DRUIDISM

Evening Star, Issue 22895, 1 March 1938, Page 11

DRUIDISM

Otago Lodge met on Monday evening last, when Arch Druid Bro. Davies presided over a largo attendance oi members. Being quarter night a considerable amount of business was transacted, and correspondence included several cheerful letters from members on the sick list. A cordial invitation from the Royal Arch Chapter and the Valley Lodge, also a long newsy letter from Bro. Kilgour in Australia, were received. District President _ Bro. Shepherd paid his last official visit, received a true Druidic welcome, and in reply to his toast delivered a most interesting address on the lodges under his jurisdiction, giving members some helpful suggestions for the coming year. Bro. Davies reported on the visit to»All Nations Lodge, and afterwards appointed Bro. Harbour to take control of next meeting, being the P.A. night. After supper a social hour was spent, and Bro. Le_ Brun (Mornington) replied to the visitors’ toast.

A.D. Bro. M'Fadyen occupied the chair at the quarterly meeting of the Pride of Morning ton Lodge, which was well attended. The district president, Bro. T, Clarke, was present, and received a warm welcome. The bards’ report disclosed an unusual amount of sickness among the brethren. Reference was made by several members to the loss sustained by the friendly society movement in the district by the death of P.C.R. Bro. Simmons, of Court Excelsior, A.O.F. The secretary was instructed to convey the lodge’s regrets to Court Excelsior, and also to extend the sympathy of members to R.A. Bro. Tait in his bereavement. In accordance with the syllabus, the older members later occupied the chairs, Bros. Jelley, John Sinclair, and Esplin presiding in turn. Arrangements were put in hand for entertaining West Harbour Lodge at next meeting. The item for the evening will be progressive euchre, and members of sister lodges aro cordially invited. * Bay Lodge No. 18 met on Monday, February 21, in the Masonic Hall, St. Hilda, when a very large attendance of members was presided over by Arch Druid Bro. J. Johnston. Past District President Bro. W. Mitchell, of Reefton Lodge, No. 41, was a welcome visitor. The correspondence included the Grand Lodge order paper, which was handled by Bros. D. A. Young and J. A. Metcalf. The amendment to rules was dealt with at length, and the delegate instructed. One new member was admitted and a further proposition announced. Sick pay and accounts to the sum of £llß 2s were passed for payment. Replying to the toast of ‘ The Visitors," P.D.P. Bro. Mitchell, of Reefton Lodge, No, 41, thanked the lodge for the reception given to him and for the pleasant evening spent. Bro. H. J. Partel responded to the toast of the newly-initiated brother in a very neat speech. Supper was served and the lodge stood adjourned to March 7. A.D. Bro. Bungard presided over a good attendance of members at the quarterly meeting of All Nations’ Lodge, when there was a large muster from the lodges in Nos. 1 and 2 districts, and the Royal Arch Chapter. Grand Lodge was represented by I.P.G.P. Bro. T. Johnston, Grand Secretary Bro. W. B. Steel, G. G. Bro. A. J. Hinton, and P.D.P. Bro. H. Brockie, board of management. D.P. Bro. Shepherd paid an official visit. A considerable amount of business was transacted, and on© candidate initiated into the rites of Drindism by a team from the visitors. The special feature of the evening being to do honour to P.A. Bro. Craig on the attainment of his jubilee in Drmdism. P.D.P. Bro. Shepherd took the chair, and proposed the toast, of 11 The Ring and the Druids.” P.D.P. Bro. H. C. Reeves proposed the toast to the Grand Lodge, pointing out the amount of time taken up in visiting the various lodges and conducting the affairs of the order. I. Bro. T. Johnston replied, thanking the members . and assuring, them that it was a labour of love and apologising for the absence of other Grand Lodge officers. The toast to “ Our Guest ” was introduced by the secretary (P.G.P. Bro. C. W. Jacobson) who referred to Bro. Craig s long association, with the lodge, been initiated in 1888, and had filled almost every office, and had passed through the Arch Druid’s chair three times, and was on the Board of Management for a term. But it was chiefly as A.D. bard that lie rendered many years of faithful service. Bro. Jacobson then called on Grand Secretary Bro. W. B. Steel, who eulogised the services of the veteran, pointing out the value of the untiring efforts of the member and urging others to follow in his steps. Bro. Steel then presented Bro, Craig with a Loewe pipe in a case, assuring him that it carried with it the congratulations and goodwill of all the members. The toast was received with musical honours, after which Bro. Craig feelingly responded. The toast to the D.P. was proposed by P.D.P. Bro J. L. Walker, and replied to by D.P Bro. H. Shepherd. P.A. Bro. M. Johnson then proposed the toast to the visitors. Supper was served, and n pleasant evening was dosed in time for the visitors to catch the last train.