I.O.O.F.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13376, 18 March 1909, Page 8

1.0.0. F.

FOURTH BIENNIAL SESSION. In connection with the report of Tuesday's sitting of the Grand Lodge, 1.0.0. F., A.C., tho names of Bros. Hunter and Harper, as representatives for North Canterbury, were accidentally omitted from the list.

The sitting was resumed at 10 a.m yesterday.

The Grand Secretary's report wos submitted. This showed the state of the Order in the Dominion at the close ot the financial year to be as follows: — Lodges, as at last report, 51 ; opened since, -A; total, 55, all of which wero active. Number of members at last report, 4885 ; initiated during the year, Kn>4 : admitted- by card. 04; reinstated, 10; making a total of 0023. The number withdrawn, etc., amounted to 004, leaving « grand total of ooli), or a gain in membership of 034. The sick pay had amounted to £'2075 13s lOd, which was an increase on last year's expenditure, partly accounted for by new lodges coming into work and also by automatically increasing expenditure consequent on increasing average age of members; £030 bad been paid for funeral claims, £1500 8s 2d for working expenses, and special relief £130 ss. The.total receipts of lodges from ali sources amounted to £14,058 os 9d. The valuations by the Registrar for tho quinquennia, period ending 1907 had been reported on by tho Registrar, on preliminary figures submitted in December last, and the general report would bo before the Grand Lodge. In his letter advising the sending of the valuations, the Registrar says: "The results are really splendid, aiKl it would bo difficult to imagine a society starting out on its consolidation career in sounder trim than your people show. 1 congratulate you and l your fellow officers on the results, which are largely due to efficient and sound management." The Grand Master's report suited that tho money directly under their control was £24,300 18s 2d, and the worth of the Funeral Fund was £19,374 lis Bd. All the funds were soundly invested. The Grand Lodge proceeded further to consider the minutes of the tive, and a discussion took place on various matters, including opening several new fields which had. been exploited during the past two years. Grand Lodge resumed at 2 p.m. An interesting discussion took place in reference to the payment of old members' dues. This fund had been created to pay the dues of members who had reached the aged of 65 years, and had been members for 25 years, and were so entitled to all tho rights and benefits of Oddfellowship. It therefore enabled an aged member to rest assured that when he reached that period of his existence when it might be a struggle for him to keep his head above water, he would not have the possibility of losing the benefits he had paid for during so many years. As every year this fund was more and more depleted, it was resolved that tho incoming executive take the whole matter in hand, and take the necessary stops to perpetuate such a beneficent scheme.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Grand Lodge Trustees for the very careful manner in which the funds have always been invested. It is interesting to note in this connection that although the Trustees have been lending money on mortgage for over 33 years, they have only written off £80 3s Bd—a record, probably, in lending on mortgage security.

Bro. A. Leigh Hunt, the Parliamentary agent for the Order, was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks, and it was resolved to place the appreciation of Grand Lodge on the minutes. Several members spoke in high praise of the very efficient manner in which Bro. Hunt had carried out his arduous duties.