DRUIDISM. EXCELSIOR LODGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1908, Page 2

DRUIDISM. EXCELSIOR LODGE.

PIONEER LODGE OF THE NORTH ISLAND. GROWTH OF THE ORDER. The fortnightly meeting of the Excelsior Lodge, A.0.D., was nefd in tho Druids' Hali last night. Brotker Haugixton, Arch-Druid, presided, and tkera was a rooord attendance? of menbm present, including ten of tke original charter members. Bro. Alexander, J.P:, past president of tho Graad Lodj» «f New South Wales, was the. gnest of tho evening. Ten ue-w nwnnkers N weto iaitiatod. Bro. Alexander, on behalf of tho Ercclsior Lodge, presented Bro. Clifford with a handsome framed diploma and collar as a recognition of his service* to fhe lodge. Bro. Haughton, .on behalf of the lodge, presented x»ro. Al&ander, tvho was tho founder of the lodge, with- a framed enlarged photograph of himself suitably inscribed. In tho course of a brief address, iiro. Hanghton said that it was twenty years since Bro. Alexander was last in Wellington. • ' EXPANSION OF THZ OKDER. Bro. Alexander, in replying, roforwd at great length to the grorrth of Draidism in New Zealand, incidentally, ho referred to the pioneer lodgs at Christchurch which he formed in April 1876. He came to Wellington in 1878, and called a meeting at the old Fire Brigade room in Brandon-atr»st, which waalent for the occasion by tho lat« Captaia Lewin Moss. A second mwting was held two months later, when ifc was agreed to establish th« Excelsior Lodge. Thirty membfra frigned ths requisition, ajnoag them being Mews. F. Cohen, Hr Clnridge, la.anc Jackson, W. M'Loan, Ja« Perry, A. Seamer, J. Jennings, R. Yr.tfs, G. Spierlong, and himself, all these members were in attendance on tho present occasion. Application %vas made to the Victoria Grand Lodge for a dispensation, when G. S. Brennan wrote asking that ab Jpast fifty member* should sign the requisition. This number was soon obtained, and in due course Bro. J. J. Brennan, of Melbourne, arrived in Wellington. On tho 7th October, 1879, the Excelsior Lodge, No. 97 on tho Rrsiater of tha Grand Lodge of Au»tnlii«i%, was duly opened at tho lodge room in fhe old Fire Brigads Station, Manners-street. lsr. H. Alexander was the first Arch-Druid. In all socao 75 members were initiated, a proof even in those early days of the popularity of the society, a popularity that haa steadily increased as the number of lodges throughout Australia and Now Zealand testified. Mr. Alexander w;nt on to any that thirty years should pr«TA the stability ef th» lodjje, and whether it was sound or n#t. SuMeient answer to all adverse* criticism \raa found in the position of the lodge to- day, a«j disclosed in the last baldnce-gheet. Wkab other lodge in a frieadly society could show a credit balance of nearly £6000, after paying £6520 in sick pay, £6410 for doctors and n;edicin», and £2420 for death allowances? ' Prom figuroa supplied Tjy Dittrict Grand Secretary Grant he found that, whereas in 1879, at the foundation of Dnridism in the North Island there ■wn.s on© lodge with 75 members, there were now 67 lodges with a membership of A/w. In his opinion the social side of Druidism had mtrch to do with its present condition. He spoko from his experience of the Ord«r in Australia l. He confesesd that in tho matter of funeral allowances th* Now Zealand lodges were an object lesson to the resb of the world of Druidism. He was filled with amazement to find that ths society paid £120 AS death allowance immedistely a mettber joined. In New South Walrs £4U vrtts paid, and h» in frnd«d to study the question with a view to bringing it before the New South Wales Grand Lodge. SUGGESTED SUPREME GRAND LODGE. He referred lo tho desirability of «- Lsbli&hing a Supreme Grand Lodge, as the various States should be in closer touch, and in his opinion a Supreme Grand Lodge would bo the proper body to frame and carry out the necessary laws, particularly with regard to objecta of mutual interest which required to be legislated for. The present arrangements re clearances were far from satisfactory, and there were few matters of 'more vital importance than this, as so many people were travelling to andfro between Australia and Netr Zealand, and in his opinion a much nscre satisfactory system could be introdnced. M«*?bsrs shonld also bo able to obtain aeodicnl benftflts (without extra pay) when travelling. H« expressed surprise <hafc there ir*& no arch chapter in Wellington, as there shonld be ample scope- foy such a body. In New South Wales there were ov6r sixty lodges, with erery prospect of considerable addition whan the Friendly Societies Act was bronght up to dale. This number did not include fsHiale branches, of which there were four.t»«n. The funds amounted to about £15,000, and at the and of 1906 there were 7000 financial members. Daring the evening a musical programme was rendered by Bros. M'Elwain, Ross, Alexandra, Donavon, Th«mley, and Doyla.