GOOD TEMPLARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16191, 29 September 1914, Page 2

GOOD TEMPLARY.

The r International Supreme Lodge, LO.tr.T., held its triennial susion in Uinskania tnis year, and while representatives ! ol all too European countries until many oi the American were m comeionce, war broKo out and the' session experienced many strange thrills. It was reported that the delegates would have to remain in .Norway mclLmntely, but, thanks to the power and vigour ot the British navy, the .North Sea was made safe and passenger traffic was resumed. Among the countries represented were Norway, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Kussia, Holland, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, J) ranee, Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, tioumojiia, India, South Africa, Canada, United States, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. It is said that more than 10,000 persons took part in the grand opening procession, marching to the music of no less than 87 bands. The welcome meeting was held in the largest auditorium of the city, with a seating capacity of 4000, but was for too small to admit all. The King of Norway assisted in the welcome, and the l J rime Minister presided. Thero are 84,000 Good Templars in Norway, and the Grand Lodge of that country has made the largest increase of members during the last triennial period among all' the Grand Lodges of the world. But the Good Templars do not account for more than one-third of the teetotal members of Norway, for it was stated that the total abstinence societies of the country had a membership of nearly 300,000. Aid. Malins. of Birmingham, who was Grand Chief of England for 45 years, and who introduced Good Templary into Norway, was made a permanent member of tlio International Executive. Guy Halcr, of London, was thanked for his groat work, " Prohibition Advance In All I-ands," which was- regarded as the most useful volume recently issued in the name of temperance reform. Bro. Edward Wavrinsky, M.P., Sweden, was elected International Chief Tenwlar; Bro. G. F. Cotterill, Seattle, U.S.A.", International Counsellor; Bro. Rev. Ivar Th. Aarseth, Cardiff, International Superintendent of Juvenile Work; Bro. J. W. Hopkins, Gloucester, International Electoral Superintendent; Bro. Dr Johan Bergman, Stockholm. Sweden, International Secretary; Bro. D. Westrom, New York, International Glasgow, International Secretary; and Bro. Hermann Blume, Hamburg, International Treasurer.