FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 227, 25 September 1930, Page 25

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

REBEKAH ANNIVERSARY. rORESTERS' CLTJB AN3> FUNCTIONS. PROGRESS OF THE ORDERS. * On Wednesday last the Masonic Hall, Eden Terrace, wag en fete for the celebration of the seventy-ninth anniversary of the institution of the Rebekah. Degree. The gay decorations and bright-coloured dresses made a, most pleasing scene, whilst ths attendance of Rebekah members and friends was exceedingly good. The official guests were received separately, and welcomed hy Sister Xewbold, LD.B.G.M., and Sister "Tailby, P.LDJO.G.M., and included delegates from the M.U., 1.0.0. F., under P.G. Sister Wood, members of A.0.F., led by Sister Milligan, G.R. of Court Maide Marian, Bro. Pace, Bro. John Burehell, P.G.M., who received a great ovation, and Bro. A. J. Guy, G.W., introduced by the Grand Marshal, Sister Boles, and the Grand Conductor, Sister S. Bee; those named ■were welcomed, and accorded seats on the platform. Owing to a district executive meeting being held the same night, the district officers did not arrive until later. Sister Newbold, LJDJXG.M., gave a- very interesting address on the hi&tory of the Eebekah movement, whilst Sister Tailby gave some reminiscences of her twenty years' membership of the Rebekah Lodges. Bro. Burchell, the oldest living P.G.M. of the order in New Zealand, told of the starting of the ladies' lodges in this country. The Grand Warden, Bro. Guy, in a brief address, congratulated the Eebekahs on their great progress, and conveyed the greetings of Grand Lodge. Each of the guests briefly spoke, and wished the lodges every success. A dance was then held, inviting music being supplied by Connon's Orchestra. Bro. Belkhamber made an efficient M.C. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Sister Harding and Bro. Stevenson, and was noteworthy for the monotony with which spades turned up, even after the most frantic shuffling. A very fine supper was served in the supper room by the ladies' committee, the tables being loaded with good things.* The whole function proved most enjoyable, and was certainly a great success. The Loyal Dominion Lodge of the M.U., 1.0.6 J , ., held a very successful dance at the Zealandia Hall, Dominion) Eoad last Tuesday, the 16th instant, when', despite the inclement weather, there was a large gathering of members and their friends and -visitors from kindred lodges. Excellent music was pro; vided, and during the evening a demonstration of the slow foxtrot and modern waltz was given by Miss Molly Ballantvne and Mr. Grieve, while Mr. S* O. Kendall rendered two , very acceptable vocal numbers. • * * * , At the function held in celebration of the seventy-ninth anniversary of the Sstitution of the- LO.OF Rebekah Degree, Sister E. L. Newbold, LD JXG3L, •rave some interesting and not very widelv known information regarding the opposition that beset its founders. Though it is claimed that the Order was the first of its kind to recpgnjae wonmn and "give her a place "Sfs -place was at first a- very humble one, and the recognition, hardly a passing nod. Tie recognition was first mooted m Sovereign. Grand Lodge by Representative WilMnson, in 1845, and. the outcome was a minority report from a special committee recommending that by a twomajority vote of a lodge the wives of members might be granted a card which would show that they were the wives of Oddfellows. In 1850 a committee of S.Glu furnished a report on a motion moved by Representative Smith, who advocated a degree for the "wives and daughters of Oddfellows, The majority report of that committee stated that such a degree was ill-advised and inappropriae, but - Representative and Committeeman Schuyler Colfax presented a minority report which provided that a committee of three be appointed to prepare an honorary degree open to the wives, widows, daughters and sisters of Oddfellows. So ably did he take the floor and argue for the establishment of a woman's degree that hi 3 minority report was adopted. He was appointed chairman of the committee, and at the next season of S.GX., a year later, had the pleasure and honour of witnessing the acceptance of his completed work. In those early days, however, there were no Rebekah lodges; it was simply a side degree of the male lodge, the brothers performing the ceremonial work while the ladies sat and listened to their lords of creation. In 1871 full lodge privilege was granted, and in 1888 the power of conferring the degree was restricted to Eebekah lodges. In 1895 Representative W. Stetson Rogers, of Halifax, Canada, made a successful lobby among the prominent members of S.G.L., and was able to influence them to enact legislation whereby all females of specified age and approved character could be admitted to membership of a Eebekah lodge. The degree is now primarily a ladies' degree, though' brothers who have attained certain rank in the male branch may, subject to ballot, be admitted to membership. Throughout the world the degree has advanced, and is advancing by leaps and bounds, the beautiful ritual is imparted in many different languages, and over a million and. a quarter members are unitedly engaged in carrying out woman's share in the beneficent principles of Oddfellows. The degree was introduced in New Zealand in 1896 by Sister Linda Salmon and her daughter, and there are now seventy lodges in the Dominion, fourteen of which are situated within the city of Auckland and adjacent districts. ■*# * * The Pride of Dargaville Lodge, 1.0.0. F., teld their fortnightly meeting on Wednesday last, Bro. H. Johnson, P.G, presiding over a good attendance. An. apology for absence was received from the N.G., Bro. C. Way. Quite a large amount of business was transacted, tfiree candidates being proposed for membership and one accepted by ballot. Nominations for officers came in very briskly and the next meeting- promises to be exceptionally inteersting, not ■■ only as election night, out because the Wairoa Lodge < ?E pete for the Borlase Krfcual Shield. The lodge has recently purchased a set of regalia, will be worn on special occasions. # # CourTstar of the- South, A.OJ% met at the Kingsford Haß, Otabnhj .on Thursday evening, under the kadsshrp of the CJEL, Bro. Jerratt. An J^ mwm

Court Victory A.OJT. celebrated their eleventh anniversary on Tuesday last in F.S. Hall. Alexander Street, Whangarei. A large attendance included quite a number of visitors, among -whom were Bro. Hughes, Auckland, District Senior Beadle; Bro. Luke, of Court Enterprise, Dunedin; Bro. Rawson, of Eoyal Oak, Tauranga; and Bro. J. Ryan, Court Pride Hikurangi. During the lodge session Bro. Hughes, D.5.8., gave an interesting resume of the district activities and several matters of importance and interest to the lodge were dealt "with. At the conclusion of the business the hall was cleared for the anniversary social and everyone settled down for a jolly good time. Bro. F. A. Farmer, C.R., occupied the chair and the following toasts, interspersed with musical and vocal items were honoured, the King, the Auckland District, proposed by Bro. M. King, P.CJt. and responded to by Bro. Hughes, D.5.8.; visitors, proposer Bro. Farmer. C.K., replies.by Bro. Ryan, P.C.R. for Hikurangi and Bro. Hughes for Dargaville; court officers, proposed by P.C.R. Bro. Miller and responded to by the popular secretary, Bro. G. Law: absent brethren, Bro. Oldcom, P.C.R.; artists, Bro. Walker, P.CJR.; Press, Bro. Ryan, P.C.R. and replied to by Bro. Whitelaw. The items given were all of a hi<*h class nature and proved very popular with the gathering, songs being contributed by Bros. Mawson, Campbell, Dennis Smith, Weston and Challinor; vocal duets by Bros. Dennis and Jolliffe; trio Bros. Challinor, Weston and Dennis; whistling solos, Bro. Thomas; humour, Bro Whelan and xylophone solo, Bro. W Calder, jun. The accompanist tor the evening. Mr. R. Goodison, rendered yeoman service and. gave eyery satis taction. The gathering was one of the best and most enjoyable ever held by the court and will long be remembered by those privileged to be present. • • • • The Foresters' Club, an innovation so far as Friendly Societies are concerned, has just completed the first half-year _oi its being. This discloses fully successful operations, and is due in a very marked degree to the inclusion in the club room of a very fine full-sized Alcock billiard table. During the term two billiard tournaments have been completed. The Foresters , championship was annexed by Bro. Hutt, of Court Nil Desperandum, and the handicap by Bro. Bert Morey, of Court Zealandia. During the progress ot the tournaments breaks over 40 were eompiled by Bro. Hutt (48), Bro. C. P. Barnes (47), Bro. Arthur Spalding (41-). Further tournaments are being inaugurated, and it is confidently expected that the standard of play in these will be even better than that displayed m the previous contests. Then there is the library, which is finding increasing popularity with members and their wives, and which, of course, is available to all members of the Order. 3STot least of all is the feature that books are interchangeable at all hours of the day and night. It is very gratifying to record the philanthropy of quite a number of our members in the matter of the donation of books, and in this connection special thanks are due to Bros. Darlriw, Brookes, Morey, Alan Spalding, Pearson, and Eric Watts forgery munificent gifts since the inauguration of the club. The Foresters' Club is directed by a board of governors, comprising several enterprising members of the Order, headed by Bro. Bert Morey, of Court Zealandia. • ♦ • • The Alpha Jtfvenile Lodge, 1.0.0. F., held their fortnightly meeting on _ the 16th "inst. T when," in "spite of the Sielement weather, the attendance was good. One new candidate received Initiation, and one more was proposed. Great interest was evinced in the nomination of officers, five or six being nominated for each position, showing the keenness of the boys to pass through the chairs. A gift of a valuable set of books for competition between the members was received from Sister Wood, P.W.G., whose generosity was much appreciated. At the closer of the business the usual games and refreshments were enjoyed, thus Bringing a most pleasant evening to a close. • * * • The usual fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Remuera Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F., was held in the lodge room, Green Lane, on Wednesday last, the W.G. presiding over a large attendance of members and visitors. The routine lodge business was followed by a very good musical programme supplied by Mr. Sanderson and his Happy Pierrot troupe from Papatoetoe. This company was present at the invitation of P.G. Bro. Gray, who was responsible for the. evening's entertainment. All the iteme provided were well received and much enjoyed. Supper was served at the conclusion of the programme, and a hearty vote of thanks to the performers, moved by P.G.; Bro. Godwin, received unanimous" confirmation.