TEMPERANCE.

During the month of November, besides the Ladies' Temperance Sewing Meeting (held monthly) which was of a highly interesting character, five public meetings were held in the Lecture Hall, Three Mills Lane, Bromley-by-Bow. On Thursday, the 5th of November, Mr. Peter Carrigan delivered a Lecture full of practical common sense on the "Battle of Life." The lecturer having fought the battle himself, from poverty and obscurity, up to the position of a prosperous Tradesman, with widely-extended influence, was well qualified to encourage others to improve their circumstances by temperance, perseverance, and economy. He was listened to with great interest by a delighted audience.

WORKING MEN'S MEETING.

On Thursday, November 12th, there was a Working Men's Experience Meeting, when several speakers graphically described their deliverance from the thraldom of intemperance, and their subsequent progress and present happiness.

PUBLIC DEBATE ON

TEETOTALISM.

On Wednesday evening, November 18th, a debate was held under the auspices of the Bromley Literary Association, on the following subject: "Is Teetotalism at variance with Holy Scripture?" The affirmative side was supported by Mr. M. Feilde, and the negative by Mr. John Hilton; the two gentlemen speaking alternately. The proceedings during the evening were regulated by Mr. Harper Twelvetrees, the President of the Literary Association, who occupied the chair. The Hall was filled with a large and attentive audience, who frequently manifested their approval by frequent expressions of applause. At the conclusion the question was put to the vote, when there was an overwhelming majority in favour of

the negative side, but few hands being held up for the affirmative. At the conclusion of Mr. Hilton's last speech, he was greeted with a shower of bouquets from the ladies; and the cogency of his arguments was shown by several persons signing the Teetotal Pledge at the close of the meeting.

The following account copied from the "Alliance News, of November 28th, is from the pen of the Metropolitan correspondent of that Journal, who was present on the platform.

66 'A debate-or rather the farce of one-took place on the 18th inst., at the Lecture Hall, Bromley-byBow. Mr. Matthew Fielde, a notorious disturber of meetings, had been exceedingly anxious for a temperance discussion, and at last the members of the Bromley Literary Society placed a night at his disposal, Mr. John Hilton, jun., late of Brighton, having consented to defend the cause of total abstinence. The hall was soon filled after the commencement, over which Mr. Twelvetrees

presided. Mr. Fielde opened by reading for twenty minutes from a manuscript, Mr. Hilton spoke in reply for about the same period; Mr. Fielde. took another twenty minutes' pull at his manuscript, Mr. Hilton rejoined; Mr. Fielde read for ten minutes, Mr. Hilton spoke for twenty minutes; and Mr. Fielde again had ten minutes from written copy. He urgently pleaded for a longer allowance, but the meeting would'nt hear of it. Then the discussion closed. I have not yet told the subject of "debate." It was, "Is Teetotalism at variance with Holy Scripture?" Mr. Fielde used many hard words; but on the vote being taken he had about nine followers, the negative receiving a salute of some hundreds of hands. Mr. Hilton had another testimony to the efficiency of his labours, in the addition of eight signatures to the pledgebook. Mr. Fielde never seems to have intended to debate in the ordinary sense of the term, and a large proportion of his lecture was nothing else but a series of the bitterest charges against Teetotallers and teetotal advocates, particularly

the late Rev. Benjamin Parsonsa man as much superior to his detractor as Westminster Abbey is to an Indian wigwam. All that Mr. Fielde desired was an audience, which he well knew his own unaided exertions could not procure him. He has at times constituted himself the champion of some good movements, and always with the effect of doing some serious damage. Should he, by a freak of fancy, come over to the side of temperance or prohibition, the means of averting a catastrophe would have to be seriously considered."

LECTURE BY AN EX-PRIZEFIGHTER.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Mr. Charles Bent, of Manchester, an ex-prizefighter, and dog-fancier, delivered a powerful and impressive address, which moved the entire audience, and drew tears from numerous strong men, whose hard and blackened faces showed that they were used to coal-heaving or similar laborious employment The Lecturer in the course of his pathetic and melting address, spoke of a Mother in wretched poverty, whose husband spent all his earnings in drink. She would carefully give her little boy three-farthings for the purchase of a quarter of an ounce of tea; a farthing for milk, and a half-penny for a red herring, for the family breakfast. This Mother would often be heard to curse her dissipated worthless husband, and wish him dead! On that very night (the Lecturer continued) if one of the audience could enter her dwellling, he would hear her, before retiring to rest, commending her absent husband to God's protecting care and love. The boy is now a clerk in his father's business establishment, in which 14 men are employed. The father is also a godfearing man. This mighty change had been wrought by Total Abstinence; and the speaker was the rescued one. Mr. Thomas Heywood presided on the occasion.

MR. JOHN DE FRAINE'S
LECTURE.

On Thursday, Nov. 26th, John de Fraine, Esq., delivered an oration on Albert the Good; " Mr. John Hilton occupied the chair. The title of the lecture was used merely as a text for an oration, in which lessons of lofty principle and purpose were given in chaste and eloquent language, ornamented with poetry, and enlivened by quotations from sage authors, and by well-told anecdotes. The audience was of an appreciative character and very numerous.

LADIES' TEMPERANCE WORKING MEETING.

On Tuesday, the 1st of December, the Ladies' Committee of the Bromley and Bow Total Abstinence Society held their monthly meeting in the Lecture Hall, Bromley. They assembled with their friends at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, for Needlework, which was continued until six, when several gentlemen joined the party to tea. At seven, the ladies resumed their work, and the gentlemen interested the company by delivering short addresses, and reciting or reading suitable extracts from Temperance and other literature, according to their inclination or tastes. John Noble, Esq., J.P., of Brighton, was called to the chair, who, in his opening remarks, spoke of the pleasure he always felt in taking part in any of the useful and interesting operations connected with the Bromley Lecture Hall. He next alluded to the drinking customs of the day, and the importance and necessity of withstanding them. In the first year of his mayoralty of the borough of Boston, Lincolnshire, when in his official capacity he had of course frequently to attend public dinners, he remembered that on the occasion of the opening of the East Lincolnshire Railway, which was inaugurated by a Public Dinner, attended by the Lord Lieutenant (the Earl of Yarborough), Charles Chaplin, a wealthy Landed Propri

etor, County Magistrates, and other gentlemen variously connected with the county, the people were curious to know what he would do with the toasts. He should be glad if the drinking of toasts were abolished, and sentiments were substituted,but on the occasion alluded to, he had the honour of proposing, and drinking the health of Her Majesty the Queen, in pure clear water, which he did as loyally as any who were present. (cheers). He then proceeded to speak of the benefits of Total Abstinence, in raising man from degradation; and referred to the erection of an extensive Hotel now building in Brighton,-in some parts 10 stories high, and to cost about £30,000. He mentioned a curious fact in connexion with this building, viz. :-that the contractor is a teetotaller, and he (Mr. Noble) once called at the office of the building, with his friend Mr. Hilton, where they heard from the clerk of the works, (who is also an earnest teetotaller, and clever lecturer on the subject), that he was formerly an outcast, separated from all his friends, and was once compelled to sleep in a brickfield, without a penny in his pocket; one morning however, he was brought to reflection, and asked himself" what has brought me to this? nothing but the drink, and I'll have no more of it." He gave up the use of it altogether from that hour, and has gained a respectable position in society. Mr. Noble then related numerous anecdotes, to show what a passion for drink would lead to; and what ridiculous things men, under its influence, would do to obtain it. He was recently in the shop of Mr. Hilton, sen., of Brighton, when a lame old man, a customer, came in, who had formerly been a sailor, and was on board the ship in which the remains of Lord Nelson was brougnt home to England; and he said that the corpse of the Admiral was put into a barrel of spirits to preserve it till the vessel reached England, but the sailors "tapped the Admiral, on the voyage, and when the cask was opened, it was found to be empty, and the corpse was dry. After some further obser

vations, the chairman called upon Mr. Hilton, who read an extract from Elihu Burritt's "Sparks from from the Anvil," and afterwards made some appropriate remarks. Mr. J. A. Horner in the course of his address, mentioned having recently attended a Public Dinner of American Gentlemen in London, on which occasion, one-third of the company drunk the toasts in water, which was a sign of progress.

Mr. Jacob Cox referred to several incidents in his own history, by way of encouragement to others, and afterwards delivered a humorous recitation, which was much applauded.

Messrs. Swain and Buck made a few remarks, and were followed by Mr. Foot, sen. Mr. Harper Twelvetrees, then gave a brief and interesting account of his visit to the late Temperance Congress at Hanover; but promised some further details at the next meeting.

The object of the monthly Sewing meetings is to raise additional funds for the Bromley and Bow Total Abstinence Society. The Ladies meet for the purpose of making up various articles of clothing for sale; but the meetings are of such a pleasant, social, and interesting character, that they would be well worth holding, even if no profit were realized on the sale of the goods.

to be given to the above object. They also decided to make the Monthly Working Meetings into social gatherings, and invited the General Committee and any other friends who felt interested in the object to meet and take Tea with them; each person paying sixpence, the profits going to the general fund, Gradually they gathered round them a number of Ladies with willing hearts and hands, to assist in this desirable work. To what extent they have been successful the Financial Statement will show.

"Their next aim was to secure Orders for Clothing so as to prevent the necessity for having much capital laid out in stock, and they thankfully state that so far this has succeeded very satisfactorily. And while they express their gratitude to the friends who have entrusted them with orders, they beg to solicit a continuance of their kind support and recommendation, for although they rejoice in what has been accomplished, they are anxious to achieve yet greater things, and their success during the coming year will much depend upon the orders obtained, and the number of additional good workers.

The Social Meetings are still held on the first Tuesday in every month, at three o'clock, in the Lecture Hall, Three Mills Lane. Tea on the Table at Six o'clock. Any member of the committee will be glad to receive orders for Ladies' and Children's Clothing, Gentlemen's Shirts, &c. A stock of Patterns is kept for inspection.

"The Ladies Committee beg gratefully to tender their thanks to the several friends who kindly provided the Tea gratuitously for several months, and who presented several valuable articles for sale; and in conclusion, would reverently acknowledge the goodness of God in thus giving them success, for

""Tis God who works to will;

"Tis he who works to do;

His is the power by which we act;
Be His the glory too."

Mrs. S. DAY, Honorary Secretary,