UNITE ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 122, 23 May 1894, Page 2

UNITE ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GRAND LODGE OF AUSTRALIA.

The annual meeting of the above was held in the Masonic Hall, Collina-abreeb, Melbourne, on Wednesday, 2nd insb. Over 100 representatives were in attendance, New Zealand being ably represented by Bro. Earnshaw, P.A. (Dunedin), and W. K. Biahop. P.D.P. (Wellington). Bro. I. laaacß, P.D.P., formerly of Dunedin, represented the Teutonia Lodge, Melbourne. The annual reporb stated :— "Applications have been received from the requisite number of lodges in the North Island of New Zealand for the establishment of a district grand lodge. A plebiscite of the members of the lodges interested was ordered by the Board to be taken, conditionally on all ballot papers being returned direct by the members to the Grand Secretary, to be opened by him in the presence of the President. This instruction has been openly and deliberately violated by the Turanganui Lodge, and the Board are reluctantly compelled to refuse the charter until the instructions issued to that lodge are complied with. " A similiar application has been received frem six lodges in the South Island of New Zealand, bub as they only number 386 financial msmbero their request cannot be complied with. "The Oak of Sydenham and Old Oak Lodges have applied for permission to join the District Grand Lodge of Canterbury, and we recommend that the necessary permission be given." The trustees report that "Since our last annual reporb there has been no improvement in the value of real estate. We have, therefore, been unable to realise on any of the mortgages that are liable to foreclosure.

"We have reduced the amount lent on mortgages from £43,464 bo £42,040, and lodge deposits have been reduced from £19,717 to £17,143. We have noo and do not intend bo advance any more money on mortgage at the present time." The Grand Secretary tendered a detailed report, and regretted " A decrease in the number of financial members as compared with last year. The number of members good on the books at the end of December, 1892, was 11,050; ab the end of 1893 they numbered 10,635, or a loss of 415 members.

11 During the year 1893, 1,439 new members were initiated; 238 joined by clearance ; 957 made themselves good on the books; 2,644 went unfinancinl (389.1e5s than lasb year); 283 lofb by clearance; 48 resigned; 4 were expelled; and 95 died.

" The funeral money paid , during the year has been £1,600 for members and £310 for members' wives, an average of 3s 7£d per member as against 4s 5Jd in 1892. Sick pay has unfortunately increased, amounting this year to £9,655 19s 2d, an average of 18a lfd per member, representing 13,003 weeks and three days' sickness, as against an average of 16s 4^d and 12,520 weeks and four days' sickness in 1892. £10,330 10s 2d surgeons' fees aud medicine have been paid in 1893 ; the sum paid for medical attendance and medicine in 1894 was £13,155 2e 4d."

At this stage of the proceedings a very lively hour's discussion ensued over the application from bhe North Island of New Zealand for a charter to establish a district grand lodge. Representative Bishop, in speaking to the clause of the Board's report referring to the North Island, commented in strong terms on the antagonistic attitude assumed by the Grand Secretary against the advocates of local government in Now Zealand, and also on the unfair and vexatious mode of taking a plebiscite vote of mem- i bers re same. He further claimed that the ! Board had no right to rejecb the..voto of the Turanganui Lodge (Giaborne), and considered it was done merely to delay the issuing of a charter, a course apparently so repugnant to a few interested parties. Clause 2 of the Board's report was adopted. Before going on with farther business an understanding was, however, arrived at that as Boon as the Turanganui Lodge complied with the condition of the ballot by forwarding its voting papers direct to the Board no further opposition would be offered to bhe granting of a charter. In regard to the request from Otago for a charter, Bro. Earnshaw spoke at length, and obtained a ruling from the President! that as soon as a majority of votes in 500, say 251, were received after a plebiscite vote bad been taken, chore would be no opposition to the formation ot a D.G.L. for Otago. The following new laws were adopted aftor an amendment by Representative Isaacs had been carried on a division by 58 to 53 :— •• Add the following to Law 93 :—' Or if at any time the incidental fund of any lodge which has been established two years becomes indebted to the general fund a levy shall be made on each benefit member of the lodge A to enable the lodge to pay off such debt. Ib shall be the duty of the Grand Lodge auditors to report to the Board any neglect in carrying out the latter provisions of this law.' ' ••Law 21, clause s.—Should any lodge refuse to carry out the provisions of Law 93. the Board shall have power to suspend such lodge until the provisions of the law have been complied with. " Law 62.—Substitute February, May, August and November for March, June, September and December in second and third lines, and December and June for January and July in fourth line. 11 Law 63. —Each lodge shall commence its quarter on the firs It lodge nights in March, June, September and December in each year. The books of each lodge shall close for the annual balance on the last lodge night in November. ♦•Law 79. —Substitute December and June for January and July in second line."

By the adoption of these new laws, members will notice thab lodge quarter nights for payment of contributions have been altered.