ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 7

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

a ANTIPODEAN LODGE ANNIVERSARY. REMARKABLE PROGRESS. About two hundred members of the Loyal Antipodean Lodge, 1.0.0.F.,M.U., celebrated its G2nd anniversary .by a banquet in St. J Peter's Hall last evening, lire. C. D. > Robertson, Prov. G.M., occupied the chair. t Apologies wore received from Bro. T. \V./ f Mackenzie, who wrote that he had been pre- ! sent at tho inauguration of the lodge, and . Bro. Sir Kenneth Douglas, P.G. i Tho chairman, referring to tho largo pioj portion of ladios present', said that without, , their co-operation tho society would not flourish as it did. The leaders of tho secioty ' evidently recognised this fact, as they were [ getting placed on the statute book laws L whereby in a very short time they would havo mixed lodges in their district. They , wero met for a twofold purpose, to conimomj orate tho lodge's G2nd birthday, and also to do honour to their trustees and mako a slight , recognition of their valuable services. '. Bro. E. C. Ludwig, P.P.G.M., proposed tho '. toast of tho Wellington district 1.0.0. F., : M.U. Ho stated that the spirit of Oddfel- \ lowship had showed itself very early in tho , history of Wellington. This district was a i unique one, and ho believed tho best in the ', world. Its uniqueness was shown by tile , fact that it had two lodges whicli possessed [ from £1500 to*<C2ooo above what appeared on , their balance-sheets. Out of the eighteen . lodges hi tho district, there were fourteen absolutely solvent, though tho requirenients of tho actuary of the Friendly Societies' '■ Department were now much more stringent '. than such requirements were at .tho inception ' of the lodge. In the wholo district there was . a shortage, of about £500, against which was [ the surplus of from £1500 to £2000 which ■ they could not put on their balance-sheet. ', Bro. G. A. H. Hall, D. Prov. G.M., in re- ' spending, said that the country lodges of the district had been maintained and officered 1 and brought to their present condition with ] a good deal of hard work. For years the [ Hutt Lodge was officered by members from * the Wainui-o-mata, who used to walk to meetings. Other brothers used to ford [ streams up to their necks in water on their '. way to meetings. He wished the Antipodean • Lodge a long prosperity, and an increase of , its surplus. t : Bro. J. Kershaw, Prov. C.S., proposed "The Loyal Antipodean Lodge." Ho expressed his pleasure at tho remarkablo proj gress of tho lodge. In twenty years tho funds had more than trebled, and tho membership had doubled. Ho thought that tho success of tho lodge had been largely dno to iti excellent trustees, and their wise investment of the funds. Ho also instanced the able services of the secretary, who was always keenly alive to Uio interests of tho lodge. Ho urged tho importance of an incroased membership, and a larger attendance at meetings. Other toasts were: "Kindred Socioties," proposed by Bro. G. Read, P.P.G.M.; "Tho Ladies," proposed by' Bro. 11. J. Dormer, V.G., responded to by Bro. F. G. Bolton; and "The Press," proposed by Bro. W. Guise, P.P.G.M. Songs and other entertainment items were given. Bro.' J. Smith, P.P.G.M., who has been a trustee for 25 years, was presented with a , camera, and Bro. Isaac Clark, P.P.G.M who has served the lodge for 23 years, with a Rold albert. A presentation will bo made to Bro. O. Daly, P.G., on his return from Sydney.