RINGSTEAD—BAND OF HOPE UNION—A meeting of the Thrapston and District Band of Hope Union was held in the Temperance Hall in this village, when delegates from Thrapston, Wooodford, Addington, Raunds, and Ringstead were present. The Rev. J. Tyrrell, of Woodford, presided. The statistics of the several Bands of Hope were given by the Secretary, Mr. J. R. Wilkinson, of Great Addintgton, as follows:— Thrapston 108, Raunds 122, Woodford 80, Ringstead 52, Addington 52, total 414. After the transaction of the general business, Mr. J. R. Wilkinson read a very interesting paper on the best means of conducting Bands of Hope. The discussion of the paper was adjourned till the next meeting.

BAND OF HOPE PRIZE DISTRIBUTION—On Monday the members of the Band of Hope met in the Temperance Hall to receive their prizes. The chair was taken by Mr. Yates. After singing, a prayer, and a short address, the Chairman, with the assistance of Messrs. H. Hazeldine, Pendered and Miller, distributed prizes in books to above 80 children. In doing so the Chairman remarked that he hoped the books would read by them and prove beneficial to them now and in years to come. A most enjoyable meeting was brought to a close by singing the National Anthem.

TEMPERANCE—On Wednesday evening last a lecture was delivered in the Temperance Hall by Mr. W. Mart, of Derby, who attended as a deputation from the United Kingdom Alliance. Mr. R. Yates took the chair. Mr. Mart at the outset gave an interesting and instructive account of the Temperance movement, and contrasted its position now with the position it occupied in the country 40 years ago. He showed that the principle taught by Temperance advocates in the past that alcohol was the enemy of man, though denounced as foolishness then, was now verified as being the truth by the testimony of the greatest and best men of the medical profession. In every thing that was for the benefit of man and for the good of the country he was a free trader, but he advocated prohibition because the liquor traffic was a gigantic evil. Referring to the Sunday Closing movement, he said Scotland had tried it for half a century, Ireland got it in 1878, Wales obtained it last year, and he trusted England would soon have it, for it was a disgrace to any Government, whether Liberal or Tory, that such a traffic should be allowed to be carried on on the Sunday. It was a fact that if the liquor traffic went up the condition of the people went down, and it was therefore an enemy to the prosperity of the country. In support of this he quoted a number of judicial statistics, and cited the opinions of several eminent men. He then noticed the Temperance work that had been accomplished by the Salvation and Blue Ribbon Armies, and closed an able address by urging all to be up and doing, for although much had been done, there remained much to do. A vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer, and also to the Chairman, and on the motion of Mr. Geo. Bass, a vote of thanks was accorded to the reporter, Mr. E. J. Whitney, for the way in which he had reported the meetings of the Temperance Society. There was a respectable audience present.

GOSPEL TEMPERANCE OR BLUE RIBBON MOVEMENT — Some few weeks ago the Blue Ribbon Movement was inaugurated at Raunds, and at the same time it was resolved that a week's mission in aid of Gospel Temperance should be held for the furtherance of the objects of the Blue Ribbon Army in this locality. In accordance with this resolution a committee, comprising representatives of every religious denomination in the village, were formed, and the necessary arrangements made for carrying the resolution into effect, the Rev. W. Pedley, Primitive Methodist minister, taking an active part in the organisation. The mission commenced on Monday at the Temperance Hall by a midday prayer meeting. In the evening a public meeting was held, under the presidency of Mr. G. Lee, when the meeting was addressed by Messrs. J. R. Wilkinson, of Great Addington, J. Gant, H . Nunley, and Rev. W. Pedley, of Raunds. At the close of the address of each speaker one of the hymn selected from Sankey’s hymnal was sung, accompanied on the harmonium by Mr. Owen Smith. There was a crowded audience, who listened with rapt attention to the various speakers, and joined heartily with the singing. The services were followed by another public meeting in the evening, when the hall was again crowded. The chair on this occasion was occupied by the Rev. T. J. Spragg, the resident Wesleyan minister, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. J. Bass, a deputation from Leicester. A selection of Sankey’s hymns was again used at this service. Many pledges and ribbons have been taken. Collections were made to defray necessary expenses. Further proceedings in this movement will be reported next week.

THE BLUE RIBBON MOVEMENT—On Monday last a tea and public meeting in connection with the above movement was held in the Temperance Hall. The tables were set for tea at four o'clock, and about 80 sat down. At seven o'clock a public meeting was held in the hall, under the presidency of the Rev. W. Pedley. The Chairman made a few pre¬liminary remarks, after which several addresses were delivered, interspersed with songs, in the following order:—Address, Mr. H. Hazeldine; song, Mr. J. Miller; address, Mr. C. Groom; song, Mr, J. B. Clark; address, Mr. R. Yates; song, Mr. W. Hall; address, Mr. Wm. Arnold (from America); song, Mrs. Tebbutt; addresses by Messrs. J. H. Clark and J. B. Clark; song, Mr. A. Miller; address, Mr. H. Nunley; song, Mr. J. Bass; concluding address, Mr. W. Knight. There was a good attendance, notwithstanding the fact that numbers had left the village for Leicester, Corby, and other places. The promoters of the movement regret that at the Blue Ribbon and temperance meetings held in the village the majority of Christian workers and office-bearers in the various churches have been conspicuous by their absence.

A National Temperance Jubilee celebration took place on Tuesday at the Crystal Palace. In spite of unfavourable weather, the gathering was very successful, between 50,000 and 60,000 persons visiting the Palace. Several foreign delegates were present. In the course of the day a telegram of loyal greeting was sent to the Queen, who telegraphed her thanks.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETY—A society's tea meeting was held in the Temperance Hall on Monday, with a view to stimulate the members and warm them up to work. A good number attended, and a pleasant and profitable evening was spent.

ENTERTAINMENT—On Saturday evening last, the Raunds Temperance Society, as a prelude to the Christmas holidays, opened the Temperance Hall to the public at a nominal charge, when a kind of "free and easy" entertainment took place, anyone who felt disposed took part and ministered to the enjoyment of the rest. Refreshment was provided, and a pleasant and an agreeable evening was the result.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETY—On Tuesday a public Christmas tea was held in the Temperance Hall, and fairly attended. In the evening the members and choir of the Temperance Society gave an entertainment in the Hall, in which the various performers acquitted themselves with credit. Mr. J. Bass presided. The following was the programme:—Piano solo, Mr. A. Clark; song, "Pity the man that does wrong," Mr. J. Bass; recitation, "A hearty Christmas and a happy new year," Mr. J. H. Clark; song, "Buy my caller herring," Mrs. J. T. Tebbutt; recitation, "The affrighted toper," Miss S. Streather; song, "Pray, make yourself at home," Mr. W. Hall; duet, "Tell me, gentle stranger," Miss E. Nichols and Mr. J. Bass (this duet was encored and repeated); dialogue, "A merry Christmas," B. Berwick, A. Berwick, and E. Miller; piano duet, the Misses F. Pulpher and A. Finding; song, "Katie's letter," Miss E. Nichols; recitation, "Believing but not understanding," Mr. H. Hazeldine; song, "We have been friends together," Mr. Gambel; song, "Let fame sound the trumpet," Mrs. J. T. Tebbutt; reading, "The new organ at church," Mr. J. H. Clark; song, "Stick to the right," Mr. J. Bass; song, "Be united and happy together," Miss E. Nichols; song, "Strike, friends, strike," Mr. Walter Hall; song, "The ivy green," Mrs. J. T. Tebbutt; song, "Help yourself," Mr. J. Bass; dialogue "On Temperance," the Misses S. and E. Streather, Mr. A. Berwick, and Mr. Webb. The proceedings closed with the National Anthem.

GOSPEL TEMPERANCE—On Sunday afternoon and evening the members of the Furniss family conducted two gospel temperance services of song, in the same place. Both these services were well attended, especially that in the evening, which was literally crowded and numbers were unable to gain admission into the hall.

A GOSPEL TEMPERANCE SONG SERVICE was held in the Temperance Hall on Sunday evening last after the services of the various places of worship were closed.