LOYAL BRITANNIA LODGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2386, 16 February 1915, Page 6

LOYAL BRITANNIA LODGE

SEVENTY -SECOND ANNIVERSARY. A meeting of the Loyal Britannia Lodge of Oddfellows marked the seventysecond anniversary, of the institution of the Lodge, which was formed in Wellington on February 19, 1843. , In honour of the occasion visitors were present representing Rose of the Valley, Kilbirnie, Loyal Dunedin, North Canterbury District, Antipodean, and Combination Lodges.

Tho New Zealand Grand Master, Bro. John Smith, made some very interesting remarks about the early days of Oddfellowship,. and recalled how on many occasions steady members would walk as far as from Petone to visit neighbouring Lodges. P.P.G.M. Leslie, in recalling events of bygone days, vividly and humorously described the efforts of early members who reclaimed tho piece of Wellington Harbour and formed tho foundation 56 years ago upon which the present hall is standing. Bro. Jonn Kershaw road some very old records, giving the names of the leading spirits of tho city who in the days of Governor Brown assembled to honour the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Oddfellows' Hall. At the conclusion of the meeting refreshments worn handed round, and many and varied were tho jokes and rcminiscnnccs told by the old members, who recalled many incidents of the past.