ODDFELLOWS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1927, Page 10

ODDFELLOWS

BIENOTAL CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") N, The 49n^F ISX, C, HT5 ICH> Th* Day. '1 of the TO Veable Bi^nial Conference W 11 % -i O.-1- was oPened iv RidgW Hal 1, Chnstchurch, this moraine Bro T> T>" dn Master Afor New Zealand. Bio. D. R. Cooper Auckland) presided swMsas.*rfs-»tt- ß--^ortli) I. Wilkinson, Grand Secretary (Dunedm); L. Deans Ritchie, Sd Treasurer (Dunedm); M. J. Hooper D Grand Master (Auckland); J. M'Cmlough: wand Chaplain (Christchurch) • V S wxTOld' J? raud Marshall (Auckland); H* £• Grand Guardian (HamOton); G. I. Rudkin Grand Herald (Wellington). Representatives: Bros. W. Smith (DunTdm)> %r ,G' Adams (Auckland), F. J. Jones (Wellington) A. Guy (Auckland) J. J. Mansell (Bulls), A. H. Woods (Whangarei), C. D. Muirhead (Gisborne), W 7f -5? ec? (°P°tiki). A. E. Mathesoa (lei ding) A R Goss (Napier); R.Sch- *.? V^' "^ Christiansen (Kaitaia), R, 1. Aitken (Stratford), H. J. Clark (Timaru), G. A. Bolten (Dunedin), W Kit Pat™k (Dunedin), G. F. Fowke (Ashburton), C. D. M'Connell (Mataura) f 6 Somerville (Balclutha), C. H. Rintoui (Christchurch), A. Wilson (Oamaru), D. Brown (Drummond), J. Young (Teinuka), W. Greenslade (Chnstchurch), W. D Anderson (kelson), F. W. M'Donald (Bluff),J. Robertson (Invercargill), W. F. Crooke minute secretary (Auckland). In his report, the Grand Master mada teeling reference to the great loss sustained by the society, owing to the death of the late Grand Secretary, Bro. Wm. Reid (Dunedm), who had, prior to his retirement, attended every' Grand Lodge Conference since 1876, and held office continuously for 47 years. "This Grand Old Mart of .Oddfellowship" had, by his life and service, set a high example to the younger generations. A fund had been subscribed from brethren all over the Dominion,for. the erection of a monument to hia memory in Dunedin. Reference was also made to the faithful service performed by the late Bro. Louis Kemnitz, who was Senior Grand Lodge Trustee for many years (also of Dunedin).

REMARKABLE PROGRESS. The report showed that during the past* two years, the society had made remark-! able progress, numerically and financially} surpassing all previous records of activityl, during any similar period since the incept tion of the 1.0.0. F. in New Zealand ii* 1862. Thirty-three new lodges had beeii opened in every province, bringing tha; total number of lodges in New Zealand up to 198. A pleasing feature of this activity was, that most of it was the out* come of the individual efforts of enthusiastic members performing a labour o£ love without much expense to the Grand Lodge. Ten male lodges had been opened by the supervisor. At the Australasian Grand Lodge Conference recently held in Melbourne, wheraj New Zealand was represented by Bix dele-, gates, the honour was accorded to our Dominion of having the greatest activity and- the largest increase in membership during the term, over the whole of the other jurisdictions of the 1.0.0. F. in th« Commonwealth. A further honour was conferred on a New Zealander for the first time for 21 years, when Bro. L. Deans Ritchie (Dunedin) was elected Deputy Grand Sire for the Grand Lodge of Australasia. " .. -

The Grand Lodge Executive recently re« ceived with regret the resignation of the, Dominion Supervisor, Bro. \V. • P: Crooka (Auckland), who has, during the six years of his appointment, established 51 new. lodges and introduced over 3000. member* into the order, creating much enthusiast throughout the society in New Zealand. A fine tribute was paid by the Grand Mastar to the whole Friendly Societies movement, which inculcated the habit o€ thrift in a brotherly manner amongst 91,000 New Zealanders. This feature was not always appreciated by the averaga tax-payer who did not come into contact with this philanthropic work. He thanked the sisters and brethren throughout News Zealand for their splendid co-operation',-which had made possible a wonderful re» cord and urged for a continuance, of thaf( loyalty and service in the cause of broth* erhood. The Grand Secretary, Bro. P. Wißrin« son (Dunedin) reported a nett gain ii< membership of 2707 (909 females and 1799 males), making a total of 15,935 (2830 fe* males and 13,305 males), showing an in* creale of 20.4 per cent. The sick and funeral fund had increased by £31,207, making a total of £224,037. Although the abnormal sick and funeral claims,' amounting to £25,450, exceeded the "Epidemic Period" record, the whole of this amount excepting £1500 was met out of the interest earned during the period, which may be considered highly satisfactory. The funds of the Society in New, Zealand totalled £234,260 at the 31st December. The Government valuation recently issued disclosed a surplus in the sick and funeral fund of £39,423. A' proportion of the invested funds of the order are distributed amongst members throughout the Dominion. The 1.0.0. F. membership for the world in 1925 was 2,637,661. The conference will sit during the whole of this week, as the "Agenda Paper" consists of 105 remits, dealing (inter alia)' with proposals for; the increase of the second sick benefits for members joining prior to 1923; the establishment of a "Central Medical Fund" for lodges in districts where medical contracts cannot be arranged; and the consideration of the ways and means for the establishment of a fund for "Odd Fellows Homes" in New: Zealand for aged oddfellowsj and the orphan children of oddfelloEV