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SHANE'S CASTLE, LOUGH NEAGH, AND ANTRIM CASTLE.

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cluding the night air, keep your bed-room door shut, and open a little of the window at the top. Of course, you will have your bed put in such a position that you will not be exposed to a draught. Nor must you overdo the ventilating process. do not want you to open a couple of feet of your window, and then go and say that I gave you all manner of colds and chest affections. One inch, or even less, will supply you with more fresh air than you can possibly use without reducing very perceptibly the temperature of your room. Another 66 evil which I have seen under the sun" is the bad ventilation of churches. I know that many persons are utterly prevented from engaging with earnestness in the worship of God by the drowsiness which a heavy, loaded atmosphere induces, while, in other places, some are kept at home nursing severe colds caught by the unskilful mode of admitting air.

This whole subject is so wide and so suggestive that I can do no more than offer these few simple hints, but they are sufficient to show its vast importance. A word to the wise is enough, and I think I may reasonably indulge the hope that my readers will carry my suggestions into daily practice.

66

Before closing, however, let me add a word or two about the inspiration of air. It is surprising how many people persist in breathing through their mouth. Nothing could be more at variance with physical law than this practice. We read that God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life;" but the majority of people, in defiance of this, refuse to breathe in this natural way. It is obvious from the very formation of the nose that it is the only proper medium for communicating air to the lungs. When cold air is inhaled through the mouth it invariably causes irritation of the lungs, though its injurious effects may not be perceptible immediately. And this habit is, undoubtedly, the cause of nine-tenths of those diseases of the teeth and gums, and numerous bronchial affections by which so many people are afflicted. There is a little apparatus in the nose through which the air must pass before it is fit to be received by the lungs. In its crude state it is no more fit for those delicate organs than uncooked food is fit for the stomach. Those who suffer much from coughs and colds will find in the observance of this simple law a better and more effectual remedy than in anything which medical skill can furnish.

Shane's Castle, Lough Neagh, and
Antrim Castle.

THE magnificent ruins of Shane's Castle are situated a short distance from the town of Antrim. It stands on the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, one of those lovely lakes of which so many are to be found in the "Emerald Isle." Shane's Castle has been for centuries the princely residence of the O'Neill family. In 1816 a fire broke out accidentally, and it was almost entirely burned to the ground. A noble and extensive library, and many very valuable and rare paintings were almost entirely destroyed in this conflagration. Almost the only thing that escaped the devastating element was the greenhouse, or grand conservatory of rare

and beautiful foreign plants. Some turrets and towers still remain, from the tops of which can be obtained a very extensive view, of the varied and interesting scenery which surround these noble ruins. The fort is very boldly situated, and a number of cannon are still mounted on it. It lies on the very margin of the lough, or lake, the water of the latter almost laving the embattled wall. Lough Neagh is an extensive lake, fully twenty miles long, and fifteen broad. It is said to cover a circumference of 95,000 acres, its entire circumference being about eighty miles. Indeed, this lough is said to be nearly as large as the lake of Geneva, and is only exceeded by that lake in Europe, and by the lakes of Ladoga in Russia, and Vener in Sweden. It is bounded by five counties-Antrim on the north and east, Tyrone also on the east, a small portion of Down on the north-east, Armagh on the south, and Londonderry on the north-west. Its height above the sea is about thirty feet. It has always been rendered an object of considerable interest, both from its situation, which resembles an inland sea, and from the celebrity of its very curious petrefactions and pebbles which are constantly found upon its borders. There is a very common tradition among the peasantry that the waters of the lake cover a town which, in ages far back, was buried beneath them. This very remarkable and prevalent belief has been immortalized by the poet Moore, in these beautiful lines,

"On Lough Neagh's banks as the fisherman strays
When the clear cold eve's declining,
He sees the round towers of other days
In the waves beneath him shining."

On Ram's Island, lying above a mile and a half from the shore, where travellers may easily obtain a boat to visit the island, which extends about seven acres, there is a beautiful cottage, elegantly furnished. The ground is entirely laid out in grass-covered walks. Large quantities of beautiful roses, and plants and flowers which are with difficulty reared in our gardens, grow here in great luxuriance. The very sides of the island, though almost perpendicular, are covered with creepers and hardy shrubs, adapted to the situation. Upon the beach, near the rear of the gardens of Shane's Castle, a large basaltic bed runs into the lake.

The picturesque town of Antrim is situated about twelve miles from Belfast, N.W. Its origin, like most of the towns in Ireland, was ecclesiastical. It stands on a beautiful plain, rich and fertile. Close by, the Six-mile Water river flows smoothly over its gravelly bed. About half a mile north of the town is one of the most perfect of the celebrated round towers. It is 93 feet high and above 53 feet in circumference at the base.

The town has few buildings of importance; two or three places of worship, the principle one being the church whose well-proportioned tower and tapering spire present a pleasing object viewed from any position. The Market-house stands in the main street.

The chief events in the history of the town of Antrim are two battles-one that was fought in the reign of Edward III., between the English and Irish, which exercised considerable influence over the after history of the country, and the other in 1798, during the rebellion, on which occasion

REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION.

Earl O'Neill lost his life while riding through the

street.

Close to the town of Antrim, and contiguous to the grounds of Shane's Castle, is the property of the Lord Massareene, with its spacious and wellbuilt mansion, called Antrim Castle. The exterior of the house is very plain, but in the interior there are many splendid rooms, fitted up with great elegance and taste, while the extensive grounds are beautifully laid out, in the artificial or French style. The park belonging to this castle extends for two miles along the shores of Lough Neagh, from north to south. It is rich in old and noble trees, and, in particular, contains gigantic specimens of silver fir. Antrim Castle was long very much neglected, but about thirty years ago it underwent great improvements, and, with its extensive demesne, was brought into its present well-ordered state. The land about this part of the country is excellent, and though the surrounding country is destitute of many of the natural elements of landscape, it is warmed into pleasantness, and even luxuriousness of aspect, chiefly by the embellishments of extensive pleasure grounds, and in a small degree by the operations of husbandry. The ancient or uncorrupted name of Antrim is Andruim, or Endruim, "The habitations on the waters," a name which probably refers to one locality, whence a designation is diffused over the whole county, yet which has been thought expressive of the county's nearly insulated position. Castle of Antrim stands on the margin of Six-mile Water, one of the principal rivers of the county. Cairns, cromlechs, pillarstones, raths, and earthern mounds, abound along the whole coast of Antrim, and occur somewhat numerously even in the interior.

Repressive Legislation.

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The Excise is fatten'd with the rich result
Of all this riot; and ten thousand casks,
For ever dribbling out their base contents,
Touched by the Midas fingers of the State,
Bleed gold for ministers to sport away."-Cowper.

I AM a working man, and must work very hardthe particular kind of work is of small consequence. As a working man I am in favour of legal repression of the liquor traffic. I am decidedly averse to the present fiscal system, which, for the sake of revenue, as Cowper has described it in his own strong racy English, not only destroys human food-that might pass, although, with hungry children around us, it seems hard it should—but propagates human misery in every form. I am not going to say anything of the fearful evils of drinking. Why should I? Working men know all about them; they have seen, if not felt them. They are generally aware of the folly, I might almost say the guilt, of drinking stimulants at all, because of their baneful consequences; and they are beginning to feel the necessity of crushing the mischief by restraints more powerful than those of moral suasion and personal self-denial.

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Let us see how the matter stands. The people who drink hardest are not the least convinced. Many of them groan under their slavery-they feel its bitterness-the iron has entered into their souls. They cannot, however, emancipate themselves; emphatically the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Freedom must be given to them, if ever they are to be free; if given to them they would be the first to feel, and ere long to rejoice in its effects.

The able writers who supply leaders for the Times, Telegraph, and other London newspapers, tell us to look to the spread of religion, education, and the thousand wholesome influences of civilization for the necessary improvement. Very good; but how long are we to continue in this expectant mood? We have looked a long while already, and begin to feel the sickness of hope deferred. I have faith, in my own humble way, in these benign influences, as well as these journalists. I believe in a God of love, else I should lay me down and die; but I know greatly more about poor people than they do, and therefore I am driven to the conclusion that a couple of generations must pass away before these influences can have their legitimate and full effect, supposing them speedily to come into vigorous operation. Meantime, I am tired waiting, waiting. I would fain see something done-even failure would be preferable to inaction. There are thousands now in our midst to whom religion, education, and other wholesome influences, are little more than a mere name-masses who will, to a certainty, remain in their present degraded condition, so long as drink is procurable to stupify and imbrute them. They will soon die; there is a hereafter; what of these masses? Moral suasion, selfdenial, in our wynds and alleys-in Bethnal Green, of which the London papers have been telling us recently-in places, we need not indicate particularly, nearer home. No, no. grace can do anything; there are true brave hearts in the most unlikely retreats. But if you persist in maintaining social arrangements, defiant of all that we are taught to believe concerning the nature and operations of the divine government, which largely works by human agency, we have no right to talk. It is a mere lazy sentimentalism.

God's

My readers will probably remember that Mrs. Pardiggle, in Bleak House, tried reformation after the wordy and very orthodox fashion. Better women than Mrs. Pardiggle have tried it. The thing comes naturally to us. But it does not succeed. One instance is as good as many. In one miserable room, we are told, in which there were a woman with a black eye, nursing a poor little gasping baby by the fire, and a man all stained with clay and mud, and looking very dissipated, lying at full length upon the ground smoking a pipe, the lady had recourse to her moral suasion. She had her answer, and if many do not answer after the same fashion, it is not that they think very differently. "I wants a end," says this smoking dissipated man," "of these liberties took with my place. I wants a end of being drawed like a badger. Now you're a going to poll pry and question according to custom-I know what you're a going to be up to. Well you haven't got no occasion to be up to it, I'll save you the trouble. Is my daughter a washin'?

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THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.

Arn't my

Have

Yes, she is a washin'. Look at the water-smell it. That's wot we drink's. How do you like it, and what do you think of gin instead? place dirty? Yes, it is dirty. I read the little book wot you left? There aint nobody here knows how to read it; and if there was, it wouldn't be suitable to me. It's a book fit for a baby, and I'm not a baby. If you was to leave me a doll I shouldn't nuss it. How have I been conducting of myself? Why, I've been drunk for three days; and I'd been drunk four if I'd a had the money. Don't I never mean for to go to church? No, I don't never mean for to go to church-I shouldn't be expected there if I did; the beadle's too genteel for me. And how did my wife get that black eye? Why I giv' it her; and if she says I didn't she's a lie!"

The man who wrote this does not care more, or half as much, for the poor as many an humble man, who distributes the tracts here laughed at. Yet my own experience corroborates the truth of the picture which Dickens has drawn. Nothing, in fact, seems darker than the shades which lower over whole tumble-down courts and alleys in all our large towns. There is no sunshine in these shady places, but a darkness that may be felt. And apart from these more hopeless manifestations of society, which seem to cast only hissings against the whole fabric of civilization, and against which moral suasion and appeals to the higher instincts of humanity, fall as powerless as a housemaid's mop opposed to the advancing tide. Apart from these, the working man, in any given locality, who thinks for himself, can bring the question we are discussing, or rather about to discuss, closely home to his business and bosom. In the persons of his relatives, his shopmates, his neighbours, or even himself, he can bear abundant testimony to the folly and misery resulting from the free indulgence in drink, and can adduce very cogent reasons for inscribing it in the catalogue of prohibited drugs; such testimony, and such reasons, indeed, as no other member of the body social can bring forward. The man in the higher ranks, speaking generally, sees the evil through his telescope dimly, and at a distance. It is to him a disagreeable picture, yet it is only a picturea blurred disagreeable picture. But the working man is in the heat, and dust, and din of the sore battle; amid the sighs of the wounded, the moans of the dying, the shouts of the delirious; and he may well wonder why such a state of things should exist, when the simple act of touching a piece of sheepskin with the point of a sceptre, could at any time put an end to the strife, and restore a measure of peace to the community. We shall see more clearly as we proceed.

The Temperance Movement.

THE FUTURE.

IN a few short days the year 1863 will have passed away, and we will have entered upon its successor. As far as the Temperance movement is concerned, the Future is full of hope. Everywhere we behold the gratifying signs of progress, and the friends of our great cause have only to be united and energetic, and the legalised drink traffic shall ere long become

a thing of the past. In Ireland the work of social reform "goes bravely on." During the past twelve months amazing progress has been made, and the Irish Temperance League and Permissive Bill Association has now a footing in many places where previously it was scarcely known. Everywhere new openings are presenting themselves, and the committee look forward with high hope to a year of hallowed and successful toil. They desire to chase from our sea-girt isle every vestige of a gigantic system of iniquity, and the most ardent wish of their hearts is to see their fellow countrymen "emancipated and disenthralled by the irresistible genius of universal" sobriety. They appeal, then, to the patriot and philanthropist for support in the glorious work in which they are engaged; and they know they shall not appeal in vain. A great increase has already taken place in the amount of money set apart by the people for the support of the Temperance cause; and they look forward to an increased measure of liberality. It must be patent to the minds of all that the cause cannot make headway without adequate pecuniary support, and they trust the day is not far distant, when not one agent, but several agents, shall be employed throughout Ireland in scattering broadcast the imperishable seed, and proclaiming the great truths of Temperance on the highways and bye-ways of our green isle.

The League Journal, with the present number, enters upon a new year. Need we bespeak for our magazine, the only monthly devoted to social reform in Ireland, the hearty support of kind friends. Its present circulation is far below what it should be, and we believe, if an energetic and systematic effort were made, it would soon have a circulation worthy the Total Abstainers of Ireland. Every Temperance man should be a reader of the periodical, and those who have wealth should set apart a portion thereof to promote its gratuitous circulation. We know our readers have confidence in the Journal. It is thorough-going in its denunciation of the Liquor Traffic, and it will rest satisfied with nothing less than its total suppression. As the handmaid of religion, the movement of which the Journal is the organ has a claim upon all lovers of their country and their kind, and we ask them to rally round our crimson banner, advancing with us, prayerfully and believing, in our assault upon the citadel of IntempeIt is doomed; some of its bastions are weak and crumbling; and with the blessing of God upon the efforts of the allied Temperance army, the Goddishonouring superstructure shall be laid in the dust for ever, amidst the rejoicings of earth and the hallelujahs of Heaven!

rance.

THE WHITWORTH INSTITUTION AT FLEETWOOD.

THE largest, if not the most enthusiastic, meeting ever held in Fleetwood was that held recently on the occasion of the inauguration of an institute built by a philanthropic gentleman (B. Whitworth, Esq.,) and intended to be devoted to the elevation of the social and moral condition of the working people of the town, by the provision of such comforts and attractions within its walls as will, in some measure, counteract the corrupting influences of the ale house and the taproom. In February the building was commenced; and when the erection was nearly completed the generous donor called a meeting of the principal inhabitants of the town, to devise a scheme for its management as a sort of working men's club. Its managers, he stated, were to consist mainly of working men, who on payment of a small subscription were to enjoy all its benefits, to read in its library the more valuable books provided, or to take home for perusal other volumes of a less costly nature.

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THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.

The building itself is an ornament to the town in its architectural display, and forms a prominent feature The total cost of the whole is in Dock Street. estimated at about £3,000. The large room is intended for lectures, tea parties, and public meetings, and covers nearly the whole of the floor; the rooms on the ground floor are intended, one for a committeeroom and library, one for a common room, and behind, a hall keeper's residence, fitted up in a proper style for cooking, and the preparation of tea, coffee, &c. The keeper of the institute will be able to supply tea and coffee, and strangers as well as residents may enjoy the benefits of the institute while staying in town. Mr. Whitworth is one of the most liberal supporters of the United Kingdom Alliance, and a warm friend of the cause of Temperance. The example set by him is one well worthy of imitation. In Ireland we are sadly at a loss for such institutions as that recently opened in Fleetwood. The working men here have no such things as free libraries, and no building in which to spend a few hours in innocent relaxation.

STATUE OF FATHER MATHEW.

A BRONZE statue of Father Mathew, sculptured by
Mr. J. H. Foley, R.A., will shortly be erected at
Cork. It is the result of a public subscription, the
citizens of Cork, headed by the Mayor, Mr. J. F.
Maguire, M.P., being the principal contributors. The
great Apostle of Temperance is represented in the
attitude of addressing an audience; and his impres-
sive, emphatic manner is well indicated in the action
of the right hand and the slightly forward inclination
of the head. The likeness is admirable, and the ex-
pression beans with benevolence, goodness, and
amiability. The statue is of colossal dimensions,
measuring feet in height; and it will stand on a
simple but suitable pedestal.

TEETOTALISM AND STEADY NERVES.

THE following paragraph recently appeared in the
The Sergeant Riley referred to
Blackburn Times.
has long been a total abstainer, and a member of the
Rechabite Tent in Blackburn :-

"There are eight members of our local rifle
volunteers entitled to wear badges of merit for shoot-
ing. The badge consists of the rifle and stars, three
stars signifying the best shot, and two the second and
third. The chief badge falls to the lot of Sergeant
Riley; the second to Private W. H. Yates; and the
third to Private T. Clarkson."

INEBRIATE ASYLUMS" WANTED.

THE following advertisement lately appeared in a
Dublin newspaper, The Irish Times :-

"A lady wishes to know if there is any place in
Ireland where gentlemen are taken to be cured of
habits of intemperance, and on what terms. Letters to
be addressed to C 390, Intemperance, office of this
paper.' The Irish Times in a leader on the subject,
deplores the want of "Inebriate Asylums," and
closes the article in these remarkable words :-"They
who succeed in introducing this 'American Institu-
tion' amongst us, will be amongst the best benefactors
of the humbler classes in Ireland." The Dublin cor-
respondent of the Alliance News justly remarks:-"We
hope the Irish Times will see with us that the evil
which lies at the root of our social degradation is not
drunkenness, but the drink itself and the drink-traffic;

and

that Ireland's best benefactors would be those who would take the temptation out of the way of the bumbler classes, and of all classes, and thus remove the necessity for inebriate asylums."

SOCIAL CONFERENCE IN GLASGOW.

THE second social conference of Temperance friends,
convened by John M'Gavin, Esq., was held on Friday,

December 17, in the Garrick Hotel, Stockwell Street,
Glasgow, and was numerously attended. Mr. M'Gavin
was called to the chair, and was supported right and
left by Councillor Govan, Robert Smith, Esq., Presi-
dent of the Scottish Temperance League; Robert
Simpson, Esq., James Torrens, Esq., Alex. Allan,
Esq., Archibald Livingston, Esq., A. H. M'Lean,
Esq., Robert Stewart Esq., John Farquahar, Esq.,
After tea and accompani-
Rev. Mr. Johnston, &c.
ments, the Chairman said-"I think it is a great error
when temperance men allow their feelings, in refer-
ence to their own particular organisations, to rupture
private friendships. This, I regret to say, has been
done; and when institutions are preferred to friend-
ships and social neighbourly amenities, a great error
is being committed, and, in my opinion, a great
hindrance is raised to the progress of abstinence
principles. By each society-the moral suasion and
the legal suasion one-keeping their respective de-
partments, individual abstainers might be members
of both societies and the utmost harmony and peace
prevail throughout their operations." Remarks were
afterwards made by a number of those present,
generally reciprocating the sentiments of the chair-
man, that there might be two institutions working
out the two departments of moral and legal suasion
without any discord or jarring between themselves.

CLERICAL CONFERENCE AT BIRMINGHAM.

A Conference of Clergymen, convened by the Church of England Total Abstinence Society, was held at Birmingham last week. The First Session the was held on Monday evening, December 14th; Rev. Canon Jenkins presided. The subject was"The Best Method to Bring the Principles of the Temperance Movement to bear upon the Young." The topic was opened by the Rev. J. Erskine Clarke, of Derby, who has had an organisation for the young for ten years past, embodying the principles of total abstinence, provident habits, and religion. The subsequent conversation turned upon the modus operandi of the ordinary Bands of Hope; and all the speakers were of opinion that the work must begin with the young, so that the rising generation may be trained up on the principle of abstinence from strong drink. The public general meeting was held on Tuesday evening, in the Temperance-hall, and was presided over by the Rev. William Cockin, M.A., Rector of St. George's, Birmingham, who was supported by a large and influential body of clergymen. The Bishop of Columbia addressed the meeting in a genial and earnest address. His lordship spoke as though he Subsequent was a veteran in the Temperance cause. addresses were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Ellison, the Rev. Thomas Hutton, the Rev. Canon Jenkins, and others. The Conference passed a resolution of thanks to the friends of the cause in Birmingham, who had so kindly entertained the members during their visit to the town.

MR. TWEEDIE'S YEAR-BOOK.

"Tweedie's Temperance Almanack and YearBook," for 1864, contains much that is interesting to Temperance Reformers. All the great organizations for the suppression of the Drink Traffic are briefly noticed, and a review of the efforts put forth during the past year is given.

"STILL THERE IS ROOM." Mr. Caudwell, of 335, Strand, commences a new It is to be called "The Temperance magazine. Abstainer and Temperance Physician," and is to treat the question in its medical, social, and general aspects. We shall be It is to be edited by Dr. Beaumont. glad to see the new periodical, and ardently hope it may be a grand success.

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THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.

THE RECHABITE MAGAZINE AND JOURNAL OF
PROGRESS."

THE best friends of the Independent Order of Rechabites have long felt the necessity of an organ which should duly represent the body, and serve as a medium of communication between the various Tents and Districts. It is proposed, therefore, to publish a quarterly serial at the price of One Penny, to be entitled The Rechabite Magazine and Journal of Progress. "It is intended to be issued in the months of January, April, July, and October, and by that means, four times in each year, to give a reflex of the state and prospects of the Order, and stimulate afresh the zeal and goodwill of the members. It may be remarked that all the largest and most prosperous Orders have their respective periodicals, a fact to which their success is largely attributable. It will be proper to observe that on the general temperance question the Rechabite Magazine will be thoroughgoing, advocating in its moral and legislative aspects, and being perfectly in harmony with the views of the more advanced Temperance Retormers." The new Journal has our best wishes, and we hope it may be the means of extending the Honourable Order of Rechabitism.

LONDON AUXILIARY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE.

THE annual members' meeting was held on Thursday evening, Dec. 10, at the Whittington Club. In the absence of Harper Twelvetrees, Esq., from indisposition, Thomas Hattersley, Esq., occupied the chair. The attendance was good, and the interchange of opinion and feeling very harmonious and cordial. All the resolutions were unanimously passed, including the adoption of the annual report.

THE SUNDAY CLOSING OF PUBLIC HOUSES.

ON Thursday afternoon the 10th Dec., a very numerous and influential conference took place at the Midland Hotel, Derby, for the purpose of determining the future course of action with reference to this movement. J. A. Wade, Esq., presided, and read letters of apology from several gentlemen, some of whom offered liberal contributions in aid of the cause. The Rev. Dr. White offered up prayer. The following resolutions were adopted :-"That a National Association be formed for obtaining an Act to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors between the hours of eleven on Saturday night, and six on Monday morning." "That a bill be introduced into Parliament next session, to carry out the objects of the Association."

MEETINGS IN IRELAND.

Monday, 23rd November, Mr. Smith, Agent of the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union lectured in the Corn Exchange. His address was descriptive of some very fine views of "The Gorilla and the Land he Inhabits." The audience was very small. [The same gentleman lectured in Dromore, Bessbrook. Crumlin, Seapark, Larne, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, and Monaghan. His lectures gave great satisfaction, and the people in all the towns were very much pleased with the splendid dissolving views. We hope soon again to see Mr. Smith in Ireland.]

Monday evening, Nov. 23, a meeting was held in the Queen Street School-house, Belfast, Mr. D. Holywood presiding. An, admirable address was delivered by Mr. J. C. Davidson.

Tuesday evening, Nov. 24, the weekly meeting of the Belfast Total Abstinence Association was held in the Kent Street Hall, and was ably addressed by the popular agent of the society, Mr. John Reid; Mr. Wm. Church occupying

the chair.

Monday evening, 30th Nov., a meeting was held in the Mechanics' Institute, Belfast. Mr. D. Hollywood occupied the chair, and an eloquent and instructive lecture was delivered by the President, the Rev. H. Hanna.

Tuesday evening, 1st Dec., a meeting was addressed with great eloquence in the Kent Street Hall, Belfast, by Mr. Alexander Riddell, Mr. C. Pelling presiding.

Thursday evening, 3rd December, the monthly meeting of the 14 Depot Battalion Temperance Society was held in the Military Chapel, Belfast. The President, Mr. Wm. M'Ewen, presided, and an excellent lecture was delivered by Mr. Reid.

On Monday evening, 7th December, Mr. Pyper delivered an address to a crowded audience in connection with Christ Church Temperance Society, in the Mission Room-the Rev. Robert Hannay in the chair-on "Total Abstinence a Christian Duty." A vote of thanks to the lecturer was moved by the Rev. Arthur P. Doherty, seconded by Mr. James Walker, and carried by acclamation. The chairman, in conveying the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Pyper, observed that it was a treat to hear the subject so ably, logically, and moderately argued. At the close nineteen new members joined the society.

The annual soiree of the Belfast Revival Temperance Association, was held on Tuesday evening, 8th December, in the large room of the Mercantile Academy. There was a numerous attendance, and the chair was occupied by the vice-president, Mr. John Pyper. After tea, appropriate addresses were delivered by the chairman, by Mr. Hugh Pyper, secretary, and by Mr. Charles Hendrick. At intervals during the evening, a number of melodies and duets were sung in excellent style by Messrs. Lees and Hendrick, and several select pieces of composition were admirably recited by juvenile members. Votes of thanks were passed by acclamation to the singers and reciters, on the motion of Mr. James Pyper, seconded by Mr. M'Gregor Watt; and to the ladies who had presided at the tea tables, on the motion of Mr. John Meek, second by Mr. John Henry. The entire proceedings were of a pleasing and profitable character, and reflected much credit upon the committee of this useful society.

Monday evening, 21st December, a meeting of the Berry Street Church Total Abstinence Society assembled in the Mechanics' Institute, to hear a lecture from Mr. Pyper on

Alcohol, and its effects on the human system, illustrated by coloured drawings." Admission was by ticket, and the attendance was numerous and respectable. Mr. John Reid, Agent of the Belfast Total Abstinence Association, occupied the chair. The lecture was a luminous one, exhibiting much research and a thorough knowledge of the subject discussed. Mr. Charles Pelling cordially moved a vote of thanks to the learned lecturer for his able and eloquent address. The motion was seconded by the Secretary, Mr. Martin Herron, and warmly adopted by the meeting. A considerable number of names were enrolled as members of the society, and the meeting separated.

Tuesday evening, Dec. 22, the Rev. Dr. Knox delivered a powerful address on Temperance, in the new School-house, Welsh Street. The chair was occupied by T. H. Brown, Esq., T.C., president of the Welsh Street Association. There was a large attendance of the working classes present. At the close 21 persons enrolled their names as total abstainers.

BALLYMONEY.-Monday evening, 23rd Nov., a meeting of the Ballymoney Band of Hope Union was held in the Town Hall. The Rev. R. Park, M.A., president, occupied the chair. There was a large attendance, and the meeting was ably addressed by the secretary, Mr. S. E. M'Ilroy. Friday evening, 4th December, Mr. Pyper addressed a meeting of the same society, in the Linen Hall, Ballymoney, the Rev. J. L. Rentoul in the chair.

BESSBROOK.-Wednesday, the 25th November, was a great day at this thriving seat of the linen manufacture. The proprietors have been enlarging their premises, and prior to putting in the machinery into two immense rooms, they decided on giving their workers a treat. The works were stopped an hour sooner than usual, and at seven o'clock about 1,500 workers assembled to partake of "the cup that cheers, but not inebriates." During tea all went "merry as a marriage bell," and Mr. F. Harris, having been moved to the chair, an address was delivered by Mr. Wm. Church on "How to Get on in the World." Mr. Smith, of London, then exhibited a splendid series of dissolving views, after which appropriate speeches were delivered by J. G. Richardson, by the senior partner, and by Jonathan Grubb, Esq., from England. On the motion of Mr. Alexander Pringle, the thanks of the employers were conveyed to the proprietors, after which the happy party, after spending a delightful evening, retired to their homes.

BUSHMILLS.-Thursday evening, Nov. 26, a good meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church, Boardmills, the Rev. H. Hamill, pastor loci, in the chair. Mr. Pyper having delivered an effective lecture, the Rev. W. Oliverably moved a resolution in favor of the Permissive Bill. The motion was seconded by Mr. James M'Collum, and the resolution was unanimously adopted by the meeting.

BALLYMAQUILLIAM.-Wednesday, 2nd December, a crowded meeting was held in the Ballymaquilliam National Schoolhouse, presided over by the Rev. S. Finlay. Mr. Pyper delivered a convincing lecture, and a resolution approving of the Permissive Bill was adopted nem. con., on the motion of the Rev. T. Anderson, seconded by Mr. John Stewart. Mr. Wm. Stewart moved, and Mr. John Holmes seconded, a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which passed with much enthusiasm. BALLINDRATE.-Wednesday evening, 16th December, a meeting of the Ballindrate Temperance Association was held in the Presbyterian Church. The president, Mr. A. Lowry, occupied the chair, and an argumentative and telling lecture

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