INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13207, 14 February 1905, Page 8

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES.

The .general district meeting of the Inile.pendent Order of Rechabites commences its 'sittings at/ihe Choral Hall to-day,-and last evening a reception by way of welcome to the visiting-'brethren was held at the Coffee Palace, when there was an attendance of over.loo. G.R, Bro. W. 11. Cole presided, and in opening proceedings expressed pleasure'at meeting iiroong the visitors many old , -acquaintances, and extended to them all a.very hearty welcome to Diiiiedin Ho eommunted on the situation as somewhat unique in that this was the first occasion on which the general district meeting had been held in Dnnedin, although tho distpet was formed 33 years ago. and tho Social Tent, No. 20, had been in existence ■smeo 1876. Bro. Farrant, local representative, also in. appropriate terms extended a welcome to district officers and representatives, and expressed a hope that the meetings .about to bo ■ commenced would be fraught with much good, and would tend to ad-yanoo the order in which they wero ail so nmoh interested. He, liko the chairman, hoped ■ that no such period as had elapsed would elapse again before Dunediri was again tho scene of a general district meeting.. Apart from the general business that had brought them to Dunedin lie hoped the ..visitors would enjoy themselves at the various outings that had been arranged for, and he know that local members wpulu do all in their power-to ensure this. Ho hoped the session of 1905 would be ono of the most successful yet held. Bro. Roscvear and .D.D.R. Bro. Sherwood also extended a cordial welcome to the visitors in brief terms; the latter on behalf of the local tent; and Bro. Sherwood remarked that among them they had two representatives from District 84- (Auckland) who were here on important business to the order—namoly, that in connection with tire union of the two districts. Aftct the amply-provided refreshments had been done justice to responses of thanks on behalf of the visitors lor a cordial welcome were made by D (J K Bro. Whittiiker (New Plymouth) and D.O.R. Bro. J. Ewan (Auckland). Additional enjoyment was lent a pleasant gathering 'by vocal solos by- Miss Utt-lcy and Messrs Hamblet and R. Ainslcy, and a recitation by Miss M. Farrant. The name of tho order, it may be mentioned, is taken from a body of peoplo called ." Rechabitos," referred to by tho prophet Jeremiah, who wore compelled by their great forefather "not to drink wine," and amongst otlier injunctions were directed to " live in tente," and as the i members drink "neither wine or strong drink" tho founders of the order thought the name a very appropriate one. Tho order is composed of districts and. branches called " tents "—hence another similarity to the ancient Rqehabites. 'It claims to be the oldest temperance fraternity and tho largest and wealthiest friendly society of abstainers in existence It had at December 31, 1904, 373,000 ndult and juvenile members, and £1,4-75,000 of accumulated funds, and as it has branches in nearly all parts of tho world to which members can be transferred and onjoy the fellowship and benefits of the order it offers advantages which should be prized by temperance people. Tho order was established at Salford, Manchester, in the year 1835, and rapidly extended over England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Soon afterwards it was introduced' into the United States jjjf America, whore it achieved groat success.; About 46 years ago it beoamo acclimatised in Australia, and at tho present time , there are no fewer than nine districts, each containing a number of branches or tents. The order was established in Auckland, New Zealand, in the year 1863, and considerable progress was made in the northern portion of the colony. In 1872 the' New Zealand Central District, having its headouarters in Wellington, was instituted, and has spread the order from Taranaki and Gisborno in tho North Island to Invorcarsrill in the south. While the Northern District has 10 tents under its jurisdiction, the Now Zealand Central District comprises 30 adult font's, 13 juvenile tents, and three female tents.