ODDFELLOWSHIP

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16161, 15 March 1918, Page 3

ODDFELLOWSHIP

XOIU'H CAXTKKBURY DISTINCT,

The sj ll- Annual Con;e;enc.' o: the ot i' A ; Carterburv Uiotrici «ri The Manchester cf Oddfefio-.va he id ir. the Oddtellows Chambers on \Vc-itie;oiuy. The Prowncio Grand Master, Bro. W. K. Gjhagau prosiding. Deputy-Grind. iiastor, liro. i. >> ■ Wu.tl, was present. and was accorded the honours o; t!io> Order. _ _ wore ronrcscr.tcd 'as 1 | o f CUirisVchurch : E. lveut. IM'.O.M. 11 ] jiici. A. Ju. Winter, K. W. Hcwiuton. 1■ I Chick, C. J. Wood, arid W. Bcatlie, j Benevolent : \V. li. ijrowii, l'.l'.G.M. A- j-'• | V.". Jntaep. P. 0.: Kaiapoi: P. Bate, P.l O.JI. j U. 11. tisher. p>.. S. liardiuj. P.; ; ssvcrauce: L. P P. V • Hca.cj, «'• : l!.ir'.)tr. P.G.V,, 'Volunteer: -I. K. .Mvrnu'.oii. , . P.P.G.M., L. i.. Cooper T. Burl, A. \ son, i'.G.'s; ibhor;:: .1. Henry, P-G.: I "i.- j iipstown: »1 Clev/orth. t^»orburton; Leeston : G. Jl. J-"»rcs, P.Ci.'rt; Papanui: VI. K. Morc.m, 1.1. G.M., F. Sissoa I'.G.; Addin^loa: C. H. Winjo", 1'.P.G.11.. W. .lobucou i'. Candy, P-G. 6. Coleridge: E. thiiric.H, 11. Luke, P. trostid?e. I'.G.'f; Ilcurl 01 Oak: J. A. CloTke, P.P.G.M.; Riecarton : C. E. T. Hill, G. Culleu, P.G.'s: Jubilee: .1. itcNallv W Ash P.G.'s, Sister Pcarcc, S:?tcr W. C. Caroic, P.S.: Waimairi: Geo. Greer., P.P.G.M.; i r °" vincial correspondence secretary: T. J. Archbold. _ The Grand Master opened the Conference with tho special war ritual, and in the coursc of his address said: The membership now stands at 2MO. Thirty-eight men-'bers were initiated during the year, and 51_ members died (the war being responsible ior '2G ot the number). Tho stun of £1.130 waa paid {or iuncral benefits, as against £BSO for 1916. Tho amount of sick pay for the year was £2433, ae against £'2731 in 1916, a decreaso of £318. The total funds of tho district amount to £C0.9G1, being an increase of £1620. I would like at this stage to take the opportunity of expressing our filial loyalty to tho Sovereign of the Realm and our unfailing sympathy v;ith him and all his advisers in this gigantic struggle against J* 11 ' 1 " taiisnj and oppression, and can only hope that with God'e help Britain and her Allies will bo rewarded by a victorious and honour, able peace, when nations will livo in perfect harmony, and war shall ba no more, in this titanic struggle we havo now over 200,003 members of tho Manchester Unity, who nobly

responded to their country's call, and over 8000 o£ tkeeo have made the supreme sacrlfivo. From our small district there have gone 280 members, and out of these 33 have given their lives for King and country, whose memory we will ever gratefully cherish and revere, and to their dear ones wo tender our heartfelt sympathy, and trust that the &ad blow will be lightened by the knowledge tha. their loved ones gave their lives for eo righteous a cause. To the wounded and the 6ick wc wish to express our deepest sympathy, with the hope that they will be speedily restored to health and their friends and families. I hope and trust that the time is not far distant when our brethren will l>o returning' after an honourable peaco lias been declared; in the meantime those of ua who have been left behind, it is our duty to servo at home in whatever sphere duty may call. Brethren, 1 trust we all, both Tiere and at the B.M.C. meeting, will face the momentous question with hearts guided, by justice, expanded by benevolcnoc, and in the true spirit, of Oddfellowship, realising that we must not be less courageous w our duty than our brethren and comrades on the field of buttle. Theirs is a service ot sacrifice; ours should be the same. They lire sacrificing their lives; wc are only a6ked to sacrifice our time, our talents, and our money. The election of officers rc.sultcd as follows:—Prov. G.M. Bro. S. Kin aid i; Prov. D.G.M., BrG. L. P. Ifonguct; Prov. C.S./liro. T. J. ArchboU; Prov. treasurer, Bro ; J. K. Merriman; Management Committee, W. Johnson, A. L. Winter, L. L. Cooper; deputies to 8.M.C., J. H. Merriman, T. J. Archbold, Tl" 32. Morgan, O. Green, TV, R. (<fb«i.gan; trustee, G. Green; u.uditors, H. E. Morgan, C. E. T. llill; book examiners, C. E. T. Hill, E. Kent, A. L. Winter. Fraternal greetings were received from the Grand Mn3ter of the Order. It was decided to present the retiring G.M., Bro. W. K. Gahagan, with a testimonial, as a mark of appreciation of the splendid services rendered by him during his term of office. The newly elected officers were installed bv Bros. C. H. Winnv and J. Williamson, P'.P.G.M.'S.