MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11889, 12 May 1899, Page 6

MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

The fortnightly meeting of the Juvenile Anchor Lodge of Druids was held in the Lodge-room, London Street, Woolston, on April 26, P.A. Bro Fraser in the chair. Tiro new members were initiated. The Lodge .then adjourned for harmony, when Bro Reeves, an old member, gave a party. Refreshments were served, and songs were contributed by Bros Lee, Fraser, Turner, Gow, Moses, Poppen, Biel, Rhodes and Spence; a hornpipe was given by Bro Gimblett and an Irish jig by Bro- Hopping. The Lodge was then closed by the A.D., Bro Rosewame. The weekly meeting of the Theosophical Society was held in the Lodge-room, Lichfield Street, on Sunday, when a lecture was given by Mr Trimble, .of Dunedin, on the Writings of Walt Whitman. The lecturer set forth the breadth and vigour of. the poet’s teachings, together with bis fidelity to Nature. The fortnightly meeting of the Naomi Rchekah Lodge of Oddfellows was held in the Orange Hall, Worcester Street, on Monday evening, Sistev Smart, N.G., presiding. There was a large attendance of members, and. visitors were received from the Olive Lodge, Addington. 1 One candidate was initiated into the Order and one Sister reported, sick. It was decided to pay an official visit to the Olive Lodge. An invitation to attend the presentation ceremony to the retiring D.D.G.M., Bro. Townsend, was accepted. A meeting of the Waikari Mutual! Improvement Society was held on Monday evening, Mr R, Darrooh, president, in the chair. The subject of debate was, “ Whether is the Farmer’s or the Mechanic’s Life the More Independent ? ” The Rev D. D. Rodger advocated the case of the mechanic, and Mr T. M’Dowell thfe case of the farmer. The following took part in the discussion .that followed ;-r-Mrs Blake, and Messrs Chisholm, Stout, Blake, Kepler and Darroch. When the vote "was taken it was seen that fourteen believed the farmer’s life was the more independent, whib nine recorded their votes in favour of the mechanic. ‘ ( The opening .jpeet-ing- of' the_ Tai Tape. Mutual .Tmprovcifieot Society'was -1 held on Monday evening, Mr J. Voss -occupying tho chair. ‘ Messrs' Rainey, J. F. Watson, R. Macartney ■ and J. Gilraour gave readings, which-’were criticised both as regards delivery and subject matter. The first meeting of the Church of England Temperance Society was held on Tuesday evening in St John’s Schoolroom, Latimer Square. The Rev H. G. M. Watson presided. Several interesting addresses were given, and a number of those present signed the pledge. The following were elected members of the committee: —Mrs H. Forwood, the Misses M. and E. Watson, F. Cameron and MTntosh, Messrs D. Kinnealy, I. H. Pentecost, D. Kincaid and T. Gordon, Mr J. E. Schneider (secretary) and Mr H. Forwood (treasurer) to- be ex officio members of the committee. The first meeting of the committee was held the same evening, and it was decided to have a temperance miagid lantern entertainment on Tuesday, May 23. The Papanui Mutual Improvement Society hold a meeting in the Wesleyan Schoolroom on Monday. The reading of the Society’s journal occupied the evening. A meeting of tho General Committee of the New Zealand Natives’ Association (Christchurch centre) was held on Wednesday; present —Messrs W. Reece (president), D. Bates, M. Denniston. T. Garrard, W. J. Poison' and P. H. Cowper. A number of new members were elected. The balancesheet of the Operatic Section was received, and adopted. Messrs Bates and. Poisonwere appointed a sub-committee to confer with the sub-committee appointed by the Operatic Sect’on concerning the question of a joint secretary for both Societies. The question of raising the annual subscription was discussed, and it was decided to make a ree mmendarton to the annual general meet nv on the matter. The report of the Entertainment Committee, dealing with the syllabus for-tho coming year, was received and adopted.