OHDFELLOWSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15557, 6 March 1911, Page 2

OHDFELLOWSHIP.

ASHLEY DISTRICT, The thirty-first annual meeting of the Ashley District of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, was held at Ranglora on Saturday. The officers present were Prow. G-M., Brother B. J. Archer; D.P.G.M., Brother G. R, Holton; Prov. 0.5., Brother 0. L Jennings ; and_ tyler, P.G. Brother Jones. The following delegates attended:— Rangiora Lodge, Brothers J. Marshall, 0. W. Bell, R. J. Thompson, T. Hills and W. J. Doggett; Nil Desperandum, Brothers L Morris, G. Smith and C. Zimmerman; Oxford, Brothers J, R. Youugman and B. 0. Barges; Oust, Brothers H. Tallott and F, W. Early) Ohoka, Brothers IV. A. Kelohor and G. A. Bell; Woodend, Brothers A. Bramley and 0. Hewitt: Amberley, Brothers G. A, Wornall, J, J, Smith and H. Martin; Waiau, Brother H. 0. Oettli; Leithfiald, Brothers G. A. M’Lean and D. Palmer; .Waikari. Brother G. W. Sellars.

The Grand Master, in his opening address, referred to the oentenarv of the Order and the jubilee of the RanE'ora Lodge, celebrated in October st, also to the satisfactory financial condition of the Ashley district and to the prosperity of the Order in general. A hearty welcome was extended to the delegate from Waiau, this being the first occasion on which the Lodge had been represented at> a district meeting. P.G.M, Brother Marshall referred to the death of P.P.G.M, Brother Kent, of the North Canterbury district, who had been a regular and welcome visitor at the Ashley distriot meeting for many years, and regret was recorded at his death, and appreciation of his long and valuable services to the Order in Canterbury. The O.S. wrote that the central finance fund had been inaugurated as from January 1. The centenary celebration balanee sheet was read, showing receipts £6O 8s and expenditure £64 I2s 2d, leaving a deficiency of £4 4s 2d, which hod been paid out of the distriot management fund.

Rteports were received from the Ranfurlv, Huia and Excelsior Lodges of Past Grands to the effect that during the past year the purple degree had been conferred on twenty-three Past Grands. The balance sheet of the district showed the funeral fund to have a credit balance of £I3OB 8s 2d, distress fund £l6O 13s 9d, management fund £33 19s sd, and value or goods £SB, making a total of £1561 Is 43, of which £1444 was invested and bearing interest. The payments for funeral benefits during the year amounted to £2lO. The book inspector (P.G.M. Brother Marshall) reported that the books of the various Lodges had, on the whole, been kept very satisfactorily, and he was pleased to say that several of the Lodges were writing down the values of their halls. P.P.G.M. Brothers W. A. Keloher, H. Tallott, G. A. M’Lean and P.G. Brother Hills, were re-eleoted to act on the District Management Committee with the officers.

The next district meeting was fixed to be held at Rangiora on March 3, 1912. It was resolved to take steps to improve the condition of the Waikari Lodge, of which D.P.G.M., Brother Holton, was appointed secretary. The .position of the Cheviot Lodge was discussed. and the District Management Committee was instructed to take steps to close the Lodge, clearing the members into other Lodges, the district to take tho liability of sick benefit for a year.

It was resolved to strike a levy of Is per member to meet the expenses' of the meetihg of the Biennia! Movable Committee, _ to be held in Christchurch at--1 tho invitation of the Ashley district, at Easter. 1912 ; and Brothers IV. A. Keli cher, C. IV. Bell. H. Tallott, G. IV. '■ Sellars, H. C. IVilson and J. Calder , were appointed to act with tho District officers as a committee to carry out arrangements in connection with the meeting.

It was resolved to place on record an expression of appreciation of the efficient and valuable services rendered to the District by Brother C. I. Jennings as Prov. Corresponding Secretary during a period of twenty-five years. An -ncrease of salary was also voted to Brother Jennings.

A hearty vote of thanks was also passed to P.P.G.M. Brother Bell for the great interest he took in the carrying out of the centenary celebration. It was resolved to nominate D.G.M. Brother Clark (Auckland) for the office of Grand Master of the New Zealand Branch, P.P.G.M. Brother Sellara (Ashley District), for the office of Deputy Grand Master, and P.P.G.M. Brother M’Lean for the office of Directof, of the Order. D.P.G.M. Brother Holton (Amberley) was elected Prov. Grand Master | P.G. Brother D. W. L. Mehrtens (Rangiora), Deputy Grand Master; P.P.G.M. Brother Wilson treasurer, and P.G.M. Brother Marshall auditor and book examiner. Tne retiring Grand Master reoeived a vote of thanks for his services, accompanied by an honorarium of £5, and a Past Master’s jewel. It was also resolved to place his name on the merit board and to recommend him for thw Past Master’s degree.