BANQUET AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11154, 21 December 1901, Page 8

BANQUET AT LYTTELTON.

The in ,Cant«* " - bury was celeibrste4 kstnighfta* Lytteltoa .: by a banquet in tlhe Oddfellows' flail, wfckilr' w&& crowded. Tbejcatering .wae in fcheiiaad%< of Mr J. T. Norton: pied by P.O. Kay, v&o was; supported by P.ft.M. WiLliams* .(North Canterbury Dietritot), - D.GJM. Ambrose, , C.S. Caterer, P.P.G.M.. Kent, P.G.M. ' Brioe, .iaP.G,!IiL tforfh', {Timaru)," P.G. Dayies (Hokitilca), C.S.Jennings'CAi&ley), and- P..G.&1 Marshair (treasurer' Ashley ' District),'and the' Rev. D. WieNicoU and Father .Codriey. n ,'--..., : The liall was tastefully decoraied:, t&» / 'X walls being hting with' banners of the Oixtet -' and numerous dags. , Mr ißidrdati'e band was on the stage;;and played.'selections duf- ■ . ing the evening; and songs, were sung by . Bros. Oarson, \veils, A, poster, Harrington * A and others.- ','" '".',' ' . ■ The dhairmari thanked- the - visitors for ; t their attendance,' and hoped ■ they would . enjoy themselves. He then- .celled upon' ■* ,* the J-tev. Father Cooney, who eaajd grace. The chairman proposed—"The &ias* and y the .Manchester JJnity."' The-toast' was - : dtunk, all HtanfliugS and (joining in the ' National Antfrem. • '..,.. P.G.M. lienf proposed. "!E!he Grand Mas* ter and. Board of ; Directors. He aaid tie Grand Master and' Board "of. IMreotprs were the managers An England. ' Their. duties ■were not light,- seeing that- they' Had the- " v 1 control and .management of neoriy & million ' >, of. members. It was wqw fifty-one years sicca the Board of Dareotoi's granted a dispensu.- ~ - tion to open a<lod!ge in' Canterbury.' Lα any ' ~: oommunicattion t!he : Order ' had With them and in anybusiriess 'mattera they had treated Canterbury. ana con* sideraition, end: there h&& been ao. fault to jfindwith them. They in Hew Zealand were ' now going to have a Board of Directors of k thieir own, but they would have" always a kindly feeling towards the Grand J&aster and Board of Directors at Home. There -. •". were many speakers to. follow.him, and he. ''.] would couple the. toast the name, of th«~ ,; secretary of the 'Canterbury District, Bro. ; 4 Fostei-. The toast was drunk with musical honours. , • - • ' .- .[ Brother Foster said it gave ham Btudh, - pleasure to return'thanka on behalf of tflje . , Board of Direatore. ■ He »wae f3uut no member of the Board 1 ;.waa to see , "' , the manner in whUsn the toast bad .been received. vJaines Chri&tie,' on the 4th Ma.y f 1815, when ie started the Order, could have lisid no ides that the Order would now ;. number nearly a - million •wilfe * capital of £10,000,000. The origin,of th»: society was wrapped in mystery, some tree-, , ing it ,eve» as far back' as Adaan. At any rate, 'it wae certain that it wae plantect ia Manchester on tMay 14th, 1815, but the meetings were of a convivial nature, similar .-' , to the present one. ' If, .however, a member . fell into distress .a subscription was raised for him and his family. In the early stages • of the society it .was denounced from tut . ' Press, ,the public platform, and tn« pulpit. It, however, went, ahead by leaps - ~ bounds. Its great success showed that it ~:>,." was the right thing.' (Applause.) ft , " number oi others were to speak, lie would r' . not go into figures, but as mey were on tie '' - eve of a monster church parade, it would not* be out of place to give a few resolution* ' avtoddh were passed l eighty years ago L in Manchester. They were as follows! -t "That the different Lodges meet in S& Anne's Square on the sth June, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, or forfeit one half tits "band expenses? th&t the death supporter* carry drawn Swords, and be attired in gowns and caps; thai none but death sup- ' porters and tylers walk in gowns and cape during the procession; that every brother appear in white napkins and white stockings, aJso white aprons, with the follow* ing bindings—Past and present Grands, scarlet sash, with mazarine blue rosette on the shoulder, and tied) with mazarine blue; mazarine eash.es to be tied with sky, aky sashes to be tied with mazarine." It wae, he added, a pity thai photography hod not enabled them to see those members with their white aprons. (Laughter and applause.) Bro. Ciirreil expressed gratitude to the Lodges and visitors who had) accepted the invitation to be' present. Many of them would have seen that morning a long account of Oddfellowship. Hβ would not do more than quote, that account as far as it referred to tlie local, history of the Order. , , Bro. 0. I. Jennings deserved l credit for the

account which had' given the history of the City of Norwich Lodge. The speaker read a lengthy extract from the account ho had referred to. The Chairman here announced that he t*vd received a telegram from the Jttigbt Hon. the Premier, an Oddfellow, regretting that he was unable to be present, and wishing all a happy New Year. P.G.M. Woodford proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand. ,, He was sure that they hud in Parliament gentlemen who were endeavouring to the best of their ability to promote "the welfare erf the co'.ofty. In no city in New Zealand was there a representative who endeavoured' to do his duty better than the member for Lyttelton. (Applause.) There was no doubt that he was one of the most painstaking and conscien- ! tious member* of the present Parliament, i Hβ coupled the toast with the name of Mr G. Laurtinson. The toast was dxunk i with enthusiasm. * - - , F fttr Laurenson, who was received with , I applause, said he was very much obliged to those present ffor the way in which th« toast lxad been received, arid to Bro. Woodford for the very kind and sympathetic way iti whtcU he bad proposed th ! e toast. He felt at home there, with Bro. Rent by his side, who bad at one time lived next door to him, and wiiih Bro. Turner opposite to biro. Bro. Turner was the first man he tod «ver bad a row with. (Laughter:) jjle hoped that there were in .the hall men of every sluule of political opinion. He did cot car-a much wfoat their opinions were, so long as they were not apathetic, It was better for <a man to be president of a Fanners' Union and hammering against Jiim. (Laughter.) He knew that very liard things were said against the Parliament. H e beli-eved that the men who went to Parliament went there to promote the welfare of tiae colony. The last century hied- seen the Parliaments become a predominant force, and a still more important feature of progress was the growth of brotherliness, loving kindinees, and interdependence, one on another. This was the spirit, of tb'd friendly and benevolent societies, at *lfe head of which stood the Order of Oddfellow*, of whkfc those present ■had the honour of being members. (Applause.) Hβ liad iheardi people condiemn socialism, bat they werp all socialists. The Oddfellows were tbte outcome of socialistic principles. ' in the old days people followed a destructive system, everyone Ibeing for himself, but mow they were adopting tli« leseons taught by the Great Master nineteen centuries ago, and men enjoyed I privileges at, a leae cost of labour than I bad ever been known before. He did; nto I wish to detain them, but must express the I pleasure im felt at. being present at such 1 a large and representative gathering. (Ap- ,■ plause.) IThey were carrying out what Si. James 'had taught, that tbey should euccour and lyilp fclie widow and the fatherless. Looking back fifty years, 'ha could not but : ttak bow many were there present of those -who' had started Qddfellowsihip in Canitorbary. Perhaps only three or four remained, but tiheir works remained after them. Andi fifty years 'hence, w'b/n those present bad passed away, their children and their children's children would be able to look with pridte and satiofaction at what they had dfone as they themselves now looked back at the work their forefathers, who efcartted thfecflpOTjßfty year* ego. (Applause.) Wa& fifeuojd poet, hm -would say, "We man $$oinfltk the world o'er should barothere'berf^fiteia^itJw*. ,, They would.see that spirit jzcOflstogjand epread- ' ing, not valy amaag tiwJSvmlMi race, bat . «1«6 tjbrougbout all - until, Qβ - Tennyson eakl, the there 1 shall be "a'Parliament of-' ifran, .the. iederatkm o* the world." (Appteufce.). f Tihe Chaxmran proposed" "The District 1 Officers end. Visiting Brethren,"* coupled ~ -with -the names of tihe Provincial Grand iMuters of the tfetnot. The .toast waa drunk frith musical honours, . jßfro, O,:<;L ; Jaaniagg xegwtted that the 'ft Cteftkt Master of/ tbe Ashley District vrm '/' vmkfoin be present. He wae bappy to fa *: bW* tp toy tmt wittoda twenty years they -:v food jnoro $han doubled the number of their i'■. members. Twenty-four years ago tine dis- :•>. jtoict, numbered 390 merabep, and it had 903 : ; ;./Vat mc present .torn. The lodges, with one 'If exception* were in a most flouristag con-sV-&kp.-- At Bangiora they bad a'surplus; $, the? fed been able to give to old members $i- en .•■jjwtfca ac £1000. They could give a gv bonn # £22 to every member arriving at ;60 yearp. Other lodges .were. Jlbiiur v tihiaiiff;* .;*"■ • * , |:- r 'KQ;M. VWMaaiM tetufeed; thanfce for 't Canterbury. An a yoaog jacmber of p ; only-Bix yean* atenefcag b« ooold not be fi\ expected to mow much *2»ut wiiat had : n\ Isappeoed fifty years ago. T&» North Canpi tmtuxy District had been started with throe Intakes: The Loyal City of Gbristcburcfc I ,: liodge ba& in*lß6s twenty-five memlbere wi€b .-•; c capital of £53Q; it now had 489 members «w: capital of £14000. Tbia had been ■;We> in yean, , . (Ap-\lnth*-'North Canterbtrry district K.tStep&t- members nomfeered 1852, wa-th > oapitol of £29,638, and in 1900 bad paid ; including over £400 in funeral : •Mmitam; - The North OantejPbury dfettic* wta» the oldest In New Zealand. He . in the Loyal Benevolent , >r ; ;Jpo3ge bonujße»"".were being: paid to. membera ,of»aie. and he hoped tojswa: lodges' wouM folloW to the same ttirec- ■ ' -•'■•■•, '•■., *»• J- X Brice retuAed thanks on beifmH of the Lyttelton district, to those Who .:-, bwd attended the banquet. It must be, he. i|:'.iyad,» proud moment for the officers of tihe r |-;lbdge tihe euooesa of tlieir effcete. - He y v '-!Bmiroud to be a Past Garand Master on - thia the fiftieth annivereary of, the lodge. P .£>.G.M,-3ort£ briefly reepoaaded; Caterer jjropoeed tfce ' kindred ' Prjendjy Societies, Those were, if a$ mad, all yieing wish' one anotaier for the $; ««» B -<«bjeet' ac - tfii* OttWelltfwe had;tlie ; ■ oelping of tbeir f«Llow-B»n. H they oould ; ; not get people to join the Oddfellows they v : wifflt get them to join some other. Friendly '■X, ;ww«ty. A great many peopKeneered a* f> BViendlySocdetieß,. but tliey had only- to g-' k : join -cne «nd they wuutd-fittd out -wta* a , jE^.!* B »»«b <rf «ood tfoere.-wae in them. K/■•■p? »• thirty-tSwee yeoxe of «ge when he m&i* ymted, end we bnly eotiry the* hje tad »ot m?:: Jomed-tooneß The toaet waa dnu- with HK>,ewe*(aJ[ honours. - • : & n^ B *}*? Cajsrell propoeed , "The Old ex-Mem* I- owe. Hβ had received an. apology from |r. ; te-Bohert Evsuw, vho regretted hie mi, Mwuty to be present. He wished to couple j p; with the toast the names of ex-Bro; Tubbs f W»:™ David Bundy. The chair tshe >.' chainnwx wiw occupying wae made by Bro. k : Ba Wy» and he hoped it would long be kept . <w a reHc of the early days of the Lodge. f. Bro. Tubbe briefly responded. > ••, f ?^ j W. T. Foet«r proposed the flavor j $;, MMi Borough Council of Lytitelton,' , coupled I V- **** namee of the Mayor, Mr, T. C i iyOfteld, and Cγ. Kay. f J&'S-' G - MeM, the 3Mayor, returned juj* I ** forthe manner in which the toast y;«W Wen received. Hβ congratulated the |y» meeting on the large attendance on such an * , ocqasion,. He , had a very hazy .;;' ™*m.pt irhat had happened in Lyttelton IS'flftwyears ,ago, but his father.had come if.- Ufty-sixyears hadJiad M*v tbe |i»nour of being jpresent at one of the j|N? Jwt.iOvetinge of jOddfeliows in Lyttelton; H v w <)^n c*e * hi» patents epeak of .atid the early, members. »''; ** c oJ*wi»ed the. Lodge «ver>» success and ffif Pro*perHy. He .complimented the Lodge on *r, o*nn» euch ftfficiwit members as the ohair■te,;toani.Bjro. Bro. Carrell. Some ■Mr-. years ago he bad been B>V'jJJrW « the Lodge, but. through some ft/.difficulty with the. medical officer he had ■•;- bad to resign. He thanked the meeting for p, jameeif* Hrst Field, whose name had a: Mr Field concluded by g : *poipguing for <tbe absence of Mr G. A. m.'i «ewja, the town cletk. ■'' T - Brioe P">posed "The Clergy," '■•• wman he was cure must recognise tbe I ?« n «fit%of Oddfellowahip, He coupled with m- |ac .toast the names of the Revs. D. McB ; ; fticoH and Father Cooney. |, The B*v\ D. Jl'Nicoll, after apologieing * *»/ - a^seoce of K * v - A. H. TreadR *«1, he was in complete sympathy '»''"■' - Oddfellows. It w*» ox«ly common m> ' •*™» that a man should - put aside a few ,fc, Mulljnjpt a week to eecui 1 © relief when out J X,' ux? , . a, . l( * attendance ween eick. fv *ri«nd=jbip. Love, and Trubh , * was the , 'm. motto of the society. He wished the m *nemher» pltntv-of each. (Appkuee.) ...; ■•■ <k« €v ' l' ,a "t her •Cooney eaid he remem>i " beied. a ftrw years ago walking though W■; |2* streets of "lx>ndon. A gentleman in ;Jp?; j^P ,1 * wiae walking, whose relations between IbT v k* ' eet wtre ratiitr strained. 'wr, *«*o't 'kaow where* he are." lLaughter.)

He (tilte speaker) might gay that ihe was an Oddfellow. They would know what he meant. (Laughter.) The principle of love and charity whSob distinguished the Order was that of tfoe founder of ChnV tiandty. (Applause.) .He had eeen in the catacombs of Rome the symbol of the "Lamb," whose principles were "friendship, love, and truth," tbe principles of the Ordler. He 'hoped they would always remain true to those principles, . Bro. Jenningß proposed "P.G.M. Kent ,, Whilst tiey looked upon Bro. Abrahams as an early member,of the Order, they could not tmt remember that Bro. Kent h«ad been the moving spirit of the Order since he joined on July 31st, 1862. He used to walk over the hall to attend lodge meetings, end assisted) to establish lodges at Bangiora, Ohiistchurch, Akanxv and otber He etill took the greatest interest in the Order. He always had good advice to .give, and it was a p'easure to ccc hhn at any meeting. (Applause.) He hoped that Bro. Kent would Mve to see his jubilee, when be should receive a tangible token of what tba brethren thought of him. (Applause.) P.P.G.M, Kent said he was thankful tifet (he had been spared for this occasion. Oβ was the only one left of the original members of the Oity of Norwich Lodge. He ihad averaged , two to three lodge meetings & week, and the work had taken a great deal of tbb time. He did not regret the hardships be bad encountered from sou-- wester, etc., wthten travelling over th« hills. Reminisoenoes crowded on, hia mind, but he would not detain the meeting. (Applause.) P.G.M. Ambrose proposed "Tihe Prese." The toast was duly acknowledged, and shortly afterwards the proceedings terminated.