ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIII, Issue 13714, 3 April 1905, Page 3

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

At the Grand Lodge sessions of the 1.0.0. F., A.C., held recently in Wellington, the grand secretary's report stated that since the last meeting in Auckland the Lodge had to mourn the death of the Grand Master, Bro Small, j who occupied the highest position the j Order in the colony's jurisdiction I could confer. Bro Wheeler, who was , a iigure-head in the 1.0.0. F. for over twenty years, had also passed away. He was one of the most strenuous workers in the earlier days, although for a number of years lie had taken no part in the work. He was elected G.M. on. three several occasions, presided at.the first meeting in Wellington, was largely instrumental in opening up the Auckland district, and did much to assist Star of Auckland Lodge in the struggles of its early days. At the first meeting of the Order held in Wellington in'lßßl, twelve lodges were represented, and of those who took part in the deliberations five have gone over to the majority, among them three Past Grand Masters, Bros Wheeler, Boyd and Naphtali. The total membership was then 794, and the total funds of Grand Lodge £2175. A comparison of the present membership and funds showed that while there hod been a large increase in both, it was probably not commensurate with the splendid advantages, social, intellectual and financial, offered by the Society. The causes that had mainlyoperated in the past 'against the expansion had disappeared, excepting that the Lodgo was still brought into unfair competition with societies not established on the same sound finaucial footing. In. •; submitting the twenty-seventh annual re- j port ho (the secretary) had to congratulate the representatives and'the Order on the fair, rate of pro- j gross, numerical and financial.' During the vear the funds of the Grand Lodge had "increased by £1294 Os lOd, of which funeral fund was credited for £llBB 19s 2d. The rate of mortality was, however,- gradually increasing, and would continue to increase with the increased ayeruge age of members. Ifc was pointed out that the interest on funeral fund more than paid the death claims, and the inference drawn was that rates of: contributions were too high. Actuarial investigation since the scales of clues were computed had not shown this to be tho case. Good and quick investment of the funds and favourable experience of mortality has been given credit for it. * Extension of the Order fund had suffered a diminution of £54 Os lOd. At the last session instructions had been given that old accounts owing by lodges" should as far as possible be cleared off. This had been done, as would be seen, in some cases,'but owing to the state of management accounts it had been left over in others until after the valuation just being completed had been submitted. An adjustment of inanage.ment funds would then be made by a transfer from surpluses declared, and debits to Grand Lodge paid oft'. The following was the state of the Order at the end of the financial year:—Lodges as per last report 40, since opened 1, lodges on roll 41; number of members as per last report 3012, initiated during year 396, admitted by clearance 17, reinstated 9, total 3434; withdrawn by clearance 15, . resigned 16, lost by : N.P.D. 164, deceased 11, expelled 1, total 207, actual number of members 3227. The gain in membership had been very evenly distributed, only two lodges showing a loss in membership. An analysis of the returns showed that receipts of Lodges were:—Contributions £8135 19s sd, admission fees £l6B 2s 6d, interest and rents' £1076 6s 4d, other sums £l6B 8s -Id, total £9598 10s 7d. There was an expenditure for medical management expenses of £4117 15s 2d, relief" (39 members) £149 12s Bd, sick- ■ ness £1825 lis lOd. The total assets of liodges at end of 1904 were £32,404 0s I 4d; total funds of Order, £48,780 10s I 7d. Tho sickness experience had been again heavy, totalling £1825 lis lOd, an increase on previous year £139 lis lid. I Although matters were looking bright I all over the jurisdiction, and there had been a gain in Lodges, there had been u good deal of discussion among other societies with regard to an amended Friendly Societies' Act. So far as the society was concerned there appeared to I be no'fault found with it generally, but members would welcome and support a clause on the lines of the Act or New South Wales, requiring that adequate scales of contributions, certified to by an actuary, should be submitted along with application to register. The matter of secession from Grand Lodge of Australasia had been brought up at last; session by the Grand Secretary. A voluminous correspondence had passed between Grand Sire Bro Fulton, D.G.S. liro Clarke, and Grand Secretary Bro J. K. Frank Grant in connection with the question. At that time the Lodge was practically' disfranchised by -the action of the Grand Lodge of Australasia, and there were other causes of dissatisfaction. Conditions had, however, improved. Excepting from a sentimental point of vie.w, there were no arguments against secession; the Lodge's relations with Australasia did not add one cubit to its stature, financially or otherwise, but it was probably as well to pause before taking so important a step.