Blackburn District.

Church and Oswaldtwistle.—On Saturday, March 8th, there was a united public meeting and entertainment in the Baptist School, Oswaldtwistle. Rev. W. Karfoot (Independent), Rev. J. Dawson, (Wesleyan), Bro. F. Atkin (Secretary British Temperance League), and Bro. Thomas Cunliffe, H C R, addressed the meeting. The Band of Hope Choir, conducted by Mr. S. Henderson, gave several pieces in capital style. Bro. T. Carter recited "The Drunkard's Story." A Tent will be formed as the result of the meeting. On Sunday afternoon, March 9th, a Temperance sermon was preached in the Wesleyan Chapel, Mount Pleasant, by Bro. F. Atkin.

Meeting and Entertainment.—On Monday evening, March 3, a public meeting and entertainment was held in James-street School, in connection with the Refuge Tent, No. 236. There was a very large attendance. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. Councillor R. Whittaker, the chair was taken by Mr. Isaac Bunyan.—Mr. T. Cunliffe (of Bolton) said that he had come that evening to speak about an Order which had had an existence of 40 years as a Temperance association, and they showed by precept and example that they would have nothing whatever to do with strong drink. They believed that it was of no use whatever as a matter of diet, because it did no good in the human frame. Immediately it got there it disturbed every organ and nerve with which it came in contact.—Mr. James Cavis (of Darwen), gave some interesting statistics showing the superiority of the Rechabite Order over other societies in matters of sickness, &c. He had with him six years' returns, from 1862 to 1867, both inclusive, showing that the average amount of sickness was 10 days 16 hours in the Oddfellows' Society, whilst in their own society for the past six years it was only five days. An excellent programme of songs, recitations, &c., was gone through, each page 60 piece being loudly applauded, and the meeting was brought to a close by the audience singing the National Anthem—Blackburn Times.

Is the Rechabite Order the Best Sick and Burial Society?—This question was introduced for discussion at the weekly meeting of the Blackburn Temperance Society, in the Club-room, Cert street, on Wednesday evening, Feb. 26th, by Mr. James Cavis, of Darwen. There was a good attendance, Mr. Swain occupying the chair. Mr. Cavis took the affirmative of the question, and based his argument on the fact that there was less sickness and a lower death-rate in the Rechabite Order than any other, and said the society could also be carried on with less payments than ethers. Mr. Cavis gave statistics of the societies of Rechabites and Oddfellows, from which he drew a comparison favourable to the former. Bro. H. Sharpies, of Manchester, confirmed these statements in an able address. Messrs. Mercer, Dobson, Geldart, Cort, We all, Tuke, and Magor took part in the discussion.