M.U. ODDFELLOWS TO MARK JUBILEE DY SPECIAL FUNCTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23082, 21 October 1949, Page 4

M.U. ODDFELLOWS TO MARK JUBILEE DY SPECIAL FUNCTION

][VIEBT of the friendly societies to establish itself in Gisborne, } Loyal Gisborne Lodge, M.U.0.0 will celj-rate its seventyfifth anniversary tomorrow with appropriate functions at which many visitors from other parts of the Dominion will be entertained. The lodge was opened on October 28, 1874, and the 75 years’ period will not actually be completed for another week, tomorrow’s date having been chosen for the celebration to avoid a clash with the annual Gisborne Show.

One of a number of local institutions which found their l’eet almost before the dust of the Te Kooti troubles had settled, Loyal Gisborne Lodge owed its inception largely to the energy of the late Mr. John Warren, then engaged in the building industry and but recently settled in the Gisborne district.

Mr. Warren was a member of the Imyal Parnell Lodge, and interested a number of his associates in this district in the formation of a branch of the already widespread M.U.O-O.F. The community was not strong in population, for Gisborne was then still under the cloud left by the massacre, and re-population had been slow after the liquidation of a substantial portion of the community in 1863. The First Candidates Nine candidates presented themselves, however, and they represented a cross-section of the infant town, the names and occupations being: Patrick Cosgrove, bootmaker; Charles Wilkie, labourer; James Tangley, carpenter; Frank Dawson, plumber; Alfred Stevens, builder; Samuel Johnson, labourer; John Mogridge, printer; Francis J. Piesse, photographer; and W. H. Steele, cabinet-maker. Of this band of nine on whose efforts the success of the lodge was founded, Mr. John Mogridge survived until recently and from his home in Marton made occasional visits to his old lodge. Acting on the authority of the district grand master, Mr. T. Hobson, Mr. John Warren conducted the installation of Mr. W. H. Steele as the first noble grand of the new lodge, with Mr. F. J. Piesse as vice-grand, and also occupying the post of treasurer. The first trustees of the lodge were elected later, and comprised Messrs. David T. Miller, W. H. Steele and John Brodie. The continued isolation of Gisborne at that time raised serious difficulties in regard to medical service for members of the new lodge, who had successively but for short periods the services of Dr. Nisbett, at that time Resident Magistrate. Dr. George Percy, and .Dr. Jackson. In 1878, however, Dr. H. Pollen came to Gisborne and in order to retain his services the lodge arranged for the payment of a guaranteed minimum yearly salary. The financial burden was too great for the lodge to bear alone, but Mr. Warren, who had undertaken the office of secretary, called on the assistance of other residents with success.

In the first stages of its history the lodge met in the Masonic Hotel, but later it had several other temporary homes, including the Bright Street Methodist Church, which for many years was one of the principal centres

of social activity in the town. Townley’s Hall, in Gladstone Road, was another meeting-place, and in 1382 the Loyal Gisborne Lodge obtained a lease of the Good Templars’ Hall in Bright Street. About the same time a section was purchased in Gladstone Road for the lodge’s own permanent home, at a cost of £BO.

Financial strength of the lodge was somewhat strained in that period, the funds having made only a slow recovery from a siege suffered in 1879 and 1880, when a large number of members were stricken in the course of one of the periodic outbreaks of fever which raged in the district during its early European history. Possession of the Gladstone Road section opened up no immediate prospect of building, and the lodge entered Into a lease with the Salvation Army for 10 years. When this term expired the Salvation Army sought a renewal with a right of purchase, and eventually the section passed to the Army at a price of £3OO.

By 1889, the finances of the lodge were in better shape, and that year was a good one, not a single member being obliged to draw sick benefits. Investments had been building up. and one of the mortgages held by the trustees bore interest at the rate of 10 per cent. By this time the late Mr. C. H. Ambridge had taken over the post of treasurer, and his flair for lodge finance quickly made itself felt. Later he was elected secretary, and held that post until his death in recent years. Junior Lodge Established An early effort to establish a junior lodge had an immediate success, its initiation in 1894 bringing in 30 members from 12 years upwards in age. One of the most active presidents of this group was Mr. P. Schwabe, who with several others continued their membership in the senior lodge after the first venture in the junior field had failed. Never lacking able men to conduct its affairs. the organisation was subject to many factors influencing membership, which fluctuated from time to time, but never seriously lost ground.

.One of the red-letter days in the history of the lodge was that which brought , the decision to admit

female members into adult lodges throughout the This step, taken in 1920. proved of outstanding benefit and those admitted as sisters quicklv began to make their presence felt, particularly on the social side, and in later years many offered themselves for office in the lodge. i

Loyal Gisborne Lodge stood well with the Auckland district organisation. which supported several of its members in their aspirations to serve the order in its higher branches. Messrs. C. H. Ambridge and C. Perry both held the office of district grand master, and Mr. Ambridge was for a number of vears a director of the New Zealand Society, with excellent prospects of becoming grand master for New Zealand when family illness forced his retirement. Today the lodge continues to flourish, with members scattered in all parts of the Dominion and a strong local membership, enjoying the fruits of careful administration in the past, building new prosperity for the future. A juvenile lodge is playing a substantial part in the organisation, and social activities are a major concern of adult and juvenile members alike. It is of interest to note that the present noble grand, who will preside at tomorrow's celebrations, is Sister J E. Korte. a member only 19 years of ase who was the first noble grand of the junior lodge and subsequently was elected to office in the senior branch. Sister Korte is possibly the youngest, member to hold her present rank; among all the lodges of M.U.0.0.F. throughout New Zealand-