. \ :i Threo. months later the •largest building in' the place was crowded. .About three years afterwards he wen t_ to ; • Ballarat, and there also the largest building was filled,' aii'd about 3000 signed the pledge. Ho had come there that afternoonto speak of illustrious women of 1 the 19th century, and first ho would mention Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Her work was well 'known. She would go and read and . pray with the sick, and minister to their wants. . Then there was the Duchess of . Sutherland, Mrs Temple (wife of the Bishop of London), ' Miss Weston, and Miss Robinson. /The two' latter, of these ladies had sacrificed, all. to work amorig the soldiers and sailors; 20,000 soldiers had taken the pledge- through the influence of Miss Robinson, and-Miss Weston'had done an equal amount. of, work amongst the sailors. Then there was Mrs Whiteman, of. Shrewsbury, who took the pledge for' the sake of example, arid afterwards published a book entitled !' Haste to tho Rescue," which Lord Shaftesbury posted to the various clergymen, so thatto'Mrs Whiteraan was due to n groat extent the Blue ' Ribbon Army. Thon thore were three American ladies, Mrs Hayes, Miss Cleveland, ' and Mrs Leavit.' The latter lady: they all know, and tltc work she bad donein the colonies. Mrs Judge' Ward was also doing a grand work, and had been from place to placo forming Unions similar to tho one ho was now addressing. ■ In Adelaide there was a young lady who took tho pledge, and afterwards .devoted -her time, strength, , and money to tho causo of temperance. 'Her work was principally among railway 'employe's and cabmen. She' attracted to her first meeting a' great number of peoplo who seldom if ever entered a place of • worship, induced them to take the pledge, iand afterwards to attend church; the result being that she was the means of 500 drunkards taking the pledge. Mr Burnett concluded by saying that- he noticed, by the president's remarks, that the Union I wanted more helpers. •He hoped that God .. •would gratify their wishes. They had influence that might be weihled to an almost unlimited extent, and if they would go forward in the strength of God they ' wAuld win ' many for the Lord and the causo of temperance. At 7.15 p. m. Mr Burnett addressed a largo open-air gathering in Olive-square, his subject being "A. Lion in the Way." With the oxception of one individual who, it was suggested, probably had felt tho tcetli of the lion, tho gathering was >, most orderly one. Mr Burnett will give another vjuldress in the samo place to. night on "Men who have risen from tho Hanks." . : -,■-.:• The meeting in the Gaiety Theatre was presided over by .the Rev. De Bordt Hovoll, and was well attended. The subject of Mr Burnett's lecture was " Big Ben and Little Johnny. " This was ouq of the most interesting of the lecturer's ' ' i'ic-

tures froiji Roal Life." ..Thcdescription of the men as they were'flrat known by him, the one a Cornish wrestler and-'the other a • . pugilist;' their conversion to the teniper;aneo,cause, and their subsequent career, ■ was 'a most ..thrilling ,one, and. evoked rounds ofl applause,' arid tlie opinion was expressed! that if Mr Burnett had had no :iriore success than the rescue of two such men, his life had not been in vain. This evening Mr Burnett, on the occasion of his last appearance, will take for his subject bis- central word picture, Dr Mitchell. Itl'ia"'. stated; that wherever thishasbeen given if has been highly successful, so that there^shojild- be a very . largo gathering. Dr Spencer is announced to preside.