FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 103, 29 October 1900, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

YESTERDAY'S DEMONSTRATION. "The stormy winds did blow" with a vengeance yesterday afternoon, but nevertheless v. large number of enthusiastic processionists and spectators assembled in front of the General Post Office to take part in or witness the annual demonstration of the Wellington Friendly Societies in aid of thek Jubilee Orphaiige scheme. Though everything seemed, dead against them the societies formed up in good force, and at 2. 50 p.m. to the martial strains of the Garrison, City, Nowtown, and Salvation Army Bands, made their way through the dust and: gale to the Basin Reserve. At the Basin Reserve Mr-. J. Kershaw, District Corresponding- Secretary of the ! Manchester Unity Oddfellows, gave a short address as to the object of the gathering, and also enlarged iipon the good work done by the friendly societies. ■The Rev. W. A. Evans congratulated those present on what he considered amagnificent gathering under the then conditions. He showedi that aa far back as three hundred yearß before Christ, a friendly society existed at Athens, practically on all fours with the sooieties of our own day. The great friendly societies of to-day were Supposed to have had • their origin about the close of the last century. The idea, underlying the movement was the recognition of the fact that it is infinitely better for a man to stand upon his own' legs than to depend upon any one else for support. At tho beginning of the century poverty had developed to a great extent in England, and State aid was called in. The ' friendly societies came forward and said that it was ndt in State aid that the true welfare and well-being of the people was to be 'found, but vathev in binding themselves 'together for mutual benefit and help. It seemed to him that that was the constructive element in all the friendly societies since' that day. The friendly societies had assisted largely in tno de* pauperisation of England. The speaker concluded an interesting address by expressing the hope that people would come forward and assist with their subscriptions the establishment of the n,ew orphanage. Mr. > James Mackay, President of the Friendly Societies' Council, thanked those present for their attendance, and informed them of the intention to hold a similar demonstration at Petone in the third week of next month. Among those present were Messrs. T. M'Kenzie, P.P.G.M., of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows, and D. T. Smith, P.D.0.R., of the Foresters, the veterans of their respective orders in. this district.