MANCHESTER UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 17368, 2 June 1920, Page 10

MANCHESTER UNITY

f . : ♦- HONOR RETURNED BRETHREN. It was truly a great gathering in the Zarly Settlers' Hall last night, and the jnost impressive moment -was when the 650 Oddfellows stood in reverent silence ■while P.P.G.M. Bro. J. Briggs sounded the ' Last Post' in memory of the 183 members of the Order in the Otago .District who have not come back. Of those present at the social 350 were returned soldiers, representing the 1,200 M.U. Oddfellows of the Otago District who joined the colors. The whole meeting was most inspiring, and the arrangements reflected credit on the joint secretaries, P.P.G.M.s Bros. A. Sligo and W. Sullivan. P.G.M. Bro. C. H. Russell made an ideal chairman, and with him on the platform were his associate officers, a doasen or so P.P.G.M-s, the Mayor (Mr W. Begg), and Mr C. E. Statham and Bro. T. K. Sidey, M.P.s. The proceedings opened with the loyal toast, the National Anthem being sung ae became a party of loyal citizens, most of . whom had_ been soldiers, and after the \ above-mentioned tribute had been paid to those soldier members who had "gone west," the meeting settled down to a long list of _ toasts and responses, interspersed with" items of merit by reciters and singers. The main .toast, " Our Returned Soldier Brethren,*' was proposed by Per. Sec. Bro. Jas. Brown. He said the social •was tendered to them in appreciation of , their services at a time of great national peril, and the Otago District rejoiced that eo many of them had survived tho perils and hardships of the conflict, and made a safe return to civil life. ,Of those who had not come back he could not trust himself to say much, beyond that their names would he cherished on a Toll of ; honor in every lodge room, where they ' should and would serve as an incentive to every member to do his duty (both as an Oddfellow and a citizen. One thing was very certain : Nothing would be left ■undone to assist those soldier brethren who had come back maimed and in distress. Appreciative replies were made to the toast by Maior W. Fleming, Captain J. Smeaton, and Jenkins (Tapanui). P.P.G.M. Bro. R. S. Black mode a ' stirring speech in proposing the toast of "The Navy, Army, and Volunteers," and eulogised the splendid work of all ranks recent struggle, and which bore the endorsement of Home and allied officers of the highest rank. P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Crawford fittingly acknowledged the toast. Other toasts honored were " The Manchester Unity,'' proposed by P.G. Bro. 0. Grater, and' replied, to b*y the chairman; "The Ladies" (more especially war workers, and wives, mothers, sisters, and sweethearts of soldiers), proposed by P.C.S. Bro. J. A. Hopcraft, and responded to by. P.P.G.M.' Bro. F. W. Knight; "Parliament and Local Authority," pro- . posed by P.T.. Bro. J. H. F. Hamel in a speech a model for brevity, and acknowledged by the Mayor and tho two members of Parliament present; "Kindred Societies," proposed by P.P.G.M. Bro. F. Calvert in a humorous speech, and brotherly acknowledged by Mr L. D. Ritchie; and "The Press,' ; ibv PP.G.M. Bro. G. Coughlan. The programme was contributed to by Mcsbts 0. C. Scott, J. Leech, R. Bryant. A. Maitland, J. Deaker, and Russell, and a double quartet party gave a couple of glees in fine, style. With Mr C. A. Martin at the piano, Mr J. Kroon as caterer, and a fine feeling of brotherliness throughout, nothing was lacking to make the function a. distinct success. As the chair- . man put it, it was the largest and happiest M.U. meeting ever held in the district.