ORDER OF THE SPONGE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1934, Page 9

ORDER OF THE SPONGE

MEETING AT PUKEKURA PARK FRIENDLY ROAD OFFICIALS Only seven children belonging to the “order of the sponge,” formed by the Friendly Road wireless station, Auckland, were absent on Saturday afternoon, when Mrs. D. Basham, Mr. T. Garland and the Rev. Scrimgeour held an openair meeting at Pukekura Park. “Uncle Tom” arrived early and called the roll of the order of the sponge. To his large and attentive audience he told the story of how the order had arisen 200 years ago at London, where was then a man of good family who had lost his property in the disturbances affecting England. His misfortunes had made the man somewhat eccentric and he made it his custom to patrol the streets with a bag in which was a wet sponge. With the sponge he wiped off any unsavoury

inscriptions that had been ■written on walls or fences. Therefore he became known as the Knight of the Sponge, and the story of his action was handed down through the years. A beautiful oil painting had - been made of him, but, curiously, no one knew his name. “Uncle Tom” said it was not the object of the. order of the sponge to follow literally the example of the first knight, but to live according to that ideal, doing as much as was possible to wipe out sadness in others. There were 3000 members of the order, and many hundreds of them he had not seen, but he was glad so many had come to meet him that day.

There was a sudden rush towards “Uncle Tom;” who had produced a large tin. A shout of successful protest was raised when he said.it contained sweets, and he thought he would “sit down and eat the lot.” ' . On the arrival of “Aunt Daisy (Mrs. Basham), “Uncle'Scrim,” Mrs. “Scrim” .and Mrs. Garland, Mr. Walker, in the absence of Mr. P. E.' Stainton, extended a brief welcome. Lady Nancy (Lobb) presented, bouquets to Mrs. Scrim, Mrs. Garland and Aunt Daisy. “I would ask you on behalf of the Knights and . Ladies of . the Sponge,” she said, “to accept these bouquets as a

little token of the pleasure ■it 'gives us to welcome you to New Plymouth.. Uncle Tom, we want you to know how pleased we are to see you in the flesh,-and we can assure you that it will always be our endeavour to live up to the pledges we have taken. - Uncle Scrim,; we- welcome you not only for - the interest you take in we young folk, but also for the help- that- we know you -are to . our parents, and we hope you will- be long spared to carry on the good work of the Friendly Road. Knights and Ladies of the Sponge, I now call upon you.to give three hearty cheers for our very welcome visitors.” .

Uncle Scrim expressed his pleasure at meeting the people in so informal a manner. He would always be glad if anyone, who wished would make themselves known to him. Aunt Daisy declined to make a formal speech, preferring to speak to the individual members when she had come down from the platform. Uncle Tom paid a tribute to the organisation that had arranged so fine a reception.' Sixty-five of 72 members were present to meet them. A Bible was given to Lady Nancy by the'ladies of the party, which then broke up, members moving amongst the people •and-talking'with them informally.