PROTESTANT ALLIANCE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21456, 24 April 1935, Page 19

PROTESTANT ALLIANCE

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE HELD The fifty-fourth session of the Grand Lodge of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society was opened in the Orange Hall, Worcester street, yesterday, by the W.G.M., Bro. John Harvey, delegates being present from all parts of the Dominion. A civic reception was tendered to the visiting delegates by the Deputy-Mayor, Mr J. K. Archer. Bro. W. H. iritn, P.M., of Oamaru, moved a vote of thanks to Mr Archer. In his opening remarks, the Worshipful Grand Master referred to the pleasing fact that in spite of the economic depression the membership and finances showed slight increases. The mortgages held by the society were said to be, with two exceptions, first-class securities. The interest in arrears was not a very large amount. The juvenile movement had made great strides during the last two years. There were 232 on the roll on December 31, 1934. The various remits on the order paper affecting the rules of the society were keenly debated by all members. It was anticipated that the decisions reached would have a beneficial effect on the order as a whole. At the conclusion of the business session th-j following officers of the Grand Council were elected and installed into office by Past Grand Master A. Devlin, assisted by District Master B. W. Page:—W.G.M., Bro. J. Lindsay; 1.P.G.M., Bro. J. Harvey; D.G.M., Bro. G. Hellyer; grand secretary, Bro. A. Hay; grand treasurer, Bro. H. D. Austin;- grand chaplain, Bro. H. A. Christie; grand trustees, Bros. G. Perrin. E. H. Sincock, and A. Devlin. Bros. G. Perrin and T. Arnold were appointed joint editors of the "Brotherhood," the official organ of the society. Bros. G. Perrin and D. V. Hughes were appointed Dominion superintendents of juvenile lodges. The Worshipful Grand Master appointed the following as his representatives: Bro. D. R. Allen (Auckland), Bro. B. W. Page (Christchurch), Bro. D. V. Hughes (Southland). The session closed with the singing of the National Anthem at 10.15 p.m.