ODDFELLOWS ENTERTAINMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 215, 23 August 1878, Page 6

ODDFELLOWS ENTERTAINMENT.

The Loyal Dalton Lodge of Oddfellows held a social gathering in Lloyd's Assembly 'hall, on Friday last. The attendance was the largest wo have seen at anything of the sort for some time past in Balclutha, about 60 couples mustering up, and the only difficulty was for them all to find dancing room. The music was supplied by the Balclutha Fife and Drum Band, and was rendered in a manner that reflected the greatest credit both on the members and their instructor Mr Hogg, who must have spent a great deal of time aud trouble in bringing them up to the proficiency they have attained.

Dancing* commenced about half -past eight, and was steadily persevered in till six next morning. At intervals during the evening a number of songs were sung by ladies and gentlemen present, and refreshments supplied, and altogether the evening was one of the most enjoyable we have had the pleasure of attending here for some time past.

Mr Hope, Treasurer of the lodge, in the course of the evening made a statement explanatory of Oddfellowship. He said that the Order consisted of an unlimited number of male members, who were divided into branches called districts and lodges ; and its objects were to raise a fund by entrance fees, subscriptions of the members, fines, donations, and by interest on capital ; for insuring a sum of money to be paid on the death of a member to the widow or children, or executors, administrators, or assigns of such member, or for defraying the expenses of the burial of a member ; and also for insuring a sum of money to be paid to a member on the death of his wife ; for the relief of members in sickness and old age • for granting temporary assistance to the widows and children of deceased members ; for providing members with assistance when travelling in search of employment ; and for assisting members in distressed circumstances. The ceremony of initiation to Oddfellowship is simple and divested of all nonsensical ceremonial. Due care is taken by the lodges when a man once becomes a member t;o keep him under control by an extensive scale of penalties under which fines are inflicted varying from 3d to L 5. Politics and sectarian religious differences have no abiding place in an Oddfellows' lodge ; and if a member persists in introducing subjects of dispute, or gets intoxicated, quarrels, misbehaves himself, swears, reveals to the outside world the subjects of discussion or the password, brings decisions of the lodge into ridicule, or indulges in any acts of a similar nature, a pecuniary fine is the penalty, and if tliat does not answer then expulsion follows. The entrance fees vary from Ll to LlO, according to age. Tho age at which men can join is from 18 to 45. As to the rule in the local lodge, he said : We pay Is 6d per week at present. After paying his initiation fee, he is entitled to medical attendance and medicine for himself and family. At the end of six months in case of sickness the member gets Ll per week, and at the end of twelve months in case of death L2O for a member and LlO for a member's wife. The benefits derived by the members of our own lodge during the last five years were as follows : — Medical attendance and medicine, L 446 18s 6d; sick pay, L 133 4s; funeral benefits, L6O ; — total, L 640 2s 6d. At the present time there are 53 members in our lodge, and the total value of the lodge is about L 560. In the Otago district there are 23 lodges and 1594 members, and the total value of these lodges is L 22,087 4s sd. " The total sum paid by the 23 lodges during the year 1877 was L 3305 5s 3d, divided thus :— Sick pay, L 1095 12s lOd ; medical attendance and medicine, L 1953 8s lid ; funeral benefits, L 236 3s 6d. There are in 'New Zealand about 8000 members, with funds to the amount of nearly L 70,000. According to returns just to hand, in June last the Order numbers in Great Britain and Ireland 526,302 members, with a capital of four and a half millions. The amount of sick pay and funeral benefits annually dispensed is somewhere about L 450,000. The Order has branches in almost every town in England and Wales, many in Scotland and Ireland, and going beyond the United Kingdom, branches of the Order are found in the West Indies, Gibralta, Malta, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand^ Canada, United States, and in the Fijis. Mr Hope concluded as follows : To all, whether members or not, the vast amount „of good which fcan be effected, sickness alleviated, medical relief obtained, poverty prevented, and misery avoided by such societies, must be apparent. We have amongst us, as honorary and financial members , in nearly every county and country, the higher and wealthier classes. To those who have not yet joined our ranks, we say, come amongst us, and assist us with your counsel and advice. To the working classes, we say, examine our Rules, inspect our financial statements, and if you think us worthy, join and provide for times of need.