[From Rechabite History, 1911]

THE UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE AND THE ORDER.

An interesting gathering took place in the Board Room, Onward Buildings, Deansgate, Manchester, on Friday afternoon, Sept. 23rd, 1910, when an address of welcome was presented to the Board of Directors of the. Order by a deputation from the United Kingdom Alliance. The High Chief Ruler (Bro. J. Philipson) presided, and all the members of the Board of Directors of the Order, and a large number of members and officials, were present. The Alliance deputation included Mr. R. B. Batty, Hon. Secretary; Mr. T. Porter Smith, J.P. (Chairman of Executive) ; Dr. W. E. A. Axon, Mr. William Armitage, J.P. ; Mr. S. Norbury Williams, J.P.; Councillor Alexander Thomson, Mr. G. B. Wilson, B.A., Secretary of the Alliance; and Mr. R. A. Jameson, Editor of the Alliance News.

The High Secretary briefly introduced the deputation, and said that all the members were closely associated with the temperance movement, and were specialists in the various departments of temperance work.

The High Chief Ruler said he felt that the United Kingdom Alliance had conferred a great honour on the Rechabites in asking to meet them on that occasion. He was very glad indeed to see their present. (Applause)

Mr. R. B. Batty said he had pleasure in presenting an address of welcome to the High Chief Ruler and members of the Independent Order of Rechabites. the address read:-

AN ADDRESS.

" We, the Executive Council of the United Kingdom Alliance, desire to send to yen and your Order our cordial greetings and congratulations upon the auspicious occasion of your attaining the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of your Order. «'e rejoice with you in the marvellous progress which your Order has made since its inception, and in the splendid work for temperance which you have already achieved. We are proud to count ourselves your fellow-workers in this great cause, and we recall with gratification the fact that on the occasion of your jubilee celebration in 1885 you passed a resolution in favour of the principle for which the Alliance has always stood — of entrusting local communities with the power to protect themselves against the liquor traffic — (hear, hear) — and we gratefully acknowledge that many of our most valued members have been members also of your Order. We are glad to know that during the past year the tie that has united us has been drawn closer by the acceptance by your High Secretary of a seat on our Committee, and we are confident that in the future, as in the past, you will give to us that friendly co-operation which we value so highly. We wish you all prosperity- in your great undertaking, and a most successful gathering on this happy occasion, and desire that the blessing of God may rest upon your labours for the social and moral uplifting of our people." (Applause.) Mr. Batty said it was a matter of sincerest gratification that they had afforded the Alliance that opportunity of exchanging fraternal greetings. Speaking for his colleagues and himself, he wished to say that they had the highest opinion of the Rechabite officials and of the work they were doing. They were engaged in the same work as the Alliance, which was showing up the fallacies of the use of alcohol, contending that men and women could live longer, happier, and healthier without alcoholic beverages.

Mr. T. Porter Smith, Dr. W. E. Axon, and Mr. G. B. Wilson also spoke, and tendered the good wishes of the Alliance. The H.C.R. responded, after which the meeting terminated.