AUCKLAND BAND OF HOPE UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7646, 25 May 1886, Page 6

AUCKLAND BAND OF HOPE UNION.

SIXTH ANNIVERSARY.

Yesterday afternoon a conference of the Band of Hope Union was held in the Alexandra-street Schoolroom, Mr. D. Goldie presiding, and there was a good attendance. After devotional exercises, the chairman explained that though the conference this year was under the auspices of the Band of Hope, they hoped in the future that allied temperance bodies would in their turn take the lead in holding annual meetings like the one they were attending. He thon introduced Mr. George Plummer, who read a paper on "Stray Thoughts on Band of Hope Work," giving various practical suggestions a3 to the best methods of carrying on the work of Bands of Hope, and correcting present errors in connection with them. There was no question, he maintained, of so great importance as the diminution and final suppression of the trade in strong drink, and the way to prevent the evils it caused was to get young New Zealand to join these organisations. They were certain of success, as good would always overcome evil, and in the end they would have the satisfaction of having helped forward the work. He also alluded to the question of prayer being used at their meetings. The chairman then read a paper entitled, " How far can we blend temperance teaching with Sunday »school Work," in which he deplored the want of interest displayed in this question by many religious teachers, and urged the very great importance of combining in Sunday-schools religious teaching and temperance work. He thought they might better urge this if they got rid of the frivolity which sometimes disgraced Band of Hope meetings, and considered more thoroughly the deep importance of the question. He invited discussion as to how far they should use Sunday-schools as a means of imparting temperance t-aching, or to the means to bo adopted for inducing parents to afford protection to children attending evening meetings of Bands of Hope, and to take a greater interest in temperance work, and how they were to instruct children in temperance work who were not allowed to attend their meetings. A discussion then took place on the various questions raised in the two addresses, in the course of which Mr. Ewington urged especially the importance of having better order in their Band of Hope meetings and improved teaching, besides amendment in the licensing laws. Mr. K. Carr blamed the Auckland public for lack of i interest in getting more temperance teaching in their public schools. He hoped next year friends of temperance would remember the election of school committees. Mr Armes, schoolmaster from Takapuna, said they wanted a simple school book for teaching temperance, that of Dr. Richardson being only adapted for advanced classes. Mr. J. C. Robinson thought some liberty should be allowed at Band of Hope meetings. They must mix some relaxation with their teaching, such as was given in Mr. Noble's address. When the children came home from that they remembered the anecdotes and repeated them, and that was all they did remember. ' When he got a tract he read the anecdote, and when he got to the sermon which followed he threw it down. Mr. Ebenezer Clark on the other band, urged tho maintenance of strict order in their meetings. Mr. H. Dowse concurred in the remarks of the previous speaker as to maintaining devotional exercises in connection with Band of Hope meetings ; also, in keeping up strict order. He also spoke of the importance of giving to appointed Band of Hope speakers the chief place in the meetings they were appointed to attend. Mr. C. G. Hill said he had never met with disorder in the meetings in the country which he helped to manage, but when h a had attended some meetings he thought if he had been a boy he should have made sope disturbance. When one listened to the dry, miserable stuff sometimes retailed out to the boys ho was not surprised at there being some disorder. They must beinterested. They had no disorder at Ellerslie, and he thought there must be some fault with the people in the town when such was the case there. Mr. Macdermott remarked on the question of disorder at meetings, and pointed out means by which such disorder had been removed. Tho only remedy was to keep out those who would not be quiet. On the religion question, he said the Band of Hope he referred to never had any prayers, but they could compare for order with any other in tho town. The Sunday-school Bands of Hope were on a different footing. He urged that they should get the day-school teachers, as well as Sunday-schools, to interest themselves in the matter of Bands of Hope. Mr. French, sen., in the course of his remarks said, as to teaching in Sunday-schools, he thought it would be well if they could "just neck in a little teetotalism without them knowing it." Mr. Press spoke, and Mr. Tremaine thought every place of worship should be a temperance hall, and every preacher a temperance lecturer. Every teacher in the Sunday ■ school should take the same course. He hoped to live to see the day when this would be the ca3e. Mr. Noble then addressed the meeting in a forcible and amusing speech, and Mr. R. French and the Rev. Mr. Carr continued the discussions. Mr. Plummer, in replying to the criticisms on his paper, said with respect to prayer, they should consult their Testaments as to what was said there. As to Dr. Richardson's books, he was glad that more interest in them had been aroused in that meeting. Let them have that book and also Dr. Ridges'. The chairman als" replied and at the close of the meeting votes of thanks were passed by acclamation to the readers of the papers. A tea was sub--1 sequently held at Robson's Diningrooms.

The sixth annual gathering of the Bands of Hope composing the Auckland Union was held m the Choral Hall last night, when the spacious building was crowded to the doors, and hundreds were unable to gain admission. The programme was arranged with* great taste, and went off most effectively. The chorui benches were occupied by 250 members of the choir, who had been rehearsing the pieces for some months past, and last night astonished the immense audience by the heartiness with which each item was rendered. The Rev. Thomas Spurgeon occupied the chair, and there were also on the platform representative gentlemen of the temperance cause. The proceedings opened with the singing of a very effective chorus, entitled' " Sing'we merrily," which was most enthusiastically received. The chairman, in his opening remarks, briefly referred to the cause, and stated that he would not inflict a speech upon the large meeting which had come to hear the little folk and not him. "The sun is now rising o'er the ocean " was a bright and cheerful chorus, into which the children seemed to enter with great zest and willingness, keeping excellent time. This was followed by a recitation, "Boys, You are Wanted," which was given by little Miss Elsie Wood, who repeated th# lines clearly and distinctly. In the succeeding chorus, "Oh! the sports of childhood," a swing was suspended over the platform containing two little ones, who wore swung to give effect to the modulations of the piece. An address was then I delivered by the Rev. 0. H. Garland (Wesleyan), who struck a very responsive key, eliciting roars of laughter by his allusions. The chorus " Exercise bone and muscle" was a feature of the musical portion of the programme, each child baing supplied with bits of coloured paper, which were waved to keep time with the chorus. A i child of six years, named Miss Kuth Jones, took the audience by surprise in her rendering of the recitation, " Away with it." No", 5 of the choruses, " With laugh and song we bound along," was sung with much vivacity; and was followed by rather an amusing innovation in which the secretary of the Union assumed the role "Ye Old English bellman," which was substituted for.the usual formal reading of the annual printed report, which had been circulated among the audience. From it we learn that the principal features of the year have been the annual gathering and the singing and reciting contest. The former was held in St. James' Hall-last year, and owing to the increasing popularity the Choral Hall had been engaged, this year. The programme on the previous occasion was repeated with success in the Salvation Army Barracks for the purpoea of inaugurating the Saturday night entertainments. The executive thanked Mr. Frith and those who aided him ia carrying out the programme of the annual

gathering. At the singing meeting contest in October there were 70 competitors, and the prize money amounted to £16 16s. Tha attendance was large, the Foresters' Hall, Newton, being crowded each evening. The contest committee recommended that in future prizes be offered for model Band of Hope address in two classes—maiden, &nd open to all. The catechism competition! arranged in July did not come off till January last. Annual sermons had been preached from the city pulpits, and many excellent discourses had been delivered. During the year the choir bad produced "The Little Captain," a miscellaneous concert; and reproduced "John Tregenoweth," and "Harold Glynde," bat the financial success of these ventures have not been very great owing to keen competi. tion and dull times. In connection with the Gospel Temperance mission a genuine work has been done, which fully justified tho choir's existence, and entitled it to a fair share of support from the temperance public, when, after considerable toil, it produces a programme worthy of patronage. A choir pianoforte had been purchased during the year for the use of the choir by an advance being made by Mr. Goldie for the purchase. Thanks were returned to Mr. Spurgeon for his lecture. In referring to financial matters the report said — " Commencing the year with a debit balance of £15 10s 7d, and outstanding accounts of some £58, we close the year with a debit of £1 17s 9d, with outstanding account at £SS. You have paid your secretary £30 to cover his incidental expenses, and your liabilities are only £3 above your assets, so that you have no reason for lamentation; but, if we are to accomplish any good in the future, we must get on a firmer financial position, as it is a great anxiety to your officers, and a very great hindrance to the work. With the exception of £22 subscriptions, and £10 lis from Mr. SpurgeonV lecture, the revenue has been raised by the labour of your officers." Ttiere were thirty-fivo bands affiliated to tho Union. "The Sleighing Song" was another pretty little composition cheerfully sung by tho children, and a set of sleigh bells were introduced. Master Walter Barry followed with a recitation, "In Memoriam — John B. Gough," which was given with great pathos. "Whistle and Hoe" was a chorus, which attracted attention by the interpolation of whistling with the refrain. Mr. William Noble, the temperance lecturer, who was indisposed at the opening of the meeting, recovered sufficiently to deliver a few earnest and touching sentences, and concluded by delighting the audience with variations upon the concer'.ina. The " As« sam Pekoe" chorus was spiritedly sung, and Mr. D. Goldie, president of the Union', announced that the cantata " Conquest of Drink " would be produced at an early date. On account of the su 3ess of last night's gathering it was also intimated that it would be repeated on Monday next in St. James' I Hall. hanks were passed by acclamation jto the chairman, speakers, and the conductor, Mr. S. Frith. The performance I concluded with the singing of the National i Anthem by the choir, and the pronouncing of the benediction by the chairman. ""