CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4669, 31 October 1876, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION.

The half-yearly meeting of this Society was held yesterday, ia.Jthe. Bishop's Library, •after the business of the Diocesan Synod, had —The Secretary (Mr. Pierce) read the minutes of the last meeting, which were . confirmed, and the following report:— i Thh association was lormi-fl. Tttmidbn ii. -Mir- i 'sauce o' 2. raaolntion of the Eioceatn Sjnod. Twi.ntr- i ; eight menjcxirs had been formally enrollec, | aeveral others Bave declared their *riilingness io co- I operate. objec 1 of diocesan br •nch being ( mainly to r rovid* basis r.pon Trhicb local branches may be cv£sxii«:?<i throughout, the -diocesci, in connectior v.vji tlift parent society in England, it is only accessary -to report the institution of the following branches:— 1. St. Matikb • Aucllj .: r,~So, of members, about 30; two" i jetings Let,?, branch not yet in working ordor. 2. St. Ssruioz+jz ? s, M2?i>.—No. of members, [44; meetings held, 7-. "The Church of England .'Temperance •' rtronicle" is circulated monthly among members, tor rotiurn for their quarterly subscription of Is. A reading-room has been organized, and three entertainments hare been siren in connection with the branch. 8. St. George's, Thamxs.—No. of members, 21, of whom 13 are total abstainers. Two meeting only . have been held, the branch having been only lately established. • 4- Taranaki.—No. of members 32, of whom 9 are total abstainers.. • There is also a Band of Hope, comprising 26 adults, 120 boys, and 86 girls. At Otahuhu, Tfaiuku, and the Northern Wairoa, ; branches have bf.-en contemplated, but their' formation has been poatponwi for the present. From : these statistics it wiU be seen that not^much visible work, has yet been accomplished. There is, however, good ground for believing that attention bas been widely directed to the need for a special effort within the church on beh&lf of temperance, and. that the habits of many persons have already been influenced I by the action of the few who have enrolled themselrei as members. And itiahop-id that, notwithstanding utterances and arguments to the contrary, members of .the church wiU recognise the increased power for" usefulness to be gained by adding to personal example and influence, fellowship in an organisation which has for its objects the promotion of habits of temperance, the reformation of the intemperate, and the removal of the causes which lead to intemperance.—W. G. Auckland, President, Auckland, October 30, 1876. Statement of accounts for the year .ended Sept. 30, 1876: —Receipts : admission fees, £2 17s 6d. Exjicnditnre : Atkin, printing, £l 8s 6d. Advertising, 6s ; stationery and postages, lis 8d ; balance, lis 4d; total, £2 17s 6d.—"Vinoent E. Rice, Acting Secretary and Treasurer. Autited and found corrcct, George P. Pieroe., October .26th, 1870. After some routine business had been transacted the meeting dosed.