Colne.

Festival.—The annual tea party and meeting in connection with the Colne Rechabites were held in the Inghamite New School, on Saturday, March 1st. A large number sat down to tea, and after the tables were cleared the Rev R. Botterill presided, and was supported by Councillor Heap, of Burnley, and Messrs H. Greenwood, J. Hartley, J. Whittam (Burnley), and Z. Catlow (Bradford). Bro H. Greenwood read the annual report, which was of a most encouraging character. The receipts for the year ending December last amounted to £150 5s 9d, which after payments to sick members and other expenses, leaves a balance of £92 3s 3d. The accumulated capital in the sick fund now reaches £1,269 19s 1d. Number of male members, 92; female, 13; total, 105, an increase of five on the previous year. Average age on admission, 26; present average, 38. Nineteen members had been on the sick list, giving a percentage of 18, and the total period of sickness had been 105 weeks, an average of seven days per member. The past 13 years' average rate of sickness was six days twenty-three hours.—The funeral fund of No. 41 District now amounts to £620 7s 7d, an increase of £20 10s 10d., containing 154 members, four of whom had died during the year, making a death rate of 25 9 per 1000. During the past 13 years 23 members died, making a death-rate of 13.6 per 1,000.—The Juvenile Rechabite sick and funeral fund amounts to £63 1s 4d, an increase on the past year of £5 5s 6d. Number of male members, 16; females, 2; total, 18. The Chairman said the report presented a contrast to that just made in Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for whilst the country's expenditure was increasing, the Rechabites were growing richer. They were growing younger also, when contrasted with the previous year, which averaged 39, whereas it was now only 38 years. A resolution in sympathy with Sir Wilfrid Law son's local option resolution, was moved by the Chairman and seconded, in an able address, by Councillor Heap, who in alluding to Rechabitism, said the thing was nearly three thousand years old Mr Whittam spoke in favour of Rechabitism, and con demned the practice of holding clubs in public houses, on account of its demoralising tendency. Mr Cut low afterwards addressed the meeting, and proved from statistics the longevity of teetotalers as compared with even moderate drinkers.—Colne Times.