ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11153, 20 February 1899, Page 4

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

ANNUAL MEETING 1.0.0. F., M.U. The twenty-first annual meeting of the 'awke's Bay district was held at Waiawa oa Friday, when the -following , Blegates were present ■ — V.Q. Bl'O. H „. lillier, Clive ; P.i'.G.M. Bro. G. Love, "! tastings; P.P.G.M. Bro. S. T. Tong, a tastings ; P.G. Bro. G. Land, Hastings ; ?' !.M. Bro. V. Bartosh, Ormondville; ni '.P.G.M. Bro. M. Collett, Waipawa ; P.G. " iro. B. Waldrom, Waipawa ; G.M. Bro. " r. M. Eathbono, Waipawa; N.G. Bro. " V. J. Standley, Waipawa ; P.S. Bro. F. Sailey, Waipukurau ; N.G. Bro. J. Rich- Cl rdson, Meanee; N.G. Bro. S. White, P Japier; P.G. Bro. C. Emerson, Napier; '.P.G.M. Bro. T. Krogh, Napier; P.P.G.M. ° _ro. W. H. Cooper, Napier; P.G. Bro. D. ,I'lntyre, Danevirke; P.G. Bro. J. P. ' Vhite, Danevirke ; P.G. Bro. S. M'Phee, * ilaraekakaho ; P.G. Bro. A. Brooks, "Jtanovirke ,* S. Bro. F. Faram, Ruahine ; >.G. Bro. Molten, Woodville. * The chair was taken by the Provincial I >raud Master, Bro. R. Hislop, of Dane- I •irke, supported by P.P.G.M.'s Bros. < Collett and T. Krogh. The vice-ohair ' vas filled by P.P.G.M. Bro. W. G. Martin. 5 Bro. Faram was appointed secretary of ' ihe meeting. ' addeess. The Grand Master read the customary ' iddress. In this he showed the great ' progress made by the Order throughout :ho world, there being now 462 districts, .omprising 4698 lodges, and a membership of 925,110 members in all classes, with a total in all funds of .£9,783,020 19s i 3d. He regretted having not- been able i to visit the several lodges, which he con- i .idered was tho duty of the district ' officers. He gave a comparison between 1878 and 1898, showing a great progress. Thus, five lodges in Hawke's Bay had in- ; creased to 12 ; the number of members fom 327 to 923 ; the capital value from .£2613 to .£21,989: the sick pay for the year from £119 to -5799; and the funeral donations ftom i.30 to .£l3O. He regretted that so many secessions should take place, and urged that the byelaw requiring the reading out names of members out of compliance should be read out every night before closing, which, if regularly done, members would be reminded and pay in to keep themselves in benefit. Many had been struck off that had boen yoars in the Order ; no reason for this was known, but it must be through carelessness in numerous cases. He suggested setting up a commitcee in each Lodge to visit and make inquiries in all such cases, and assist when necessary from the Benevolent Fund. He was sorry that at last meeting the delegates repealed the superannuation scheme, being of opinion that all that was required was to abolish the compulsory part of it. The establishment of juvenile lodges in this district must be taken in hand shortly, which would be a gain in every way to tbem. He felt also that brethren should be brought more in contact with one another, and the time was ripe to organise an annual moveable demonstration of the Order, and he asked them to consider it. He noticed that the balances of the management funds were low, and advised more caie over the expenditure. Among other expenses that might be abolished was granting framed emblems to P.G.'s. The report of the Friendly Austral Fidelity Guarantee was most satisfactory; the system was far better than a personal guarantee, and it was very gratifying that so many lodges have insured with it. He then referred to the business of the meeting, and thanked the officers for valuable advice and assistance. On the motion of Bros. T. Krogh and Collett the thanks of the meeting were accorded to the Provincial Grand Master for his address. MANAQEMENr REPORT. Provincial Corresponding Secretary Bro. Fielder read the report of the district management committee. Bros. Collett and Krogh moved a hearty vote of thanks to Corresponding Secretary Bro. Fielder for the trouble he had taken in preparing the report. — Carried. The report was adopted, and the accounts of the several funds were laid on the table and taken as read. The auditors' report was very satisfactory. sick and funeral fund. Bros. Motley and Love moved *. — " That with a view to allow members who were initiated prior to 1898 to obtain benefits in accordance with the scale as adopted in schedule No. 8 at the last district meeting, it be an instruction to the district management committee to obtain actuarial information as to the amounts such members ought to pay to the sick and funeral fund of their respective lodges for the purpose of obtaining suoh benefits." The motion caused considerable discussion, and was ultimately carried. LODGE BOOK Bros. . Cooper and Krogh moved ; — "That two competent members of the Order be appointed to act together as lodge book examiners, their duties and powers to be in accordance with general rule No. 41, 1898 edition, with the exception of the substitution of * a year ' in lieu of 'in two years' in the second line of paragraph 2 of said general rule. An amendment was carried to strike out the words " togother," and the motion was then carried, — Afterwards the matter was reoonsidered, and the motion was struck out. The report of the lodge book examiner was read and adopted. LEVIES. The following levies for district funds were passed : — 3d for general fund and id for management for half-year. NEXT MEETING. It was decided to hold the next meeting at Napier. OFFICERS. Bro. W. G. Martin, D.P.G.M., of Loyal Hastings Lodge, was elected P.G.M., and returned thanks ; Bro. D. M'lntyre, P.G., Danevirke, was elected D.P.G.M. ; Bros. J. P. Williamson, P.G., H. Bull, and W. H. Cooper, of Napier, were appointed auditors. Bro. Rowe Fennell, of Woodville, was re-elected examiner of lodge books ; Bro, Cooper, P.P.G.M., was elected installing master ; P.C.S. Bro. Fielder was appointed certifying officer re interest management fund of lodges ; and P.G. Bro. C. Emertori member of the district management committee.