ODDFELLOWSHIP

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 150, 21 March 1925, Page 7

ODDFELLOWSHIP

BIENNIAL CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Whangarei, March 20. The biennial conference of the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows resumed this afternoon, Grand Master M. S. Hooper presiding. Representatives of the Australasian Grand Lodge (Bros. L. D. Ritchie, A. H. Valentine, and F. Wilkinson" (Dunedin), G. Adams, D. R. Cooner, and W. J. Crooko (Auckland) officially visited the Grand Lodge in session. The Grand Master extended a cordial welcome and congratulated the Grand Treasurer (Bro. Ritchie) on his elevation to the executive of the Grand Lodge of Australasia. Bro. Ritchie suitably replied. Conference decided that a suitable badge of the society be issued by the Grand lodge to members at cost price, but negatived the motion to transfer the office of the Grand Lodge from Dunedin to Wellington. It was resolved that district deputies and grand masters be members of the board's control, ex officio. The Grand Master rnled that Rebekah members might become associate honorary members of another Rebekah lodge. A remit to print in leaflet form all the amendments of the constitution since 1922 was rejected, as was also the suggestion that distinction regalia be designed and provided for the executive officers and District Deputy Grand Masters. The Grand Lodge degree was conferred on Past Grands C. A. J. Winstone, K. Watson, G. Kennedy, and G. G. Carpenter. The sessions will continue until late to-night, and conclude on Saturday. The delegates to the Australasian Conference to represent New Zealand in Melbourne in 1926 were elected ns follow-. —L. D. Ritchie (Dunedin), D. R. Cooper (Auckland), A. H. Valentine (Dunedin), M. J. Hooper (Auckland), W. Simmons (Christchurch). T. Adams (Auckland), C. ,T. Talbot (Canterbury), and D. F. Smiliie (Palmerston North) alternative H*pro«entative. '