A NO-LICENSE LEADER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2549, 9 July 1909, Page 3

A NO-LICENSE LEADER

THE REV. FRANK ISITT. Those interested in the No-liconse. movement as well as the numerous personal friends of the Rev. F. W. Isitt, will regret to learn that his health has been in a precarious condition for some time, and that it was this fact which was responsible for his recent relinquishment of the Secretaryship of the New Zealand Alliance. Friends of Mr Isitt state that the results of overwork have been plainly apparent for some time, so much so that his memory has partially-failed him and it has not been uncommon for him to paos intimate friends without recognising their :dentity. At the recent Alliance Conference in 'Wellington a typical example of the position was given when Mr uitt rose to make 1 a few remarks and was compelled to sit down without delivering them as lie had forgotten what he had intended to say. It was evident that both the interests of the. No-iicense movement as well as Mr Isitt’s health would be endangered by his retention of the, Secretaryship, and he resigned accordingly. The scene which transpired at the Conference when the matter came up for consideration is said to have been painful and pathetic as one speaker after another sought to express in words their sympathy with a No-license hero in his illness. The tribute of Mr A. S. Adams was typical. In a speech, that voiced the- feelings of all present, Mr Adams said they were all deeply grieved to know that the arduous work which had fallen upon Mr Isitt during all the years that he had held the office had so affected his health as to render this step necessary. Many present would remember that when, about thirteen years ago, the party was -threatened with ritin, owing to internal dissension, Mr Isitt, at its call, gave up the assured position which' he then held in the ministry of his Church, and amdertook the work of the Secretaryship and the task of welding together UAS opposing sections of the party. It was not too much to say that it was owing to the tact, judgment, gentleness and Christian courtesy of Mr Isitt that the party had been saved from disaster, and so united as to form the perfectly harmonious and effective, body it was to-day. It was impossible to drop Mr Isitt out of the closest association with the party’s most intimate affairs; but it was happily possible to relieve him from all the harassing and distracting details of the Secretaryship. For this reason he was glad to be able to move that the Alliance agree to Mr Isitt’s retirement from the. office of Secretary, and relieve him of all its duties, and that he be now appointed General Organiser of the Alliance, with a very free hand as to the interpretation of his duties, except that they must not include any portion of the work of Secretary. The new appointment would, of course, be at the old salary. They wished Air Isitt to- understand that, as long as he had' any energies left, they desired him <o spend them in their service, and when he had no energies) left >o spend, he should still remain amongst them, occupying the same honored position. They hoped he would take all the rest he could bring himself to. take. He would go up and down amongst them, helping them* with his counsel, and brightening their homes with his influence. They desired Air Isitt to know' that they one and all esteemed him so highly, that they could not permit him to drop out of official connection Avith the heart of the movement. By his many qualities of mind and heart he had won their love" in a remarkable degree. It appeared as though the words of the great nat’onal poet might have been written with express reference to him : “He is so gentle, And the elements so mixed in him. That Nature might stand up to all the world. And say, ‘This is a man.’ ” Air A. S. Adams closed his address by moving the following resolution: " “Having heard the statement of our Secretary * the Rev. F. W. Isitt, that he. desires for reasons of. health to be relieved from lir's office, and recognising that Air Isitt has suffered much in health from the arduous duties of the Secretaryship, we agree to relieve him from the office, and appoint him General Organiser for the Alliance at the same salary as now' paid to him, and request Air Isitt to take that rest which is so desirable to restore h m to complete strength.” After several members of the meeting had expressed their high appreciation of Air Isitt’s work and character, the resolution was carried unanimously.