GOOD TEMPLARS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 108, 27 October 1911, Page 8

GOOD TEMPLARS

ANNIVERSARY OF EGMONT LODGE. Despite the heavy rain last night there was a good attendance at the anniversary celebrations of the Egmont Lodge, 1.0. G.T., in the Good Templar Hall. Willing hands had quite transformed the interior of the building, using ft profusion of palms, ferns, arum lilies t and flags, the effect being very pleasing. Bro. Jas. Salt, C.T., presided and briefly welcomed the visitors. A very lengthy programme had been prepared. The opening ode was followed by the reading of the annual report by the secretary. Sister L. -White, who said the lodge membership had increased during the year from 62 to 77. This had been an eventful year, on account of the laying of the foundation stone, the building .and the opening of the Good Templar Hall. The Grand Lodge had conferred an honor on the lodge by appointing its representative, Bro. J. C. Legg, as Grand Guard. The lodge had had the pleasure of receiving an official visit from Bro G. Andrews, G.C.T., and a visit from Sister Grimier, of the Prince of Peace Lodge, Leicester, England. Towards the end of the year the lodge had, mainly with the aid of Sister Grimley, opened lodges at Waitara, Inglewood and Westown, and reopened the lodge at Eltham. Regret was expressed at the departure of three earnest workers, Bro. and Sis. Higgs and Sis. E. White. The report concluded with thanks to Mrs. Appleyard for the donation of the chaplain's chair, to the press for publishing lodge reports, and to all friends who had so willingly assisted the lodge with jts public evenings.

Bro. J. C. Legg, District Deputy, in a brief but chatty speech, spoke of the world-wide influence of the Order, and of the great advance in membership in this provincial district.

Miss Grimier, on behalf of the English Good Templars, conveyed birthday greetings, and complimented the Egmont Lodge on the energy and enthusiasm of its members. Then followed some arguments for temperance, interspersed with humorous stories founded on incidents attendant on lior work of organising the temperance and no-lioense work, both in the Dominion and at Home, her address concluding with the expression of her wish that this lodge would go on and flourish, and that the drink traffic in New Zealand be abolished.

I The Rev. B. J. Liddcll gave a short address on the Good Templar Order which he described as a God-made organisation, an organisation which* was of social benefit, but also and emphatically out for the abolition of the drink traffic—total abstinence for the individual, and prohibition for the State. He appealed for additions to the membership roll of the lodge. The musical programme, which included several items of real merit, was as follows:—Selection, Garrison Bandpianoforte trio, Misses Smith (encored) ■ duet, Misses Gilbert (encored); recitation, Miss Keys (encored); song, Mrs Yates; song, Miss Hayden; address', Miw Grimley; song, Mr. Asher (encored)duct, Miss Connett and Mr. Reid (encored); recitation. Mrs. Grant (encored); bagpipe selections, Messrs. Arnold and Rea.