CENTRAL MISSION BROTHER. HOOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13985, 19 August 1907, Page 8

CENTRAL MISSION BROTHER. HOOD.

lestorday afternoon at the Garrison Hall a largo number of men turned up for enrolment in tho Brotherhood of the Central Mission. The wolcoming staff, registrars, and enrolment secretaries were early at work, and tho men of the outaido staff soon got into working order, under tho captaincy of Mr A. C. Robertson. Tho meeting was in the hands of the president (tho Roy. W. Slado), who in a few remarks made it clear to every man that tho nlhng-in of tho enrolment form meant no obligation other than tho desire to help. They would not bo called upon to support the - Methodist Mission, and it was hoped that by visitation and other means the brotherly hand would bo shown to the men of the city. Every man could join, whether Christian or non-Christian. All wcro equally welcome, and no restriction would be placed on them. The spoakor was tho Rov. N. A. Davis, of Kaikorai, and his subject, "Rum, Race, and Religion in the Caribbean Seas," keenly interested all present. In commencing ho said ho hoped that tho Brotherhood would ero long bo in a homo of its own. . He first spoko of tho islands of the Caribbean Seas, 'of their beauty, position, and wealth. After mentioning 6omo of' tho principal products ho gave a few examples of what the'■ natives did with the cocoanut tree and of tho numerous uses to which thi6 tree was put. He recounted a visit paid to Martinique, its beautv and its interesting people, and also made reference to tho awful - disaster which befell it-at the eruption of Mont Pclec. His account of Trinidad—a British possession—was most interesting, and ono could imagine the feeling of insecurity when he graphically desoribed the famous pitch lakes. In the West Indies slavery received its first blow. An interesting account was given of tho life. of Toussaint-Llouventure, at first merely a boy slave, who afterwards was raised to a very lofty position— a position which ho held with masterly care, showing an insight arid intelligence seldom looked for in the black man. Ho acknowledged the greater criminality amongst tho blacks as against tho wbitea of the West Indies, but was careful to explain that the black was tho poor man of the islands, and that amongst the poor crime was generally mora prevalent, they being for tho most part the slum-dwellers. Taken class for class, however, the black was tho better man, in that crime was a less marked, trait in his character. Tho black (given every educational advantage) was equal to any man—ho was as great a statesman, and the speaker mentioned one notable instance, where the Governor of ono of the larger islands was a black, with white judges under him- As a Christian, tho black was easily the white man's equal. The awful results of Obeah worship upon tho people wcro spoken of—a result of the oxclusion of the Gospel of Josus Christ. Many were the triumphs of the Christian religion, and wherever it was found that the' native had any respect for ealf— wherever the black was found to bo a man in authority and position—there it was found that the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been preached. "Rum," tho*speaker 6aid, ".has been one of the products of these beautiful islauds, but einco tho decrease of the sugar cane industry tho making of rum has almost gone." Ho recorded his own experiences during tho great yellow fever plague, and how tho white man was more subject to this dreaded disease, owing to his great liking for rum. It was seen that tho black suffered less than tho white, because the black could not afford to buy tho rum, therefore funning less risk of catching the disease; and when tho_ making of rum was no longer an island industry it was found that tho cessation of the industry was synonymous with the departure of the yellow fever—for rum and yellow fever left the islands together. Ho did not believe in the " bpeu 'door," speaking on a question nearer home, but ho would rather see a good black or yellow man come in than a bad white one, and in closing mado it plain to the men present that tho black man or yellow man Va6 equally their brother, theire to keep and to save, for all wore sons ■of God and of the kingdom of tho Lord Jesus Christ. This was tho first Sunday under the new organisation. Tho new system of enrolment worked well, and over 50 members filled in tho necessary cards of membership. It is hoped that this organisation will go on and bo a benefit not only loMhe wives and children of tho oity but to the city itself. .• _^