COURT EXCELSIOR, A.O.F.

Evening Star, Issue 22577, 19 February 1937, Page 11

COURT EXCELSIOR, A.O.F.

DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS The diamond jubilee meeting of Court Excelsior, No. 6,128, was held in the Mornington School Hall. The Chief Ranger, Bro. G. D. Hay, presided over a gathering of 160 .Foresters, a striking contrast to when on the first meeting of the court 60 years ago, C. Bro. T. Ireland presided over a meeting of 11 members. To-day the court’s membership has reached the total of 323. Official visits were paid by the District Executive and the following courts :—Queen of Green Island, Woodland’s Pride, King Edward’s Pride, Pride of the Leith, Pride of Green Island, Pride of Dunedin, Littlejohn, St. Andrew’s, and Enterprise, while the following courts sent letters of congratulations:—Queen of the Molyneux, Marion, Molyneux, Pride of Waitaki, Southern Star, Pride of Oaraaru, Bruce, Queen of the South, Star of the Forest, Southern, Pride of Gore, and Royal Oak. Similar, letters were also received from D.C.R. Bro. B. T. Eastlake (Invercargill), P.C.R. Bro. Wm. Bridges, P.D.C.R. Bro. Chas. W. Patton, P.D.C.R. Bro. Jas. E. Olsen .(Port Chalmers), P.C.R. Bro. F. H. Hall (Oamaru), P.C.R. Bro. William Q. Kewish (Auckland), and P.C.R. Bro. Robt. Rutherford. The secretary read the minutes of the first meeting and called the roll of brothers of 30 years’ standing and over, revealing that six over 50 years, 20 over 40 years, and 42 over 30 years still maintained their membership. The oldest member in attendance was P.C.R. Bro. R. Jackson. The usual toasts were given and responded to by the following:—“Older Members,” P.C.R. Bro. F. B. Smith (1883), “ District Executive,’’ D. Bro. A. Gibson, and “ The Visitors,” by representatives of the various courts. After the meeting supper was partaken of, followed by a dance. On Sunday last a _ church parade, headed by the Kaikorai Band, was held in the Mornington Methodist Church, the Rev. D. O. Williams, M.A., preaching a very appropriate sermon from Romans XII., verses 4-5, and embodying the words “ Unity, Benevolence, and Concord.”'-