THE ODDFELLOWS' JUBILEE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11154, 21 December 1901, Page 6

THE ODDFELLOWS' JUBILEE.

The banquet held at Lyttelton last evening by the Oddfellows of Canterbury nmks an event which should claim the sympathetic *-' atatcfrest of the whole Community. Eβmembering the social and benevolent objects of Oddfellowshdp the spirit of mutual help which is the mainspring of its machinery, it is a pleasure to be able to congratulate the Canterbury members of the great Manchester Undty Order upon the attainment of their jubilee, from small beginnings the Canterbury branch lias grown J with the province. The increasing prosperity of the people as a community lias been ' [ reflected in the growth, numerical and financial, of Oddfellowship in Canterbury. •'> Started in 1842, by if handful of emigrants whose only "lodge" was a fern-gully, the movement has long since spread through- 5" out the colony, and at the present day can - c number its adherents by the thousand. The -1 Manchester Unity branch, -whose jubilee wa» celebrated at Lyttelton last evening, is, we . "' are pleased to note, one of the most flourish- ;• ing in the colony; the state of its finances to-day bears excellent testimony to th? activity and interest displayed by its offioew }'. and. members. The local branch iis, in fpct, " % a worthy , offspring of the parent Order, which, established in Manchester eighty- ; eight years ago, has since planted its Lodges throughout the civilised world. The system of eelf-h<elp under which the Friendly Society work is one diesterving of ' * every encouragement. If every member ' of the community (-. subscribed to these mutual benefit associations, the proolem oj" ' : making provi&bn'for old age would be simplified enormously;' J>ufc so long. Qβ ituinan nature its present weaknesses, such a scheme most always be but a vision of some far-distant miltenium."". For the present, it is of more practical importance to deal with, the problem as it now stands. ;* The Friendly Societies are doing eplendsd work, an the pmrsuanoe of which they '' should have the sympathy, of Vttos whole , *„,-■ community. It has olvr&ya seemed to us { a matter for regret that'the'old) age, t pensions echerae da not worked in this colony in conjunction with the administration of / these societies, for it is opeo, to, question - ,; whether- the former will not affect adversely « - the good"iT?wk of,;ih>. As> we ■?- '"'' of -England, to question was 'i /referred by; Mr. Chamberlain, have drafted J a scheme -for eld age peosious. which they , propose should be worked in oonaection * ; -with associations as their*. ' ; Tit*

basis of the sbhemie; appears to be ttaas the pensioner must foe already drawing a , <«, v certain minimum weekly »urn from a friend- - <[, ly or trade t eociet?y, post, cr ail*it insurance* agency. The, idea of '.making" '''">. the State pension dependent on- ' 'y' meant of a snrall • inetwaaee is to 'j the Ibayte of tiirilt «an 4 eelf-reliaUbe iff tha ;,: individual, increase, the prosperity ot tfte mutual benefit * eooiefcke, and prevejafc any ;> •tendency which cdtnect eid may iiavj -?. towards pauperisation. • Any eoheme whicji r , can accomplish! one. or tall of tibem .cJbjeHe - ", deserves the strongest support, and it will' •/' be ; arter«at.ing to •wutoh -how the EngUeh - ■ eyatditt, if adopted, urorks outlii j>racti6».?r MeamrMle maxtdk tmay be dotue/ towaydi tfesame end by helping on the work of the'. Friendly Societies. , In point of num-l '* bam alone,they iave showa iieyond a <fc>ubt "?," that they meet a real public want, and in -\ r . fuathering itbeir objects th« comuainity.. ■•-- promotes its own welfare through in<Jividoal ;-- jeffort. W« itrust <tihat tbe jubilee cefebra* ' ~ tjona now being "held will awaken" freek* " icftenest in the troaldng of the FmDdly , -. - - iSooieties, and by Ibringiag oew adhereme ~*• into the (ranks <help etill further to .(tZ* >', tend their influence for good. / ;,!