GOOD TEMPLARISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5637, 10 December 1879, Page 5

GOOD TEMPLARISM.

[by telegraph, press association.] CilitiscilL'ucil, Tuesday. The aunual meeting of the Grand Lodge 1.0. G.T., of New Zealand South, opened at 10 o'clock this morning, in the Templars' Hall. 'J he committee of credential?, lirothers D. C. Cameron, M. Audrewe, aud G Didmont, examined aud reported upon the credentials of the representatives and candidates for the G. L. decrees. Subsequently, the degrees were conferred upon 17 brothers and sisters, as follows : —R'prtEenta'.ivo Brother John Burnett, West Christchurch ; Brother J. Bol?, Otngo North Central ; Brothers A. U. Hassall aul J. Shaw, North CinKrbury; Brother J. Pansou, Banks Peninsula, Brother W. Fa-.-g, LSulIcr; Alternate, Sisters Yardang, Haivkcs'e Bay ; subordinate Sisters Elizi and Ellen King. Gool Intent-, No. 59, Brother W. V. Wilson, Pois No. 39 j Hrother S. (!. W. Clark and E. Webber, Pride of Sydenham, No. 20'J ; Brothers J. Blandey aud J. J. Ashivooi, aud Sisters M. A. Harteley, D.iwn of Peace, So. 104; Sister F. Shearer, Will an 1 the Way, No. ISO ; Jirothe- G. A. Shailer, Dauntless, No. 7 ; Brother J. Fraser, Star of Soft >n, No. IG'J; Brother A. Vincent, Transit, No. 79. From the ollicial reports presented it appeared that thu statistics of the others showed a diminution. The present number of lodges ia good stand ng was 153, one less than last year. Tho existing m-mbers are stated tu be 7053, a decrease of 3'23 as compared with lasc vear. This failing off both tho Worthy Chief Templar and the secretary attributed to scireity of work, which had been too prevalent, and t'.'e cunseciueut raoving from plaae to placj of many of the brethren. A statement of assets and liabilities showed that the balance was in favour of the Grand Lodge by £30,7-17, after allowing for £12,710 for t:,e depreciation of stock on hand anil the accounts owing by the lo Iges. The returns of Juvenile Templars showe I a total membership of 2537, ati increase of 721. The Grand Worthy Chief Templar announced that temperance libraries had been formed in differeut parts of the jurisdiction, and urged that great attention be given to this branch of the work. Another portion of the report said that the Pi ess of the colony have placed this Grand L'.idgi under obligations, for the manner in which the meetings were noticed, and lectures under its auspices have been supported, and the fair and ouirteons manner in which our measures aud methods have been disjussad. Tue changed tone of the general Pre3s towards temperance reformation, and the attention given to liquor controversy, is one of the moat encouraging sigua of the timed.