ORDER OF RECHABITES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18509, 21 March 1922, Page 2

ORDER OF RECHABITES

THEIR NEW ZEALAND JUBILEE. LINKS AVITH EARLY DAYS. (Contributed.) The fact that Now Zealand is steadily acquiring that dignity which belongs to age is every now and then being forced upon public notice by the happening of some event of greater or less nistorio importance. The centenary of one institution is followed by the jubilee of another, with a rapidity that startles the imagination, each in their own way laying down the milestones of a progress that is leaving the old colonial days far in its wake. These reflections arise from the fact that this year the Order of Rechabites—a friendly society which for 50 years has worked quietly and unostentatiously in New Zealand—will attain its jubilee, and the event will be celebrated in Wellington in April There is no need to go back to the Biblical origin of the name, for Rechab and his principle of total abslinance from intoxicating liquors—which has ever been the corner-stone of the Order—belongs to the Ancients. What readers will be interested in is the fact that the Order, as it is known in New Zealand to-day, was a product of the British Army. Long bet ore that, however, there were Rechaoites in New Zealand. As early as 1843 a branch of the. Order was opened in Nelson by a few advocates of temperance, who came amongst the first batch of settlers and for some time, amidst titree, flax, and fern, meetings, wore held and certificates of membership issued. Mr J. W. Andrews, J.P., of Ashburton, has to this day the certificate given to his father by the Nelson branch in 1843, and, needless to say, it is highly treasured by its possessor as a personal link with those early and interesting days. Those sturdy pioneers carried on the good work under the greatest disadvantages for a period of three years, and then ns settlement spread the members went out into their new homes, and were unable to continue on the corporate basis of a society. For a period of some 17 years the Order lay in abeyance. Then in 1865 the 65th Regiment arrived in Auckland, and with it came as the regimental tailor. Sergeant AVilliam Johnson, who, by his efforts amongst the soldiers and civilians, was able to set up a “tent” of more permanent duration in the northern part of the colony. When , the time came for him to receive his discharge from the regiment, Sergeant Johnson decided to remove to AA T ollington. Here he became associated with the late Mr F. H. Fraser, who was afterwards a member of the Legislative Council, and for so many years was- in himself an “institution” m the Empire City. In this they were successful, and on December 13, 1866, the Hope of Wellington tent was opened, Sergeant Johnson becoming its Chief Ruler, and Mr Fraser its secretary. Sir William Fox (at that time Mr P’ox) joined in with the , early workers, and with other active spirits sat about spreading the influence of the order. Branches were opened at Napier, Greytown, and Blenheim, Auckland being then the headquarters. Communication in those days between one part of the colony and the other was necessarily slow, mails between Auckland and Wellington sometimes taking weeks to reach their destination, and so the branches in the southern end of the North Island, hampered by the long and tedious delays, sought, authority from the High Office, at Manchester, to form a district office ft Wellington. This request was granted, and on February 15, 1872, the charter was granted to the New Zealand district to he numbered 86, and situated in Wellington. The charter reached Now Zealand at the end of September, 1872, and by this date two other branches had been opened, one at Orofton, with Sir William Fox as its chief, and a second branch in Wellington. These six branches constituted the New Zealand Central District No. 86, and tn December 31, 1872, when the first district meeting was held there were present ft that meeting: William Johnson, Francis H. Fraser, George Sage, Enstaf Janson, Henry Bowater, Gilbert Carson, John Beck, I). Robertson, R. M. Read, R, Jennes. The only surviving members of this meeting ore Messrs Gilbert Carson, of Wanganui, and R. Jennee, now residing at Ixnver Hutt. Tn the early days of the colony’s settlement one of the industries which first called for labour was that of sawmilling, and where the bush was suitable there gathered settlement. In many of these rude beginnings branches of the Rechabile Order were formed by its enthusiastic apostles, and flourished while the timber lasted. AATion the timber was cut out the workers had to move on seeking other employment, and many of these branches had to cease working. Still, as population increased, the order has grown with it, until to-day it has over 70 branches in the dominion, and cbunts’its members by thousands. The jubilee celebrations, which open ■■ t the Town Hall on Tuesday. April 4, will bo attended by about, ICO delegates coming from all parts of New Zealand. Part cf their function and pleasure will be to welcome the delegates who are coming overseas from Britain and Australia. Of these the principal is Mr Amos Tomlinson, of Southport, England, who is the present High Chief Ruler of the English lodges. AVith him is Mr J. H.- Lear-Caton. of Birmingham, who occupies the position of Past High Chief Ruler in England. The Australian delegate is Mr John Vale, of Melbourne. who has filled the position of district secretary to the ATctorian Rechabites for some years.