DIAMOND JUBILEE

Evening Star, Issue 18736, 11 September 1924, Page 9

DIAMOND JUBILEE

COURT PRIDE OF LEITH, A.O.F. A RECORD GATHERING. The sixtieth annual meeting of Court Pride o£ the Leith, No. 3,992, A.0.F., was hold on Wednesday evening, when the accommodation at the George Street School Hall was overtaxed. There were 500 members and visitors present, and the gathering being the largest of the order held in the dominion. The chair was taken by the Acting C.R., Bro. H. C. Williamson, in the early stage of the proceedings, and later he vacated his seat lor the C.R., Bro. J. F. Burrows, who came specially from the Waikato to bo present. The preliminary business being completed, the following courts were welcomed :—Court Woodland’s Pride, Queen .of the South (Invercargill), Pride of Gore (Gore), Queen 'of Green Island, Marion (Mosgiel), Roxburgh, Prido of Green Island, Saint Andrew’s, Excelsior, _ Little John, Southern (Invercargill), Pride of Dunedin, and Enterprise. The D.C.R., Bro. 0. W. Patton, represented Court Star of the South (Invercargill). The' District Executive of tbo United Otago District, consisting of the D.0.H., Bro. C. W. Patton; 1.P.D.C.R., Bro. W. Wright; D.T., Bro. John Hope; D.S., Bro. J. K. Macfie; and D. 8., Bro. T. F. M’Natty, were also welcomed. P.D.C.R. Bro. R. Dixon, of the Wellington district, was also accorded a welcome. Nominations of officers for the next term were taken, and the election promises to be very keen. Nineteen new members were admitted, and one accepted by trana fer, and two honorary members were also admitted. Much enthusiasm was displayed on the announcement that the 710 membership mark had been reached. At the request of the C.R., the D.C.R., Bro. 0. W. Patton, presented the Williamson Membership Challenge Cup to the first winner for the last six months, Bro. W. W. Watt.

P.C.R. Bro.’ R. S. Vercoe stated that it was the intention of the members to honor •the secretary and treasurer for their splendid efforts, in the service of the court, which the members had decided to, leave until the diamond jubilee meeting, and ho called on P.D.C.R. Bro. John Robertson to band over the gifts of the members to the secretary (Bro. J. K. Macfie) and the treasurer (Bro. C. C. Robertson). In doing so, the speaker referred to their keen efforts to keep tho members up to the present lii’gh standard of efficiency and keenness in keeping the membership so high. On behalf of the court, ha asked them to accept handsome gold watches, suitably inscribed, with a case of pipes and tobacco pouch to each officer. The secretary and the treasurer thanked their fellow-members for their kind thoughts, which they said were valued as much’ uj the gifts. The recipients were received with musical honors.

The toast of the “ District Executive ” was responded to by the D.C.R., 1.P.D.C.R., and the District Secretary. The toast of the “ Visitors and the Juvenile Council ” was responded to by P.O.R. Bro. J. H. Reynolds (Court Little John), P.O.R. Bro. fe. Jefferson (Court Sahit Andrew’s), P.O.R. Bro. W. Bridges (Court Southern), P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Gillies, jun. (Court Enterprise), C.R. Bro. Mong (Court Pride of Dunedin), P.C.R. Bro. J. H. Benson (Court Pride of Green Island),' C.R. Sister R. Gibbs (Court Woodland’s Pride), P.C.R. Sister A. M'Neil (Court Queen of the South), P.C.R. Bro. A. J. Morrison (Court Excelsior), P.D.C.R. Bro. T. M‘Ahan (Court Queen of Green Island), Sister Tarrant (Court King Edward’s Pride), Sister L. Johnston (Court Pride of Gore), P.C.R. Bro. J. Ilaigii (Court Marion), and P.D.C.R. Bro, R. Dixon on behalf of the Wellington district. The president of the Juvenile Council, P.C.R. Sister G. F. Stevens, replied on behalf of the Juvenile Council.

All the speakers tendered their congratulations to Court Pride of the Leith on attaining its diamond jubilee and being now the largest branch of any society in the dominion. A feature of the meeting was the largo attendance of the olde* members, the oldest being Bro. Robert Shepherd, with over fifty years’ membership, followed closely by Bros. William Dickson and J. T. Hare, over forty-nine years’ membership; Eros. J. W. MTntyre and John Robertson, over forty-eight years’ membership: Bros. G. C. Fox, Jas, Simpson, and C. Smith, with over fortyseven years’ membership; and several more prominent active members whose membership came within the first thirty years’ existence of tho court. During tho meeting numerous letters and telegrams from members from all over the dominion, who were unable to be present, were read, while letters of congratulation were received from His Honor Bro. Justice Adams, P.D.C.R. Bro. R. C. Wilson, P.C.R'. Bro. L. Harley (Wyndham), and tho Leith Lodge, 1.0.0. F. A message of congratulation was received from the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge, MU., tho largest branch of that society in tho dominion. Tho diamond jubilee ball will bo held to-night at tho Art Gallery Hall.