THE RECHABITES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 8

THE RECHABITES.

0WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL SUBDISTRICT. PROGRESS OF THE ORDER. A new movement in the government of j Ihe Rechahile Order in the shir" of j sub-district meetings was inaugurated n-;, j I.aL'ur P i.v. Wellington being the centre of the whole nf the Dominion (with the exception of Auckland) in thenmiagemeiil of llii' lirrhabite Order, it had br~.i decided to group the variuis branches into revi-n sub-dMriets, consisting nf Southland, Oligo. Cmterbnry. Ne'.-an, Ilawke's Bay. T.irsnaki, and Wfl'ir.gton. The first mefting ii the Wellington Provincial sub-district was held at ill? Rechabite Hall. Manners Street, on Manday, when delegate; were present from Palmers!™ North, Wairnrapa. Lw?r lliitt, .Teduisonville, I'etone, Blenheim, and the city branches. The delegates lunched together at the "Ti/len," and then continued the business. The District Chief Ruler (Bro. W. .J. Gauclin), in his opening address, welcomed the various delegates, and hoped the gathering would be pleasant and profitable to all, and make for the progress of the Order. Bro. T. Fathers introduced the business. The election of oTrieers was token first, and resulted as follow;— Provincial chief ruler, Bro.' S. J. Munroe fPalmorston North); provincial deputy ruler, Bro. W. J. Gaudin (Wellington); provincial superintendent juvenile Tents, Bro. H. Hayward (Petone); provincial superintendent female branches, Sister 11. Lodge (Wellington); provincial secretary and treasurer, Bro. E. E. Morgan (Palmerston North). Bro. Munroe, upon assuming office, thanked the meeting for electing him the first chief ruler of the sub-district, and expressed the opinion that the new method of meetings would tend to strengthen the Order, and improve the good fellowship that Rechnbitism is noted for. In a general review of the position of the Order, tho chairman referred to the world-wide operations of the brotherhood and the recent advanced legislation of the High Moveable Conference held at Sonthport, England, in August, by which members of the overseas districts will now be able to participate in the benefits of tho Rcchabite Order's insurance and endowment fumK The benefits of these funds are as follow: — Insurance fund, ,£5 to ,£390 in case of death; endowment fund, sums from JKS to .£2OO. To be drawn at age r.f 40, -15, 50, .*>, CO, or 65, or earlier in case nf death. Members entitled to full benefit on paying first ruiarterly payment.

Th 3 speaker pointed out the benefits to members by insuring in the Order. Reference was also made to the adoption of the univfr-nl clearance value table by the Order, under which members removing to any part of the world may cintinue to pay the same contributions and receive ttie same benefits as in the country they left.

In the report of the seventy-sixth Annual High Moveable Conference of the Independent Order of Rerhabites, held at Southport, England, wo find flie folioivi'lsr: —Xumbor of member?, December. lftlO. 553.588: number of mr-inhers last conference, 515,115; increase. 3-5.171. The following colonial districts have special mention for the increase of adult members during the p?ricd-.—Victoria, 080 ; New Zealand Central. Sl3; South Australia. 055; Xew South Wale?. 555. The report aimauiices a t:ta.l increase of 322,375 ni-embers in twenty yfars. Funds at January Ist, 1010. .C2,111,ISO; income for year, -£537,450; total, ■£2,051.936. Payments—Sick benefits, .£179,^59; accident benefits. 5 £25,033; medical aid, <£'51.f>s3; funeral benefits, .C 25.543; special benefits, .fc,7LO7S; deposit refunded, ,£5020; management expenses. ,£61),4°0; total payments. .C39iV!?2: funds. Dccerab;r. mio", .£2,254.453; total. ,£"2,051,930Funds. 1910, .£2,254,453; funds. 190!), ■£2.114,486; increase for the year. ,£1.39,967. The. order has now G730 branches. The representatives frcm -abroad attending the conference included Bros. James Goer and Flyger, of Wellington, Xew Zealand.

The order continues to make substantial progress in the Wellington sub-dis-trict. During the year a. new Tent has been opened at Ivilbirnio. and a juvenile branch in the city, making five adult end three juvenile branches actively worlcinjt in the city. also adult and juvenile branches at John'onvilln and Petone, and the comparatively new Tent at Lower Hutl. Branches are also working succrssfully at Carterton. Masterton. Pahiatua. Lovin. e.nd e.dult and juvenile branches at Palmerston Xorth. The Trov. Chief Ruler. as a country member," eulogised the. systematic efforts on tlio part of the members to increase tho membership of the Order, autl loped for greater prepress in the future. The ot!:er ncivlv-e'.ected officers briefly returned thanks. A question that invoked a lengthy discussion was-the new rate of contributions, every delegate expressing some opinion, the 'Masterton delegates opposing the method adopted in printing the same. The following resolution was eventually carried: "That this sub-district meeting endorses the action of the district executive in printing in the naw rulos'the now scale of contributions, and suggests that it. takes effcct from January 1, 101'.'." Bright, crisp, interesting reports were given bv del-gates of the conditions and future "prospects of their respective branches, two weak spots were considered, and explanations offered. Places were brought under review where efforts are to be made to open new Tents. Tbo afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing the report cf the recent. Australasian Rechabite Conferenco held at Melbourne, where representatives from Engtand. Xew Zealand, and Australia discussed the question of forming an Australasian High Court of tho Order. This discussion was eventually adjourned till the next meeting of the sub-district. The next meeting of the sub-district will be held at Masterton on King's Birthday, Juno 3 usxt, whan it is hoped thai even greater progress will bo reported bv the delegates, as owing to tho fact cf tlio new benefits being placed almost immediately into operation a largo addition to the membership is looked forj ward to-