RECHABITES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12405, 21 November 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

RECHABITES.

ANNIVERSARY OF BUD OF PRO- ■.:.■-■:■ MISE TENT. The Rechabite Hajl was- crowded last evening when the anniversary of the Bud' of Promise Tent was celebrated. The Rev F. G. Buckingham presided. Greetings and god wishes were.. received. from Bro It. Croudis and the District Officers. The Chairman said he was pleased to be present, and thanked the Recha- [' bites for letting him take part in the anniversary. He had been living at Oamaru, which for the last two years and a half had tried no-license. Persons who do not live in the district profess to know more about the state of affairs than those who lived there. No-license had been a great success there and the decrease in drunkenness had been great. For the last eight-, een months of ' license 28-5 had been arrested for' drunkenness, and for eighteen months of no-license; the arrests for drunkenness had been only 34 ; and of the latter it had been ascertained thirty had "come into Oamaru by train. People are to be met in Oamaru who say 110-license is a failure, .and he gave, an instance of an employee saying that, while the man's employer, was of a totally different opinion, his books showed nolicense was good for trade, although trade had suffered considerably by tho drought- last, summer. He referred to the growth of the Rechabite Order which every ten years doubled its fund. Connected with the Bud of Promise Tent there .are 147 adult ' memberSj 37 in the female branch, and 47, juveniles, making a total of 231. - A display of gymnastics was givon by a number of young men connected with tlie Order and drew forth ropoated applause.. Miss Calder gavo a pianoforte solo, and songe woro contributed by Miss Williams and Messrs Gascoigne and Bradshaw. Mr Siovowright gave a humorous recitation. Mr Fellowes was heartily applaudod for his humorous exhibition of his powers as a ventriloquist, and ho had to appear twice. Mr _Mark Smith advocated tho claims of the Order and urged thoro was no better one for tho young people ts join. He claimed no Order gavo better advantages to its members. Ho moved a 'hearty vote of thanks to Mr Buckingham for presiding, which was carried by acclamation. Hearty cheers were givon for tho Order, the Chairman,' and for Mrs Calder. Tlie National Anthem was sung and the proceedings wore brought to a close. During the evening refreshments were handed round.