GOSPEL TEMPERANCE MISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7003, 28 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

GOSPEL TEMPERANCE MISSION.

The annual meeting of the Gospel Temperance Mission, or Blue Ribbon Army, was held on the 31st March in the Wellesley-street Baptist Church. There v/as a large attendance." On the platform were the Rev. Mr. Mecfarlane, President of the society ; Mr. J. Newman, Treasurer; Mr. Cox, Secretary, tho Revs. G. B. Munro, Hamer, and Dr; Kenderdine. Amongst the audience were the Revs. J. K. Davis, A, Reid, and Potter, Mr. J. Brame, and others who have taken a prominent part in the movement. Sankey's hymns were sung daring the proceedings. - The Seoretary, Mr. Uox, read the annual report, from which we extract the following:— , purine tie year thirteen central and twenty-four EUB-oommittf;e meetings have been held.. Ten public meetings - have been held in the. Theatre' Koyal. Others have also been held in the Baptist and Primitive Methodist Churches, St. Andrew's Schoolroom; t and suburban and country districts. The Lailsa Committee have also beeu doing a noble work kmong many to whom only themselves could gain access,' and have taken over 1000 pledges during the' year. We. have, from all sources, taken over 5000 oledges during the, year, and thougu we may save to lament over somo that have been unfaithful, rat ire have every reason to believe that fully 75 per -cent.-are .faithful to tbeir pledge. Your committee to record their deep gratitude to Almighty Sf64 ; for the - late " victory " achieved in the election; of; the Licensing Committees, by tho united afforU '■ of the .temperance party, and friends, and Jraet by moderation (yet faithfulness) to oar principles, We shill be able in the future to stamp out many of 'Che evils surrounding the drink traffic. - < . : Mr. Nkwman read the Treasurer's report whioh left a balance of £5 .93 7d to credit. Amongst the receipts were £10 from Temperance Alliance, in regard to which the Treasurer explained that the Alliance had borne all the expenses-of the recent licensing election,andthis£lo was a balance, which

they handed to the Blue Ribbon Army as an acknowledgment of the work they were doing. The Rev. G. B. Monro moved the adoption of the reports. The Rev. Mr. Potteb seconded the motion in a brief and telling speech, and it was unanimously adopted. Mrs. A. , Hutchinson", Secretary of the Ladies' Committee, read the report of that committee, which w&3 adopted. On the motion of Dr. Kendebdink, seconded by. Mr. Bbame, the Rev. Mr. Macfarlane waß re-elected President for the ensuing year. Mr. Newman was re-elected Treasurer, and Sir. A. Cox Secretary. The following . gentlemen were elected VicePresidents Revs. A. Reid, T. Spurgeon, T. McKenzie Fraser, G. B. Munro, J. K.. Davis, W. S. Potter, Drs. Kenderdine, A. O. Knight, Messrs. T. Buddie, J. B. Bycroft, D. Goldie, F. Larkins, F. Battley, C. O. Davis, J. Newman.