GRAND LODGE OF DRUIDS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20499, 18 March 1932, Page 12

GRAND LODGE OF DRUIDS.

NEW OFFICERS INSTALLED. The Druids of Canterbury decided to . r.ncel their annual meeting in order to conserve their funds, for the purpose of to pay the contributions of unemployed members. The, election of officers was conducted by postal ballot, and at the monthly meeting of the Foard of Management, held ,on Wednesday evening, the following officers were duly installed for the ensuing twelve months, by Giwrn 1 President bio. F. C. Chittock, assisted by P G.P.'s Bros. J. Jowsey and T. W\ Burgess: — Grand President, Bro. E. K. Warren, (Trafalgar Lodge); Vice-Grand President, Bro. C. I. Barnes (Pioneer Lodge); Grand Secretary, Bro. F. E. Talbot (Mistletoe Lodge); Grand Treasurer, Bro. J. T. Collins (Ivy of Lin.wood Lodge); Grand, Guardian, Bro. L. B. Freeman (Hope of St., Albans Lodge); Grand Lodge Trustee. Bro. J. E. L. Hegan (Lily of Richmond Lodge); Board of Management, Bros. R. E. BigggJH.. E. Beckett, J. H. Denison, P. L. Heriot, B. A. March, R. J. Roberts, and I. Yellowlees; Grand Lodge auditors, Bros. -H. .Ballan, L. B. Freeman, and L. A. Morrison. . President's Address. The Grand President, Bro. F. C. Chittock, in his presidential address, congratulated the members upon their action in cancelling .the, Grand Lodge meeting. It was very gratifying to find that despite the conditions, prevailing the membership only showed a slight decrease for the year. The financial membership at December. 31st was 4132. - The total worth of all fu.nds of the Order was noW £140,729, an increase , of £6460 for the year. The total interest-earned "for the year was £7433.Sick pay paid by lodges .was £6611, being £640 more than last year; disbursed in doctors, < chemist, and hospital fees, £8378. The Grand Lodge funeral fund now stood' at £30,429, Grand Lodge Benefit Fund £22,821, Grand Lodge Management Fund £221; total Grand Lodge funilsj £54,179. The Registrar of Friendly fjjpcieties had promised the 1930 , quinquennial valuation of the Society during this year, and as the result . thereof, the Board would then, be in the position to submit proposals to the next Grand Lodge meeting for increased benefits without increasing contributions.'

; During the year the Order suffered a severe loss in the death of the C4rand Secretary, Bro. J. Burgess. His valuable work • and ■ interest' in the Friendly Societies' movement would serve as a monument to his memory. The Success of Ashburton Lodge was congratulated' upon winning the Neaxe membership challenge shield. ,

' Retiring Officers,

A 'set of Past Grand President's regf.lia was presented to- the retiring Grand President, Bro.' F. C. Chittock, by I.P.G.P. Bro. M. -O'Donoghue for services rendered during his term of Grand President. - <■

The ' Grand President presented Grand Secretary Bro. F. E. Talbot with a slight token of his recognition of services rendered by him during his term of office ,

* It was announced that a complimentary social and presentation would be tendered to thte retiring Grand Treasurer,Bro. J, Jowsey, on the completion of his 26 years of office as Grand ■Treasurer.