LODGE MEETINGS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7341, 20 June 1889, Page 3

LODGE MEETINGS.

At the half-yearly meeting on Monday of theLoyalßangioraLodge,LO.O.F.M.U., there was a good attendance. A letter was read from the Registrar of Friendly Societies disapproving of the disposal of the surplus funds of the Lodge. A Committee of P.P.G.M. Barrel, Prov. C.S. Jennings, P.P.GJM. Marshall, P.G. s Jones, Wilson. Gillespie, and Sbankland was .appointed to draft a fresh recommendation in respect to the surplus. The election of officers resulted as follows :— Bros. A. McCracken. G.M.; G. Hancox, N.G.; J. Watson, V.G.; Treasurer, Bro. L. Hunnibell; Bro. Wilson, E.S.; Bro. J. Marshall, P.S. A hearty vote of thanks was voted to P.P.G.M. Marshall for the trouble he bad taken in making out tables for disposal of the surplus. One candidate was proposed and one initiated, when the meeting adjourned, . At the meeting of the Juvenile Lodge the officers elected were:—Bro. G. Sansom, N.G.; Bro. E. Horton, V.G.; Bro. W. Shields, E.S.; and Bro. W. Keele becomes G.M. The half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Leeston Lodge of Oddfellows took place in the Lodge-room on Monday night last. There was a good attendance of members present. The Secretary read the halfyearly report, which compared very favorably with that of any previous half-year, and showed a steady increase in all the funds. The sick and funeral expenditure for six months showed an expenditure of only 30s, the total sickness being one member nine days, against five members 206 days sick £318s, also funeral allowance to two members amounting to £60, for a similar period in 1888; another sum of £50 had been invested at mortgage on freehold security, and there still remained the sum of £80 to credit of current account in che Bank of New Zealand. During the half-year two new members had been initiated, while one had left by clearance. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Bros. J. Bennett, N.G.; J. Lyness, V.G.: C. C. Smithson, Elective Secretary; T. W. Dent. Warden; J. G. Doyle, Guardian; and t. Reader, H. McDonald, F. S. Willis, and W. McVinnie were appointed supporters to the N.G. and V.G. respectively. Bro. John McViunie was appointed Grand Master and also Lecture Master. It was decided to place the sum of £60 at fixed deposit in the Bank of New Zealand. Two new members were proposed, and the Lodge closed in due form. The half yearly meeting of the Loyal Addington Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., was held in the hall, Lincoln road, on Monday evening, when there was a very good attendance of members and visitors, P.P.G.M. Bro. Woodford, District Treasurer, and elective officers of the Loyal Jubilee L>dge, Prebbleton, were among the latter. Sick pay was passed to one Brother. Among the correspondence received was a communication from the Secretary of the Friendly Societies' Dispensary. After a lengthy discussion on the matter, it was decided not to take part in the establishment of a dispensary in Christchurch, and P.G.s , Bros. J. A. Clarke and C. H. Winny were appointed delegates to convey the decision of the Lodge to the Committee at their next meeting. Two members were initiated and two proposed during the evening. The Lodge is largely increasing in membership since t he opening of the new hall. The N.G. of the Loyal Jubilee Lodge promised to give his lecture on the emblems of the Order on Monday evening, July loth, and also officially invited the members of this lodge to their meeting on quarter-night, 26fch inst. The election of officers for the ensuing six months, after a good contest, resulted as follows: —G.M., Bro. Win, Doig; N.G., Bro. H. Hobbs; V.G., Bro. E. Kinamann; E.S., Bro. A. Whitelaw; R.S. to N.G., Bro. Geo. Woods, P.G.; L.S. to N.G., Bro. Thos. Candy; R.S. to V.G., Bro. H. L. Jackson; L.S. to V.G., Bro. Wm. Atkinson; Tyler, Bro. Alpe; Warden, Bro. P. O'Malley; Lecture Master, P.G. Bro. G. B. Denny. The newly-elected officers were installed by P.G.M. Bro. Winny. after which the officers returned thanks for being elected, and the lodge closed in the usual manner. Receipts of the evening, £50. The half-yearly the Loyal Eeia in Vne nail, on Monday evening. A large number of brethren were present. After dealing with the ordinary business two candidates-were initiated, Prov. C. S. Foster acting as Lecture Master and P.G.s Palmer and Cotton Conductors. A long discussion took place re the proposed Friendly Societies' Dispensary, and it was resolved that the Lodge do not join the Association, the members being perfectly satisfied with the existing arrangements. The following officers were elected for the ensuing six months:—Bro. F. Board, N.G.; C. McIntosh, V.G.; and G. Hayward, E.S. The retiring N.G. Bro. Mclfraith taking the G.M. chair, all the minor offices were filled, and the Lodge closed in due form. Receipts of the evening, £55 7s Id. The Foresters have again extended the branches of the Order eastward in opening a Court at New Brighton, where the need of a Friendly Society parent by the large number of residents in the locality. Some members of the Order residing at New Brighton having communicated through Bro. A. H. Wyatt to the District Officers that it was the wish of the residents to have a Court opened without delay, the District Secretary took the matter in hand, and, having received a list of names of the candidates j from the promoters, received a dispensation from the District Executive granting permission to open the branch. The District Officers proceeded by coach to open the Court and instal the officers, &c The following were present:—Bro. F.KBowen, District Chief Hanger; Bro. W. D. Marks, District Sub-Chief Ranger; Bro. Henry Crooks, District Treasurer: Bro. Thos. Gapes 1 District Secretary; Bro. H, Hofmeister, District Beadle; Bro. Charles Samuels, P.I/.C.R.; Bro. Dr. G. Deamer, and several visiting brethren. The medical officer, Dr. Deamer, having examined and passed the candidates, the business of opening a new Court was at once proceeded with by Bro. Bowen, in accordance with the ritual, with marked success, a good number being initiated into the mysteries of Forestry. The election of local officers resulted in Bro. G. H. Nankivell being placed at the head of the management as C.R. and Bros. G. Wilson S.C.R., E. Sef ton Secretary, A. H. Wyatt Treasurer, T, .Nankivell S. Woodward, W. Wilkinson J. W., W. Walker 5.8., L. Frost J. 8.: Dr.. G. Deamer was duly elected Medical Officer. It was resolved to elect the Trustees at a subsequent meeting. The name given to the new Court is Court Queen of the Seas, and any person of good character between the ages of eighteen to forty years of age are admissible as members. Before the closing of the ceremony a vote of thanks was passed to the District Officers and Dr. Deamer for opening the Court, and they all suitably replied. The new members invited all to refreshments at Peterson's Hotel, and thus terminated a very successful ceremony of opening the new Court Queen of the Seas, A.O.F. The ordinary meeting of the Court Star of Canterbury N0.2309 of the Ancient Order of Foresters was held on Monday night at the Foresters* Hall, Oxford terrace, under the presidency of the C.R. Bro. J. B. Davidson. The whole of the Court officers were present with the exception of Bra W. Buckley, the Permanent Secretary, whose duties were discharged by Bro. B. Jewiss. Assistant Secretary. Bros. C. Samuels, E. H- T. Wood, and T. Gapes, P.C.R.'s, supported the chair, but the general attendance was limited. A large mass of correspondence mainly occupied the evening. A letter of Introduction from Court Southern Cross, Tlmaru, was presented by- Mr Hardcastle, who took his seat with a hearty greeting. From the Coortenay Court came a letter of thanks for a supply of literature relatlogto the Order. FromtheSecretary of the Dispensary Conference, a copy of report, with an account of preliminary expenses, which were ordered to be pajd. From the District Secretary, a notice 61 the ensuing district meeting at Sydenham on July lltb, and from the Committee of the Juvenile Court an intimation of an intended entertainment of a novel character on June 25th. Further correspondence was adjourned till quarter night, and also the consideration of the prospectus of a new Friendly Societies' Journal. Some additional nominations were made for ! offices vacant at the next meeting, and the report of the Management Committee read and approved after some discussion. The meeting was closed by the C.B. at an earlier hour than usual, the Assistant ! Secretary reporting the month's receipts at£l73s. w , ._. . _ The annnal social gatherlnjrol liOdge or Progress, No, 1637, E.C., andXodge lonic, No. 1917, E.C., was held m the Southbridge Town Hall on Tuesday evening last). The hall presented a pretty appearance, being well decorated with evergreens and

Masonic pictures, the windows also being draped with curtains, whilst pot plants and flags surrounded the room. The programme consisted of a tea, concert and dance. About 120 sat down to a spread provided by Bro. Hibbard, after which the tables were removed, the room cleared out, and dancing was commenced, aboul ninety couples being present. During the interval the following ladies and gentlemen took part in the singing:—Miss Waby, Mrs Gates, Miss Moore, Mr Yates; recitation by Mr Rayne, and a reading by Mr Frame. Danciqg was again resumed and continued till a-a-rn., the music being provided by Messrs Fleming and nori, after which all dispersed thoroughly satisfied with the evening's entertainment. The Quarterly summoned meeting oi the Hope of St. Albans Lodge, U.A.0.D., was held on Tuesday evening, the A.D. Bro. J. Foster presiding. Among the correspondence read was a circular from the Royal Arch Chapter having reference to the formation of the District Grand Lodge. After a long discussion, in the course of which the proposal was argued on its merits, it was unanimously decided to support the movement for establishing a District Grand Lodge for Canterbury, and application forms to that effect were signed. As an argument in favor cf the formation of the Lodge it was pointed out that Canterbury alone was sending to Victoria something like £500 per annum as Grand Lodge dues, and it was thought that the tune had now arrived when this money should be kept in the district. The Lodge also decided to subscribe for five copies of the New Zealand Friendly Societies' Recorder, a journal to be published in August next in the interest of Friendly Societies. The receipts for the evening amounted to over £60.