MANCHESTER UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 11

MANCHESTER UNITY

ANNUAL MEETINGS The Loyal Centenary_ Lodge held its annual summoned meeting in the Wesley Street Hall, when there was a large attendance of members and visitors from the various city and suburban lodges. The N.G. (Bro. E. Harrison) presided, and extended a cordial welcome to the visitors, who included P.G.M. Bro. E. Longworth, P.D.G.M. Bro. L. Calvert, and P.P.G.M.s Bros. W. Ibbotson and E,. S. Black. The chief business was the election and installation of officers, the following being elected:—N.G., Bro. J. Moore; V.G., Bro. W. Russell; E.S., Bro. A. Norman; G.M., Bro. E. Harrison; warden, Bro. W. M‘Allan; guardian, Bro. G. Hebbard. These were installed by the P.G.M., assisted by the P.D.G.M. and visiting officers. The P.G.M. made reference to the fine attendance of visiting brethren, some of whom had assisted at a number of installations. Among these was P.P.G.M. Bro, W. Ibbotson, the senior past provincial grand master' of the order in Otago. Speaking to the newly-installed officers, the P.G.M. advised them to visit other lodges. This experience would be invaluable to them during their term of office. On behalf of the executive he extended best wishes and _ seasonal greetings. A number of visitors also conveyed congratulations from their respective lodges, and at the conclusion of the meeting those present were entertained to supper. • The N.G: (Bro. W. R. Smeaton) presided at the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Mosgiel Lodge, held at Mosgiel. There was a good muster of members and a number of visitors from city lodges, including the P.G.M. and the P.D.G.M., were welcomed. One new member was initiated and two propositions for membership received. The annual summoned meeting was then opened, and the following officers were installed for the ensuing term: —N.G., Bro. J. Plato; V.G., Bro. E. Lyall; E.S., Bro. J. Brown; warden, Bro. E. Gordon; guardian, Bro. H. Wright; G.M., Bro. W. R. Smeaton. The installation was conducted by the district officers, assisted by visitors from the Loyal Princess Mary, Centenary, Caversham, Albion, Prince of Wales, and Dunedin Lodges. It was decided to forward a letter to Past Permanent Secretary Bro. William Weir, conveying greetings from the lodge and expressing best wishes for his early recovery. During the evening opportunity was taken to bid farewell to P.G. Bro.' W. M. Park, who has been transferred to Oamaru. During his association with the local lodge Bro. Park has passed through the chairs and has given good service, and appreciative reference was made to his work. The next meeting of the lodge being set down for December 29, it was resolved to obtain the permission of the district executive to cancel this meeting and to resume on January 12. At the’ annual summoned meeting of the Loyal Valley Lodge, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Albany street, the following officers were elected for the next half-year;—N.G., Bro. S. E. Varcoe; V.G., Bro. ,G. S. Robertson; G.M., Bro. J. Swan; E.S., Bro. J. Scott; warden, Bro. J. MacDonald; guardian, Bro. W. Hogg. For the annual summoned meeting of the Loyal Caversham Lodge, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Forbury Corner, there was a large attendance of members, the N.G., Bro. A. J. Miller, m the chair. Considerable interest was taken in the election of officers, as was evident by the attendance of oyer seventy members, while visiting brethren brought the total attendance to over 100. Before proceeding with business sympathetic reference was made to the death of an old member, P.G. Bro. James Robertson, who was. prominent in the early history of the lodge, having passed through the chairs in 1886. Reference was also made to the passing of P.G. Bro. John Neill, who was for over fifty-one years closely connected with the Loyal Outram Lodge. It was decided to forward letters of sympathy to the relatives of the late brethren, and members stood in silence for a, few moments as a tribute to their memory. Under the ordinary meeting two new members wore initiated. The election of officers lias then hold, and the following were installed bv the. P.G.M. :—N.G., Bro. T. Smith; V.G., Bro. L. Esphn; E.S., Bro. V. Dixon; G.M., Bro. A. Miller; warden, Bro. G. Stevenson ; guardian Bro. J. Stevenson. For the office of permanent secretary, P.G. Bro. A. Rennie being the only nominee, was elected to the position. Bro Rennie was installed by P.G.s Bros. R. B. Hill

and P. J. Rendal (trustees). Bro. Hill stated that they all regretted the necessity for the appointment of a new secretary, none more so than Bro, Rennie, who had been closely associated with the late Bro. Souness. He was sure members had chosen a worthy officer; one who would give loyal and efficient service to the Caversham Lodge. In installing Bro. A. J. Miller as G.M., the P.G.M. paid a tribute;to his fine work during a strenuous period of office. During his term the lodge had held its jubilee celebrations, and this entailed considerable work for the chief officer of the lodge. The various functions had been a credit to all concerned, and would long be remembered by those who took part in them. The new officers w T ere accorded the Oddfellows’ toast, and made suitable response. The resignation of Bro. Rennie as treasurer was before the meeting, and it was decided to hold over the election of a successor until the adjourned summoned meeting on January 13, the rules requiring a new treasurer to be appointed within twenty-eight days. Prior to the conclusion of business the district officers and a number of visiting brethren spoke on behalf of their lodges, and tendered congratulations and seasonal greetings, which were reciprocated by the N.G. of the Caversham Lodge. The N.G. (Bro. H. A. Penny) presided over a large attendance of members at the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Albion Lodge, held on Thursday evening. There was also a fine muster of visiting brethren, all the, city ami suburban lodges being represented, while a visit was received from four members of the District Executive, headed by the P.G.M., Bro. E. Long-, worth. The annual summoned meeting was opened, and the following officers were electedN.G., Bro. B. Huntley * V.G., Bro. G. Potts; E.S., Bro. R. Stewart; G.M., Bro. H. Penny; warden, Bro. L. Anderson; guardian, Bro. O, A. Varcoe. The P.G.M. and the district officers, together .with visiting brethren, carried out the installation. The P.D.G.M., Bro. L.'Calvert, congratulated the N.G. elect, who was a past officer of the Loyal United Juvenile Lodge. Ho had gjven good service in both the Juvenile and Albion Lodges, and in the light of his previous experience should fill the position with credit to himself and the lodge. The various officers were congratulated on their appointments to office and suitably returned thanks. The secretary of the juvenile lodge reported that owing to heavv initial outlay on regalia, a deficit "would be shown on the year s working, and it was decided to donate the sum of £2 towards the lodge. The next meeting, set down for December 31, having been cancelled, the lodge was then adjourned for four weeks, ihe P. in acknowledging the toast ot “The District Executive, 5 ’ tendered his sincere thanks to all officers and brethren who had supported him so loyally during the many installations, of which the present was the hnal. He also thanked his colleagues on the executive for their assistance. At every installation he had conducted there had been keen competition for office, and this fact, together with the large attendances at the various meetings, augured well for the progress of the order in 1932, After briefly touching on executive matters, the P.G.M. tendered season’s greetings from the district officers. The P.D.G.M. and Bros. Hopcraft and Sligo also responded to the toast. ■