Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 7 February 1891, page 6


RELIGION AND TEMPERANCE.

The usual weeklymeetingof the Defence Lodge, No. 7, was held on Thursday evening in the Temperance Hall, Edward-street, Bro. A. A. Shewan, CT., presiding. Three ladies were initiated. It being the first night in the quarter the reports of the retiring officers were read. The secretary's report showed that there were ninety-four members in good standing, being an increase on last year's returns. The S.].T. then read a report of the Young Defence Temple, which showed that the number of juveniles attending were 171. Bro. W. L. Duncan and Bro. T. M. Moore were elected to represent the lodge at the Grand Lodge Sittings to be held at Easter at Maryborough, and Sister Paul and Bro. H. Drinkwater were to be their alternates. Bro. A. A. Shewan was elected L.D. for the ensuing year. After a vote of thanks to the visitors the lodge was closed.

After a recess of two months the W.C.T. Union held the first of its weekly meetings on Thursday afternoon in the Temperance Hall. The superintendent of Sabbath school work read an interesting report, which showed the good done by the distribution of tracts among the children. The report of the superintendent of railways was also read. It was announced that a social would he held on the 19th instant.

On Wednesday evening last the annual meeting of the Mowbraytown Presbyterian Church was held, There was a good attendance, and the proceedings were enlivened by select pieces of music rendered by the choir and friends. The reports of the various institutions of the church were read and ordered to be printed. Though the losses, sustained through the year had been considerable, the total income amounted to £517 4s. 10d., and the expenditure to £509 19s. 6d. t The roll of membership had increased by twenty-eight, and

the Sabbath school roll contained 247 names. The attendance at the weekly prayer meeting had considerably improved. The Young Men's Guild promised well. The Band of Hope had prospered more than on any previous year, and had, by services of song and other earnest efforts, raised more than £28.

Some interesting art sales took place in Paris in December. The Fernandez sole attracted an unusual number of ladies to the Hotel Drouot, as it contained a number of bits of the last century, much in request just now, more for the sake of the times they illustrate than the artistic value of the works. One of a lady of the Court of Marie Antoinette fetched nearly £100; while another, of Princess Polignac, went for £48. More than 1500 letters by well

known personages were sold about the same time, bringing in something over £250. The longest price, 120fr., was paid for a letter of Catherine de Medicis; a letter of Marie de Medicis reached lOOf r.; one of Anne of Austria, BOfr.; another of Jeanne de France, the first wife of Louis XII,, 75ft.; and others of Marguerite de Valois, Maria Theresa, and Maria Leczinska were sold respectively for 3250, 15f r., and 25ft.; 22ft. was paid for a letter written by

the mother of Napoleon I. Letters of Mme. de Maintenon, Pompadour, and Montespan fetched 30s., lOOfr., and 96ft. each ; one of the friend of Voltaire-the Marquise de Chastellct-78fr., and those of Mme. Boland, Mme. de Stael, and Mme. Tallien about 50ft. each.

The Red Cross Hall, established by Miss Octavia Hill in one of the poorest parts of Southwark, is being decorated under the supervision of Mr. Walter Crane. Mr. Crane has himself just finished a panel to form one of a set illustrative of "Deeds of Heroes in

Humble Life," dealing with the bravery of Alice Ayres, the servant who lost her own life in saving two of her employer's children from death by burning.