Story: Methodist Church

Band of Hope temperance pledge

Temperance – avoiding alcoholic drink – was a central feature of New Zealand Methodism until the mid-20th century. One of the organisations promoting temperance was the Band of Hope, whose members signed a pledge to 'abstain from all intoxicating liquors'. This magnificent certificate was given to Lottie Maria Brewer of Blenheim when she signed the pledge in 1886. Daphne Jarvis was involved with the Band of Hope in Gisborne. Listen to her reading the pledge she signed in 1923.  When this recording was made 50 years later, she still abstained from alcohol.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: Eph-D-ALCOHOL-Temperance-1886-01

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Source: Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (Band of Hope/Reference number sa-t-1905-su02-sc)

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How to cite this page:

Tim Shoebridge, 'Methodist Church - The 20th and 21st centuries', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/27521/band-of-hope-temperance-pledge (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Tim Shoebridge, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 4 Apr 2018