But it was an evil day for the Society when this happened, for Providence seemed to have deserted it. The displacement caused a scattering of its members, and the social changes wrought by the gold discoveries in 1851-2 completed its disruption. Some of its most indefatigable disciples passed over to the enemy, embarked in the business of Licensed Victuallers, and made large fortunes by vending the spirituous and fermented abominations they had previously denounced. Others tottered into drunkards' graves, or died paupers in the Benevolent Asylum; whilst a few treasured in their hearts' core their pledges inviolate, and an organization founded under the almost canonized name of Theobald Matthew, the illustrious Cork Friar, has long since dwindled into a small dim memory, doubtless to be soon not only forgotten, but absolutely unknown, in the colony, except for its present resuscitation.
THE RECHABITES
Made their first appearance in an Association formed at Geelong in June, 1847, when a Mr- John M'Minns succeeded in establishing a Lodge or Tent at a Temperance Coffee-house there. Three months after, Mr. George Wright was appointed to the office of Chief Ranger, and Mr. J. M'Clure, Secretary. Rechabitism does not appear to have taken much root in the Province until after some years of the golden era, but that it has since thriven is evidenced by the fact that, according to the Registrar's Statistics of Friendly Societies, on the last day of 1880, the Independent Order of Rechabites numbered some 155 branches and 5161 members in Victoria. POSTSCRIPT.
It is a source of much gratification to me to reflect that the various communications I have received confirm the general accuracy of m y sketches, and testify to the impartial spirit in which they are written. I a m in receipt of one from an old colonist of much intelligence, who, by enterprise and industry, has attained an assured position of wealth and respectability, and from it I a m induced to make the following extract: — " I have carefully read all your articles, and, as one of the early residents, feel much interested in your C H R O N I C L E S . I have not missed one of them from thefirst,and would suggest, when you have done writing such interesting accounts of Old Melbourne, you should publish them in book form, and I a m certain they would have a large circulation. I would look upon such a book as containing the most complete information of this, the great, good, and prosperous colony of our adoption. Respecting the Temperance Hall in Russell Street, of which you have treated, there are a few facts, not obtainable from any printed reports, deserving of publicity. Towards the end of 1852, the late well-known popular Richard Heales purposed proceeding, with his wife and family, to England, and, as he felt a deep interest in the Hall, he left satisfied that a liability owing to a Building Society would be paid during his absence by certain individuals charged with the duty of seeing after it. The payments were not kept up as they ought to have been, and Heales' return was so timed that he arrived just as the Building Society was about to sell the property to satisfy the mortgage held over it. Heales at once came to the rescue, and, with the assistance of Mr. William Forsyth, the encumbrance was removed, and the Temperance Society secured in a property now ranking amongst some of thefirstin Melbourne. The Saturday night entertainments were initiated by Richard Heales and a few friends, to attract young m e n from the pernicious allurements of the public-houses. Concerts in a small way were given, in which amateurs assisted. They gradually grew into popularity, and in course of time thoroughly established themselves in public favour, and acquired the dimensions they nowpresent. The original building was too small for the rapid progress witnessed, and hence its replacement by the spacious edifice now so extensively patronised, and which works so much good in its own way. Richard Heales has gone the path of allflesh,leaving after him few so gifted with the qualities essential in a good man and true citizen." APPENDIX.
In 1839 there arrived in the Province an enterprising immigrant, the head of a family of youngsters, who in after years were amongst the most industrious and deserving members of the community. O n e of
