RED CROSS CONCERT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 829, 6 October 1916, Page 8

RED CROSS CONCERT.

BY ST. ALBANS RECHABITES

Members of the Ark of Refuge Reekabite Tent celebrated their ninth anniversary last evening bv giving a concert oil behalf of the St. Albans Eel Cross Fund at St. Matthew's Schoolroom. It was deemed advisable by the members that an effort on behalf of the Red Cross would be the most fitting way to commemorate the anniversary, and the entertainment proved a. great success. Mr A. D. llassn.lt had charge of the arrangements. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) presided, arid among those present was Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P. for Christchurch North. An interesting musical and elocutionary programme was contributed by Mesdames Mc Gillivrav, Donn, Stallard, Misses Turner (3), Stark, Messrs R. Malcolm, W. East, Morgan, and W. Tindall. An excellent dumb-bell display was given by the Misses Hall and Rnpley. The scholars of the Edgeware Road School contributed a patriotic song, during the singing of which 12/.'! was thrown on the stage. Pipe-Major Erskine played the pipes during the Scottish dancing. The Mayor said there were 60,000 Keehabites in the firing line, and the first colonial to win a V.C. was a Rechabite. The tent was so nourishing that it was proposed to start a juvenile tent. It was a privilege to help the Red Cross, and he asked them not to get weary in well doing, to forget any slight differences, and to work hard until the war was over and Prussianism had been crushed, so that, so great a war could never be possible again. Mr Isitt said he was pleased to be there, for three reasons. The first was that the proceedings were run by a friendly society. He believed in thrift, but not in meanness. But for one man who was too mean there were many others who had financial difficulties throughout life. Many men did not marry because they did not have the means, but the benefit society had helped hundreds of men, and had done a lot to build up the happiness and welfare of the people. Secondly, he was glad to be there because it was a temperance benefit society. It was surprising how the strain of war had caused the Government and. many previous critics of himself and other teetotal "cranks" to act in the very way the temperance people had advocated all along in peace days. lie was glad to learn that 60,000 Rcchabites were also "hit-tites," and were hitting the Hun as hard as they could. There could be no more Godly work. While the country was spending over four millions a year in gambling and the drink traffic, it could not say that, it was doing enough for the men at the front. The day had come when the glass of whisky on the day at the trots must be given up. He had been told by a leading Christchurch milliner that the orders for the coming race week made an absolute record. It was disgraceful for empty-headed women to go in for such vain display at these times of stress. Tho more the New Zealand people who stayed at home emulated the self-sacrifice of the boys at the front the more he and they could be proud of their country. In proposing a vote of thanks, Bro. Hassall eulogised the assistance rendered by the Mayor and Mr L. M. Isitt, and referred to the willing and talented services rendered by all who had taken part.

The concert, which was opened by singing the National Anthem, was closed by all standing whilst the "Marseilaise" and Russian Anthem were played.