Ancient Origin of Friendly Societies.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 22 April 1893, Page 11

Ancient Origin of Friendly Societies.

Mr T. Ballan Stead, pormanonb secretary of the Ancient Order of Forosters, lately deliverod a lecbure ab tho Shepherds' Hall Old Markeb-sbreet, in cennocbion with the Past Officers' Courb. The High Chief Ranger (Bro. J. Pembery) and obher members of the Executive Council were present. The subject was ' Friendly Societies : their ceremonies, symbols, and history.' Mr Stead began by referring to the symbols in usa among the Oddfellows and Forestor3, and dealing with tho early formation of Friondly Societies, ho said it was on record that they flourished in Groece 300 years before Christ. Ho was of opinion thab, although '2,200 years waa a fairly sufficienb antiquity, when the inscriptions whicli were being so plentifully dug up out of ruins in Clmldeuand Babylonia camo to bo deciphered, ie would bo found that similarly liolpful movomonte had existed smong tho early Assyrians and Babylonians, for id was difficut to believo thab so civilised and cultured a people should net, wit !> bhoirothorwolUorKflniaedsocialsystem have hftd a woll arranged method of mutual help. Tho Grooko and Romans woro shown (,(i have had burial clubs, and tho locturor no.\t referred to tho Anglo-Saxon guilds tho old social guilds which, wibhoub tha organisation of the ])reaont-dny societies, in many rospoets fulfilled thoir purpose. Tho 10tl> contury was tho most prolific in giving birth to now organisabiona ; a largo timnber of local bonotit societies were formod, and what) woro celled the affiliated typo camo into oxisixneo. He traced the history of Oddfellowehip, Forostery and Druidism, and next dealt with the elaborate ritual' of the societies. In conclusion he sketched the development of friendly societies during the last 70 years, and pointed out th« difficulties they had to contend with,