Page 125 - KBHA BULLETIN 5

127

That I will as far as possible try to reclaim those who have fallen into the sins

of drunkenness, and to drive this destroying curse out of our land.
I also promise to be faithful to this Order, and endeavour so to conduct myself

as to commend by my life and conversation our Cause and its principles to all
who know me.”

(Hop beer and dagga were particular additions for the local circumstances of Kalk Bay, and

do not appear on the official form of the I.O.T.T. - neither is drug-taking new to Kalk Bay!).

This Pledge could be made in either language according to choice. At each meeting it was

asked “Has any member violated the obligation?” and sometimes the answer was “Yes,

brother”. A resolution was sent to the local Members of Parliament protesting about the
recommendations of the Booth Commission that government canteens should be established

for the sale of liquor to the natives in the Transvaal. More locally they were successful in
closing a “private public house” in Fish Hoek that was selling liquor on the Holy Sabbath

days. In the last entry of November 1920 the ”Grand” reported that: ”The Templars work
seem to work very good as one of the biggest Brandy Firms has closed down in the

Peninsula.”

Although much had been said about the issues of drunkenness, and still is today, the I.O.T.T.

stands out as a serious attempt to address it, and to assist people in their struggle to shake off
the terrible effects. Cyprian Brooke may also have made a remarkable contribution to our

village through this pioneering activity. As far as I can judge this movement was the only
effective effort to address the issue of drunkenness and drugs. They were deadly serious. It

was a forerunner of today’s Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and not just

talk.

The Rectory and Reverend Vernon de Smidt

I have already referred to the finds in the Rectory garden. In 1936 the original house, which

had belonged to Bishop Gray and which had been modified by the addition of an upper storey
in 1898, was pulled down and in its place the present Rectory was erected. It was blessed by

Archbishop John Darbyshire on 3 June 1939. It makes a statement as to where the church
stands. It is certainly very finely built, and with the best materials. No oregon pine for the

127