Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1885. The Friendly Societies’ Demonstration.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1749, 21 October 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1885. The Friendly Societies’ Demonstration.

The great demonstration of tbe members of the Friendly Societies which took place at Wellington on Thursday last will ever be a memorable event in tbe history of this colony. Mend ers ol those bodies from many parts of the colonv were gathered together on that auspicious occasion. We’lington, Petone, tbe Hiitt, the \\ inrarapa, Napier, Wanganui, Blenheim, Nelson, W’estport and Christ church, had all representatives of their Societies in the ranks of that great procession, half a mile long, and numbering over 2500 which marched through the streets of Wellington on Thursday forenoon with bands playing and flags and banners waving. In truth the eight was a great and grand one. Oddfellows, Foresters, Shepherds, Druids, Rechabites, Hibernians, and Protestant Alliance men were all there, gaily clad in the vestments and regalia of their respective orders. In gazing upon this goodly spectacle the thought w’ould arise that it was a grand practical illustration of the principles of peace, friendship, and good will amongst mankind, and that it afforded a sign of that gocd time coming,

“ When man to man the world o’er,” “ Shall Britishers be and a’ that.” As we looked upon this vast body of men moving along the streets of Wellington in orderly procession, the reflection would arise that it represented an army of busy workers on behalf of union, mutual help, and association for the purposes of providing against those times i f want, sickness and distress which may in some instances come upon those who make their living by means of the wages of daily toil. Such an army is surely banded together for some of the highest and noblest of human purposes. To succour a nick and

helpless brother, to provide for the widow and orphan, and, above all, to accomplish those objects by means of funds contributed by tbe members themselves of those friendly societies, is certainly a great and good mission. May all success then, attend the members of that brotherhood who took part in that splendid demonstra tion of the other dnv.

The promoters of the demonstration may certainly bo congratulated on the complete measure of success which resulted from their efforts. The procession in the morning to iho Basin Eescrve was admirably managed, the sports during the day were carried out to the satisfaction of the thousands of people who had gathered in and near the public pleasure ground ; while the torchlight march at night through the streets to the concert hall of the Exhibition was the most striking and picturesque demonstration ever witnessed in New Zealand. When the members of the Societies ami such of the public as could find room had assembled in the building, Air A out, the Premier made one of Mhoae happy and apposite, speeches which he is so admirably qualified to I utter, Ilis subject was “ The part which Friendly {Societies play in the social life of the people.” Mr Stout spoke of the enormous advance which society had made even during the present century. A hundred years ago there were no Friendly Societies—the laborers had to look to those above them, am! were Jittlo better that) uits. Now there were between four and five (pillions of people in the world belonging to

these societies, with a credit of about £11,000,000. These societies meant the inculcation of thrift, and through that the advancement of the nation. For thrift, he contended, was absolutely necessary in the universal search for happiness ; they could not have independence, self reliance, or happiness without thrift. And after all, he believed society could only be raised when they had self reliance. The history of mechanics, science, or art, showed that men who had advanced were the men who had been independent and self reliant. W 7 e were all here in this colony to live in peace and harmony, respecting each other’s beliefs and ereeds. Could not that be well done by many men meeting in friendly societies, where men meet as brothers once a week. The societies were welding society and promoting fellowship. Prom another point of view, these societies were promoting brotherhood. The procession he had seen that day he contrasted with the procession of soldiers in England But that picture, however glorious it might be, however it might kindle enthusiasm, bad a terrible background, where a mother's only sou, or a husband might be lost. The background of the procession that day was of help to the widow, to the orphan, and the needy ; nay, it had more —a background of brotherhood. He belonged to an American Order, and he believed if the different Orders penetrated through the world the result would be less devastating war. He urged those who were not members of Friendly Societies to join at once, and he hoped the result of the Demonstration would have the effect of bringing more people to the Friendly Societies. He hoped, too, that the members of Friendly Societies would remember that they were fighting, not only against war, for wealth and for thrift, but also for a greater and higher ideal—the brotherhood of men.

These words of Mr Stont were in excellent harmony with the occasion on which they were spoken. They were suggestive to the members of such societies of the duty which rested upon them in persevering in their efforts to extend their sphere of operations and their powers for doing good and useful wotk. We feel convinced that the recent Eriendly Societies’ gathering will be the means of affording a powerful impetus to the future progress of those bodies, while it will also bring them and their objects home to the hearts of the great mass of the people. In other respects, also, the late gathering will serve a good and useful purpose. It

has been the means of bringing a large number of the best class of art’sans and other working men to see the Exhibition and its splendid and varied show of industrial products and manufactures. These men will examine the contents of the Exhibition with trained and practical intelligence—picking up many new and valuable ideas from what they see—and in some cases these ideas will be practically worked out at a future time by the production of further improvements in various industrial processes and manufactures. Some valuable seed has been sown in the minds of those men which, in some cases, will bring forth rich and abundant fruit. We are therefore deeply gratified at the great success which.has attended the recent gathering of the Friendly Societies, and look forward to many good results accruing from it in the not distant future.