MANCHESTER UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 21091, 2 May 1932, Page 9

MANCHESTER UNITY

The Loyal Valley Lodge held its fortnightly meeting on Monday evening, when there was a large attendance of members and visiting brethren. In memory of fallen brethren the roll of honour was draped with the Union Jack and the emblem of the order, and at tho conclusion of a short business meeting the evening was devoted to the commemoration of Anzac. For this purpose the lodge was adjourned, and members and their lady friends were privileged to hear an address by the Rev. P. Cook. Taking as his subject, ‘ The Humour of the Digger,’ the speaker clearly demonstrated the wonderful spirit of humour which pervaded all ranks, even in the face of hardships and danger, and which helped them to endure many trials and tribulations. The speaker recounted many humorous incidents, and also told of the heroic deeds of our men, appealing to one and all to endeavour to uphold their glorious heritage. A hearty vote of thanks and appreciation was accorded Mr Cook for his address, and P.P.G.M. Bro. H. Russell, in conveying the thanks of members to the speaker, stated that those present were enabled to have a higher appreciation of the heroes of Anzac as a result of the address. During the evening Bro. M’Farlan© gave a pleasing rendering of Bracken’s ‘ Not Understood,’ and Bro. MacDonald sang Elgar's • Land of Hope and Glory.’ Among those present were the P.G.M. (Bro. L. Calvert) and P.D.G.M. (Bro. R. Jack). • Members and visitors were afterwards the guests of the lodge at supper. The ‘ Oddfellows’ Magazine ’ for March records the death of a wellknown member of the Manchester Unity, P.G.M. Bro. Amos Culpan. The late brother had a splendid record of service to Oddfellowship, and in 192930 was Grand Master of the order. Joining tho Fountain of Friendship Lodge at Halifax (Yorkshire) in 1893, within six months he took office. From then until his death Bro. Culpan was continuously in office, passing from the minor lodge offices to the highest office of the order. In 1912 he was elected provincial corresponding secretary of the Halifax district, which office he held for twenty years. From 1907 onwards Bro. Culpan represented his district at each A.M.C., and soon made a reputation for his intimate knowledge of the questions which came up for consideration. At Glasgow, in 1922, he was elected a director of tho order. Each year ho was re-elected to the board, until the Isle of Man A.M.C., in 1928, when he was unanimously elected De-puty-grand Master. At the Portsmouth A.M.C. of 1929 he was raised to the position of Grand Master of the order. At last year’s A.M.C. Bro. Culpan was re-elected a director at the head of the poll, a tribute by the deputies to the high position which he had won and the great work he had done for Oddfellowship. The Ministry of Healthy recognised his intimate knowledge of friendly society administration by his appointment to give instruction on the keeping of the registers in connection with the National Insurance Act. In addition to his friendly society activities Bro. Culpan was a member of several local bodies in his own city, and the widespread respect in which he was held in Halifax was shown by the many thousands of citizens who attended the iuneral.

The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Alosgiel Lodge was held on Tuesday evening, the N.G., Bro. J. Plato, presiding oyer a, good attendance of jnom-

bers. _ One candidate was initiated. A committee was set up to make arrangements for next lodge night, when the Loyal Victoria and Princess Mary Lodges have been invited to be present. The lodge adjourned to contest a card match with a team from the Mosgiel Fire Brigade. The N.G. extended a welcome to the visitors, who were the winners by a narrow margin. The visitors were afterwards entertained to supper, and, speaking on behalf of the firemen, Captain White returned thanks for a pleasant evening, and invited the lodge to play a return match at the Fire Station on May 5, the invitation being accepted. At the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Hand and Heart lodge, held in the M.U. Hall, Stuart street, on Tuesday evening, N.G. Bro. R. Sharp presided. A short business meeting was first held, during which two nominations for membership were received. The evening was then devoted to the commemoration of Anzac. An appropriate address was delivered by P.P.G.M. Bro. J. li. Hamel, with special reference to the many members who fell in action. A tribute to fallen brethren was paid by members standing in silence for a few moments. As a mark of respect, the meeting closed at an early hour. A recent issue of the London ‘ Times ’ contains a glowing tribute to the remarkable progress cf the friendly society movement in Great Britain, and to the spirit of self-dependence which animated the self-managed and self-governed friendly sDcieties. The National Conference of Friendly Societies has an aggregaie membership of nearly 10,000,000, with capital reserves of £100,000,000, ar.d, despite the industrial depression, these societies have maintained their position both financially and numerically. The point to be observed is that in relation to the capital, nine-tenths, «r £90,000,000, of the funds are, as it were, a general pool for the use of those members in need by sickness or distress. Further, these reserves are doing a valuable work in helping members to buy their own houses and in financing both Government .and municipal authorities in their undertakings. These are points which are not so wideß known, and in these days when the tendency is for individual' thrift the necessity for belonging to some sound friendly society exists.