MR T. W. GLOVER AT THE SALVATION ARMY BARRACKS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 656, 19 September 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR T. W. GLOVER AT THE SALVATION ARMY BARRACKS.

The attendance at the barracks of the Salvation Army on Saturday evening was very large, the occasion being the last appearance of Mr T. W. Glover, the apostle of temperance, in Wellington. The proceedings, as usual, opened with a reading from scripture, followed by prayer and several heartily-sung hymns. A band, specially organised the Grospel Temperance Mission, and consisting of. members of the Salvation Army and Primitive Methodist (Webb-street) bands, filled np the intervals with selections from popular Salvation airs. The Rev. H. W. Redstone, who occupied the chair, then moved a vote of thanks to Mr T. W. Glover for the work he had done during the time he had been in Weilington ; and wished Mr Glover a pleasant and successful trip to the United btates and England. The resolution was seconded by the Rev. Mr Smith. Mr Redstone then stated that the executive would, if. supported by.the people, do their best to unite all the various bodies of teetotallers in the. city, in order to attain their great object, viz., the closing of all licensed houses. The meeting then signified their assent to the vote of thanks by prolonged applause. Mr Glover, after replying suitably to the vote, read out the inscription on the pledge cards. He stated that 1016 new pledges had been signed and 2250 blue ribbons taken,. and exhorted those who had donned the ribbon to continue wearing it. He expressed his thanks to those who bad helped him during the time he had been in Wellington, to the choirs with their various leaders, to the Press of the city for the way in which they had brought the cause before the public, to the. clergy, the committee, the ushers, tbe ladies, and the “ pinners,” the band Mr McLean (his host), the captain of the Salvation Army, and the army itself, for the loan of tbe barracks. He then went on to say that having treated tbe subject of temperance from every point of view, he hoped and trusted that this was only the beginning of the work to be done. The Ladies’ Committee, under. Mse Redstone, would have to go on with their work, and the choir would have to be enlarged. He recommended the working-men to join the Rechabites or the Sons of Temperance as a benefit society, instead of patronising those benefit societies that met. at pablichouses, and those societies that took in non-abstainers, as in the latter case they would have to pay. for the sickness brought on by alcoho'ic drink. As an instance, a doctor in Jersey, who was.not an abstainer, bad to charge a non-teetotal society a great deal more than the Rechabites for his attendance, as the members of the latter, being abstainers, had very much les3 sickness than those of the other society. The lecturer himself had belonged to the Independent Order of Good Templars for very many years, and deplored that they made use of musical and other entertainments to attract people. The Blue Ribbon Army had attracted more members without any comic songs or sentimentalities. He, however, urged them not. to stand outside all temperance organisation, the object of the Blue Ribbon Army being merely to gain recruits. After relating how a young man had been converted to Christ in Melbourne through the means of he Gospel Temperance Mission, he again mpressed the audience with the necessity for ncreased energy. A great physician had once said that no man or woman who. had any brains whatever should take alcoholic liquor, as was proved by the actions of those who indulged in them, which Mr Glover illustrated by numerous funny anecdotes. Some working men worked like horses all the week, in order to spend their money like asses on Saturday. But not only were working men injured by drink, all classes suffered under its curse. He again and again urged the necessity for putting down the traffic, which offered great temptation to so mauy, and invited those present to come and sign the pledge. He then gave expression to the feeliDgs of regard he had for those who have attended his meetings. In response to his invitation 13S of those present took the “ bit of blue.’ At tbe conclusion of the lecture, which was illustrated and enlivened by numerous telling accounts of the misery brought on by drink, several hymns were sung, and the meeting dispersed.