City Rechabites Celebrate Centenary

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 197, 22 August 1935, Page 2

City Rechabites Celebrate Centenary

ONWARD TENT No. 52 HOLDS DINNER Tim centenary of tlio Independent Order of Recliabites was celebrated at Palmerston North last evening by the holding of a centenary dinner at the Rosco tearooms under tho auspices of tho officers and members of tho Onward Tout, No. 52. There was a large attendance. The Chief Ruler (Sister V. Saudford) presided and extended a -weicomo to tho Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Airs. A. E. Alausford) an'd all others present. After tho loyal toast had been honoured, the Alayor proposed that of tho Order.

Strong Force in Land. He expressed thanks for the invitation for Airs. Alausford and himself to be present and added that ho was particularly pleased to proposo the toast as tho Order was a strong force in tho land. When ono considered friendly societies ono naturally looked at their early history and he pointod out that this showed that the Rechabites had come into being because of tho need for temperance in England. The teatotal cure hud been advocated to stem the tido of drunkenness at that time. Other societies had come into being later. Ebeuezcr Tent No. 1 had been the lirst at Aianehcstor, England, and Sister Meadowcroft had presided over tho lirst anniversary. The Alayor went on to tell of the growth of the movement, huw it had spread overseas and how, before Australia or New Zealand had railway trains they hud had Rechabito tents. There had been one in Nelson in 1912 and another in Wellington in 1843. There were to-day in New Zealand 0900 members and tho order’s accumulated funds totalled £200,000. la conclusion, tho Alayor said that he had always hoped that there would be one great lodgu to help mankind generally.

Air. Mansford congratulated tho order on attaining its centenary and expressed the wislt that it would progress as much m the next hundred years as it had done in tho past.

Started as an Adventure. .Replying to the toast “1.0. Reghabites,” Bro. J. J. Cox, Provincial Chief Ruler, thanked the chief magistrate for his expressions of goodwill, lie also expressed great pleasure at seeing Sister V. Sandford, the Chief Ruler, back in their midst again after her rocout illness. The movement had started as an adventure, he explained, but at the eud of the first hundred years its work had been marked with a glorious achievement. A groat heritage had been established and it behoved all members to uphold the splendid traditions of the order. The goal to bo achieved was to sec all mankind believing in the ideals of the movement established in 1835. Rechabites would bo found all over the globe and the order could claim to be the only tomperance order carrying on oil weeks of the year. There were two districts in New Zeuland; one the central district (including Palmerston JSJorth) and the other the northern district (including Auckland). In the former area there was a membership of 5000 adults and 3500 juveniles. The Rechabites were not only a temperance order, he added, but were a friendly society working not in opposition to oilier bodies but in harmony with them.

The toast of “Onward Tent” was in the iiands of Bro. Edgar Harding, Past District Chief llulcr. The tent had been established in IS9I, he said, paying a tribute to the enthusiastic secretary, Bro. B. G. Nor they, Past Provincial Chief Euler.

The reply was in the hands of Sister V. Sandlord, Chief Euler. First Gathering Locally. It was mentioned that the initial meeting had been presided over by Bro. W. Johuhoii, P.D.C.E.j m tho Oddfellows’ hall at Palmerston North. The candidates had been James Laurensen, Edwin Dixon, George Allman, Peter Scott, I’’. B. Dane and Bobert Bush. The last-named had been elected Chief ltuler and Bro. Laurensen secretary. On March IP, .1892, the tent had decided to lake over the hall in Main street at a cost of .Mill, lo bo paid off in .10 years. Bro. S. G. Northey, Past Provincial Chief Baler, toasted “The Visitors,” including Bro. P. Goldsmith (Mayor of Levin) and Bro. J. S. Muuro (Napier), Bro. E. Harding (Woodville) and Messrs J. Ax (Eriondly Societies Dispensary Board), C. Edwards and O. Prouse. He also emphasised the excellent work accomplished by tho Mayor and referred to the representatives of other lodges and the work they were carrying out ill various parts of Now Zealand.

Items were contributed during tho evening by Messrs W. Alien (tap dances) and A. Swinbourn (guitar), Mrs. Coupe (vocal), Mrs. Neith Jones (vocal) and Mr. L. Smith.