ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 174, 16 April 1908, Page 8

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

PROGRESS OF A GREAT ORDER. EASTER CONFERENCE AT NEW : t Plymouth: ' : When writing or speaking' of any Order of Oddfellows it is a vital necessity to mako perfectly, clear what Order of Oddfellows is referred to. As evidencing the necessity for this caro, it might be mentioned that recently a cable message was received from Australia containing alarming news .about tho finances of a certain Order of Oddfellows. Many of the public at once jumped to,the conclusion that the Oddfellow lodges of New Zealand wore concerned, but it was ascertained that tho Order mentioned lias .no representation in New Zealand whatsoever —the Manchester Unity (now nearly a hundred years of. age) is' an Order from which all' blessings flow. It had 'a membership cf . 1,026,509 last year, when its funds amounted to £13,370,209 Bs. 7{td. So much for this Order in general. Coming to Now Zealand, tho' first lodge of this Socictv was opened in : Nelson as far back as 1842, and so satisfactory , was its progress that it became incumbent on Wellington to follow suit, and two years later (in 1844) the Loyal Britannia Lodge, which still flourishes like the green lmy tree in our midst, was established in Wellington. From that small beginning has sprung up a: great friendly organisation that operates in ■ 17 districts, has 173 lodges, two female lodges, one Widows' and Orphans' Society, 19,435 mombers, and funds totalling £500,000. In 188G a coufereneo was held-in Christchurch with the object of establishing a movable. committee for the Dominion, upon which other conferences followed,. but it was not until 1902, at a congress held in Wellington, the self-government was' established under the Now Zealand Branch, Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, to which aro. affiliated all the districts of ..the North Island; and four in the South. ;

Tho Conference to bo held in New Plymouth at Easter will be attended, by'about thirty delegates,' representing Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth,' Nelson, Motueka, Ashley, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Ashbytrton. and Elokitika districts.' . It will be presided over by Bro. A.'N. Batehelor, of. Nelson, Grand Master, who will be ofßeially. supported by Bro. J. Marshall, Deputy Grand Master, and Bro. John Kershaw, Grand Secretary. ' Wellington's delegates to ..the Conference will be Bros. - Jno. Smith, G. E. Godbor, W.. Guise, C. D. Robertson, and D. •P. Loasby (Groytown).\ .

• An official. reception will, bo given to the members of the Conference on Saturday,by the Mayor of New 'Plymouth. V The'report, to ba submitted to the Conference is a Very encouraging , one, showing that, while tho Society . has branches' .in .nearly every settlement, the openingup of new country is, being carefully' watched, four new lodges having' been opened during the past year, and that there has been a satisfactory increase both in members and' funds. ' .; ' _ '.

There aro some very important. matters to bo considered, by the Conference dealing with the supervision and profitable investment of the funds, valuations, and allocation of surplus funds, andalso.tho rcntralisation or consolidation of the. Society . Benefit Funds. At present'the several' districts havo funeral funds, from which aro paid tho funoral benefits of members of tho lodges under, their jurisdiction, each lodge being liable 'for the sick benefit of its members. It. is now proposed-io consolidate the whole of tilo benefit funds and pay funeral and sick benefits through the Central Body,' thus spreading the liability-over the .whole of the Society.

The pleasure of the'visitors "is also' to ba considered by tho 'members of tbo\Ncw Plymouth . district, as they are to be driven to Mount Egniont, and to the "Meeting of tho Waters," arid to bo banqueted'.. At the conclusion 'of the Conference' there is to bo a bowling match—Oddfellows v.Nc.v Plymouth: : ' ■ ■ - : - •