The History, Design, and Progress of the Band of Hope Union. By the Rev. G. W. Mc.CREE, London. "TRAL TRAIN up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it," was one of the proverbs spoken by Solomon. But few children have been trained to abstain from "wine and strong drink;" and hence large numbers of our fellow-countrymen have become the victims of Intemperance. Had a wiser course been pursued, with even the present generation, the number of confirmed drunkards would have been comparatively small. Some worthy Temperance Reformers, convinced that it would be wise to organise a movement, which, if successful, would train thousands of the young to abstain from intoxicating drinks, assembled in London, for consultation and prayer, and then formed the Band of Hope Union. This was in the year 1855. The objects contemplated were as follows: 1. To form new Bands of Hope. 2. To assist, as far as means will allow, Bands of Hope already in existence. 3. To employ authors of acknowledged talent in the production of works adapted to the present state of the movement. 4. To circulate approved publications; and 5. To employ agents qualified to interest the young; and to organise, on a right basis, local Bands of Hope. The Band of Hope Union, therefore, is both a missionary and educational institution, and aims at the improvement, consolidation, and extension of juvenile Temperance societies. It does not interfere with the ordinary work of Temperance institutions. The young are its special charge. Bands of Hope form its chosen province of action. The children (of the age) are the constituents for whom we labour. Acknowledging the great usefulness of the United Kingdom Alliance, and all kindred organisations, we say that the young form a peculiar and distinctive class, and need treatment of a special and carefully adapted character. Hence the operations of the Band of Hope Union. No sooner had those operations been commenced than abundant work was discovered. Many defects were observable in existing Bands of Hope. We may specify the late hours at which the children were dismissed; the doggrel sung as hymns, melodies, and anthems; the semitheatrical entertainments provided for the children; the objectionable character of the recitations given by them; the absence of a religious tone and spirit in some of the conductors, and other imperfections of a like kind. To remedy these evils an annual conference was instituted, at which papers on Bands of Hope are read, and free discussions take place. Many of those valuable papers have been published and widely circulated. A magazine entitled the "Band of Hope Record" was commenced, and has attained a considerable circulation. A pledge card was issued, of which 200,000 copies have been sold. A book of hymns and melodies was prepared, of which 110,000 copies have been printed. The book of recitations and dialogues for Bands of Hope was next prepared, and has sold well. Parents' Certificates, Band of Hope Lesson Sheets, Band of Hope Tracts, Scripture Attendance Tickets, and various publications, by the Revs. J. T. Chown and H. J. Betts; and also by Mr. S. Shirley, Mr. G. M. Murphy, Mr. Symons, &c., have been issued with much success. But a great want remained to be supplied-amusement for the children. Hence some good dissolving views were prepared, and these proved so popular with secretaries, conductors, parents, children, and, in short, all persons concerned, that during successive years the list of subjects and lectures became extended, until it remains for the present as follows: Lecture 1. London: in the Olden Time. 2. London: Striking Events in its History. 3. Incidents of Peril and Heroism. 4. Wonders of the Microscope. 5. The Book and Its Story; or, Incidents in the History of the Bible. 6. Lights of the World; or, Passages in the History of Eminent Men. 7. Wonders of Nature. 8. Notes of a Tour to Mont Blanc and the Great St. Bernard. 9. A Tour to the Oberland Alps, via Belgium and the Rhine. 10. The Bottle. 11. British Scenery and its Associations. 12. Pilgrim's Progress. 13. The Arctic Regions, and the Fate of Franklin. 14. The Village. 15. The Gorilla and its Country. When I inform the Convention that each entertainment comprises from 30 to 40 splendid views, and concludes with a number of miscellaneous views of an interesting and amusing character, it will be seen that our entertainments are certain to delight and instruct the little ones. There is a great demand for these entertainments, and 149 were given during the last season. A new series on America are in preparation, and will be available during the winter. To enable the Band of Hope Union to fulfil its mission, four agents are constantly employed, and their labours have been eminently useful. During last year 600 visits to Bands of Hope were made by Mr. G. Blaby and Mr. F. Smith; and the new agents, Mr. W. B. Affleck and Mr. C. Starling, have been equally laborious. In addition to the agents, a number of thoroughly qualified gentlemen kindly act as honorary deputations, and during the last year they made 550 visits to festivals, Bands of Hope, &c. The committee of the Band of Hope Union feel anxious to form provincial auxiliaries, which, when affiliated to the parent institution, will operate in connection therewith. Such an auxiliary has been formed in the North of England, and will furnish work for one of the agents. The auxiliaries are not intended to supersede existing organisations and useful workers, but to aid them in every practicable way, and to hasten the highly desirable consummation-the education of British youth in Temperance principles. Singing is becoming so popular a branch of education, and is found so delightful to children, that the Band of Hope Union has thought it desirable to devote much attention to the music and words used in Band of Hope gatherings. With what success this has been attended it is not, perhaps, my province to say; but those who heard 500 of our children sing in Exeter Hall, and 1,000 of them in the Crystal Palace, applauded what was accomplished; and I do not utter an idle boast when I say that the day is coming when another choir of Band of Hope children will afford a still higher musical treat. It has not yet been the privilege of the Band of Hope Union to accomplish all that is desirable, either in the metropolis or the provinces ; but, as funds available for more extended action are obtained, that action will not be delayed. The children of the next century must not have to contend with the ignorance, hunger, crime, and misery induced by national drunkenness. Bands of Hope will do much to produce a new generationa generation far healthier, wiser, nobler, and happier, than that which is now passing away. But those Bands of Hope must be well conducted; multiplied everywhere in connection with day schools, Sunday schools, Temperance societies, and Christian churches, and united to a common centre-a parent institution to be to them what the Sunday School Union is to Sunday schools, and what the Ragged School Union is to Ragged Schools. The committee of the Band of Hope Union are most solicitous that a religious spirit should animate all who conduct Bands of Hope. We believe that the more religiously we do our work the better will it be done. We lay down no sectarian creed; we adhere to no denomination. Our platform is both broad and lofty. We plead for the spirit of Christ. We desire that all our fellow-workers should bear "the image of the heavenly." We think they should be men who pray for the children's welfare, regeneration, and happiness; and who in all their work honour Him who bestowed His benediction upon the little ones brought into His presence. They should be men who will take their Band of Hope to the gate called beautiful; and, leading them into the Temple of God, say, "O come, let us worship and bow down : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." Such men will do high honour to the Temperance cause, and hasten the glorious day When the humblest homes in England, Shall in proper time give birth To better men than we have been, Suggestions on Band of Hope Unions. By the REV. T. HOLME, Vicar of East Cowton, Yorkshire. "TH THE Band of Hope" has become a household word amongst us. This simple fact proves the cherished expectations with which we turn our eyes to the rising generation, who in a few years will pour into our ranks to aid us to carry on the battle with strong drink. We must not, however, deceive ourselves. The realisation of our sanguine anticipations depends in no small degree upon the judicious and well organised training which we may bestow upon them, and upon the extent to which the battle-field is cleared from the snares and pitfalls of the enemy. If, in the former case, the rising generation are suffered to enter into the contest with no unity in their movements, and with their minds imperfectly enlightened on the merits of the cause in which they are engaged, we can easily understand how meagre will be the fruit in comparison to the blossom. In the other case, if the enemy is permitted to meet them at every turn with his seductive temptations, we shall have to mourn over their deserted ranks, and to lament that we have spent our strength for nought. If such, then, be the important alternative depending upon the care with which the rising generation are trained, and upon the way in which the ground is prepared for them, you will, I am persuaded, bear with me in the few suggestions which I venture to make upon the attention and encouragement which ought to be given to the organisation and training of Bands of Hope. The very term Band of Hope, in reference to the Temperance question, indicates two things-first, the inadequacy of the present agency to cope satisfactorily with the monster evil; and, second, the source to which we may look with confidence for ultimate victory. Notwithstanding the marked success which Temperance men have already achieved, it must be admitted that they have done little more towards the defeat of the enemy than break up the ground before his entrenchments. The great truths, both as regards the misery produced by drinking, and the pernicious nature of the article itself, have been established by our friends beyond contradiction; but yet so little do these truths affect the great mass of moderate drinkers, not to speak of drunkards, that they fall upon their ears as feeble and hackneyed truisms. How is this? We have to look for an answer in the early lessons which have been instilled even from childhood into the minds of the present adult generation, sanctioned by the practice of bygone ages. The effect of such false teaching may be inferred from a remark of Dr. Temple's, with reference to religious truths, in the "Essays and Reviews:"-" Elementary truths," he observes, "are the hardest of all to learn, unless we pass our childhood in an atmosphere thoroughly impregnated with them, and then we imbibe them unconsciously." This is, in fact, the axiom taught us in the well-known phrase, "Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." Not only have the present adult generation not been initiated in the elementary truths of physical science, but they have been imbued from childhood with ruinous but pleasing fallacies; not only has the young tree not been suffered to raise itself erect, but it has been warped into unnatural obliquity; and, growing up in this distorted form, it has acquired a strength and obstinacy which defy alike the appeals of philanthropy and the teaching of common sense. It is here, then, that our thoughts are directed to that source of help to which the term "Band of Hope" encourages us to look. While the contemplation of these youthful aspirants gently rebukes us for expecting to reap where we have not sown, it promises that, if we are faithful and diligent in sowing the good seed, we may, under the Divine blessing, calculate upon reaping a glorious harvest. Providentially the land is open before us, and we have only to go up and take possession. Though we cannot succeed in prevailing upon parents to forego an indulgence which habit has, as it were, burnt into their very nature, our teaching, notwithstanding, so far falls in with their convictions that the practice, which they cannot be induced to adopt themselves, they are prepared to recommend to their children as a safeguard against the temptations to which drinking customs almost necessarily lead. They are, therefore, not only willing, but desirous, that their children should join our Bands of Hope, and be instructed in the lessons of Temperance. The question then has now to be considered how we may improve this opportunity most efficiently to assist us in accomplishing the benevolent object we have in view? The subject divides itself into two parts-of principle and of management. In the first place I recommend the door of admission to be opened as wide as possible. We should remember that we have not only to teach a lesson of principle, but also to develop a habit of action. I think the Band of Hope pledge ought to be a simple promise of abstaining from intoxicating beverages. Some would add "and from tobacco." Others would add "and to discountenance, &c." My objection with regard to the former is, that it opens out another question, kindred indeed to our own but not identical with it. The practice of smoking may be exposed incidentally as opportunity offers, but I cannot help thinking that the Temperance pledge should be confined to the one pre-eminently pernicious article. With regard to the other addition, "discountenancing, &c.," it does not, I think, properly fall within the province of a child to set himself up as a teacher of his seniors. At all events we should act more judiciously if we did not impose a duty of so wide and indefinite a signification as a burden upon the tender conscience of a child-a burden which even persons of riper years sometimes feel to be a restraint upon their freedom of action. Whenever the principle of Total Abstinence is implanted we may safely leave the corresponding fruits to be developed in due season. Connected with unity of principle we shall do well to observe a unity of purpose in our Teetotal instruction, and to avoid loading our system with instruction which more properly belongs to the week-day or Sunday school. Whilst religion, therefore, should underlie and permeate our teaching, it should not occupy the prominent part of the system, and thereby interfere with the limited time which can, in the majority of cases, be devoted to the inculcation of Temperance principles. As far as can be done without injury to principle we ought to strive to popularise and elevate the movement, both with the parents and friends of the children and with the public at large, and more especially with the children themselves. Our Band of Hope meetings should be short and pleasant; whilst, however, we must thus seek to win the affection and the cheerful attendance of the children, we must at the same time guard against pandering to their love of pleasure, and against introducing games or amusements which may have an immoral or unwholesome tendency. I must next consider the instrumentality or agency which appears necessary for efficiently carrying out the great design of the Bands of Hope. Hitherto they have been conducted upon no regular system, but according to the different plans of isolated societies, and, though much * And a separate pledge to forego its use may be recommended. |