The eleventh of the fortnightly entertainments of the Shanghai Temperance Society was given at their Hall on Saturday night. As Mr. O. P. Blethen, the President, is to leave for the United States by the next mail, he occupied the Chair for the last time. On this account, and also because it had become known that a presentation of some kind was to be made him, the Hall was well filled at half-past The banners of the two Lodg and of the Juy tar of Hope" Lodge, I.0.G.., were splayed on the platform, while immediately over the Chair was suspended a capital likeness, ina very handsome frame, of the Chairman of the evening.
All the members of the Committee of the Shanghai Temperance Society now in Shanghai were present, and it must have gratified them not alittle to see so large a umber of their friends present, The Rev. W. S. Herr opened the proceedings with a brief prayer, and after the opening chorus by the meeting atid a recital tion, Teunyson's The Lady of Shalott," by 't. 0. Mr. H. A. Joluston The same ye ished to hear the singer again, but he simply bowed his acknowledyments. The same remark applies to Mr.
Dunman, who gave two songs, "At Noontide," and "The Brave Old Oak," the first being the fifth and the latter a ninth items on the programme. Mr. Johnston's first son succeeded by a ading by Mr. R. W. Little of an amusing selection, " My adventures in Sketzland," which creat siderable amusement. 'Mr. Rogerson "One niche fe effective manner, eliciting enthusiast applause when he concluded. Mr. Loam' flute solo, a fantasia on airs from Brnani, was interrupted several times by applause, and as the audience insisted on hearing him again, he favoured them with 'a further exhibition of his skill, giving selections from Il Trovatore. Mr. Fentum accompanied him on the piano, as he did the singers during the evening. At the conclusion of Mr. Dunman's song, The Brave Old Oak,"
The Rev. Wa. Momueap, the President of the Society, who was received with prolonged applause, delivered the following address Another Temperance aiidress, and what is it to be? The occasion is one of unusual interest, Special arrangements have been made by our hard-working Secretary to meet the other parts of the programme, and manner in which they have been fulfilled given you satisfaction. (Applanse.) But ti bide de resistance has fallen to me, and it may be found to be the only portion of A the evenings entertainment that as failed to meet the general expectation. (No, no.) I inquired "if the address was to complimentary of our respected Chairmap, on whose account this farewell service i ing eld, but the answer was emphatically, tig reserved for the presentation to be mad old well-worn that forms the name and object of our Society is to be kept to and insisted ov. So be wit in the matter? Your hearty applause it, But may I expect you to be in sympathy of the songo and sentiments that have preceded thia part of the proceedings is no guaran in favour of whi Po to follow. 'But the work of the I advance th attack, there which' we can go subject? Lanticipate difficul th and disagrees ig partly from the tations that ly from the regard lias been canvassed in oral Tie, jaime anit ite appealed ing illustrations Lave been adduced, and your continued presence may be taken as an expression of your sympathy with us and your support of our object. (Applause,)
But what is the cours that we propose in our advocacy of the matter to-night? Shall We range over the object at large, and say nothing in particular in regard to it, except it may he a few general details, an smote here and there, and a final wind-up in the way of exhortation that you should all joo our ranks, and becvme adherents of the Shanghai emperauce Society? Or shall we seek a common ground of agreement between us, and on indisputable principles argo the matter on your calm and serious consideration? I prefer the latter, and happily Gud a basis on the ground of our common Christainity and appeal to it alone in the presentation of our theme, I beseech you to hear mo patiently, as I advance atop by stop to the end in view, 1.—Temperance is not Christianity and Ohi is not Temperance, is Christ in perean, 'k, anil to be a Christian in im, following His example, obeying a relates to all he te in and expect
ce to us and has to do every aspect and element of our physical, tal and moral being, The whole man requires to come under the sway and rule of Chriet, as our Pattern and Example, Lord and Master, in order to entitle us to the designation of his followers, to the name and profession of a Chri In thi are changed into ens, bear hie img ud in our life and character illustrate whoae we are and whom we serve.
Temperance, on the other hand, is a moderate use of, or an entire obs from, a particular article of food or drink or dress, or in the matter of our general habits and ways of living, nogording to the circumstances of the case. Now the change that may have been induced in the course and conduct of a mau who has adopted such views: of Temperance may be very great and very commendable, Instead of the course of vice and dissipation he has hitherto pursued, leading to most melancholy results in bie standing and cond d maybe, occupying a position of honour and respectability, which he has the esteem and regard of! hi follow-men, We believe that auch a change in 'a greater or leas degree has often taken place in the social circle, What then? This is not all that constitutes Christianity, and yet there is to fear that some who have undergone it, or that others who through life have conducted themselves with propriety and decorum in the matter before us, seem to rest in and make their Least of it, as the all in all of their duty, It is should paso even fr sobriety, honesty and fidelity in the various other, to be di relations of life, but this is no more than a stepping-stone and without Christianity the highest style of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.