ODDFELLOWSHIP AT MATAURA.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 304, 9 November 1883, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP AT MATAURA.

1 *■*■■''- _."**?y^c?ti'L. '".'j.iBY A COMET.] :'.'■'■ According to advertisement, a public meeting, convened -.by* 'the inde^-nderit Order of Q_4fellowp*, American' Cdnstiiiitiotf,- Wa-'held in Hij-Bphries'- Hall, • Mataura, Jast We'daes-' day night. -Mr .-Palmer- Was- voted^to'^hef chair,, arid introduced' the delegates iV 'a riot very short speecY, dilating on the advantages to lie; derived $*gi£ Qd^elipws-iip in i*ai.' He theft.. oaUe4 Ai.:m W<§w ftR&: ilress the meeting. ."Itr Washer pojnted o'«t the leading 1 "featu'r'gs. of the Order, "arid complained of the, "unftiir a,nd. u.nderhand action of somcPffifeers' of* ■ fi|e. Manchester; Unity, __. taking advantage of •'theif-advert'isemerit • &»d stepping in and making a canvass pf the

■MMMMMM^MMM— —■ — i— — — — ■ district, obtaining signatures from- persons to join in forming a Lodge, many /doing so under the impression they were joining the American Constitution, and deal-, ing with its officers. Ultimately a resolution was proposed and seconded jj|?That it waS|t«v. visable; to" start a Lodge, uhjkjr thet^me_ican Constitution, in Mataura." "Ehe G^ajirm4hiWas abbufto put the question, wheti^Mr Shan'ks •aid he had an amendment' to^jfcjise, v?hich, wa'sßpnj^b^t^to this effecty-j^hat. no^teps^ bc»taken-to-form a Lodge} till**-the Manchies-•-•'1; l T i:ity had time to explain and lay b%'_blPe^ tlie -.public the' beauties of their Constitution.'" The' Chairman said that was" no amendment at all,.ancl he^did np^|iee._ho i w. he ' coul-. take it. He was, however, " o_3£re_f to take lt\ down t ; and*; was pipceedjing to do,so--when he found he had ho writing material.'* A* messenger-was sent"-for» -material*.- * The* Chairman asked the meeting 'if they wished him in the meantime to give them a song? This seemed to put. the meeting in^good huraour, and a general discussion -.ook'place' till the writing materials 'arrived, when the .Chairman . proceeded to take down Mr Shanks' amendment. A difficulty then occurred at once as to the -precise'.wording of the amendment. .The mover tried to make this clear, without success, no two persons ngreeing as to the \vordiug. Various suggesi tions were made. Mr Cameron suggested the term's were "That no attempt to' form a Lodjge be made till the Manchester7Un>ty. get a good start ;" or, , otherwise, .."; That the, Manchester Unity be' given a hundred' yards' start." The Cliaitmari : "NO, 'rio*l I want the amendment." Mr J s Jl, Humphries : "I rise to second the amendment, and in doing so •" The 'Chairman : " Where is it ? That is what . I want?;.' -"J:can--not allow you to speak till I get the amendment, — in fact, I have allowed you too much latitude already.'' Admist the laughter. and merriment that ensued -the amendment escaped.. When the. house again .resumed,,. t§. , gravity, Mr Winning rose and-prop6-'e'd ari amendment to the effect " That this meetinj does not. pledge itself tosupport any iOdge-till* they learn more of the constitution-of other lodges.". ,Mr Shanks " thought he recognised in this his own amendment, and seemed inclined to take possession of it. He, however, contented; himself by seconding dt.. ; After some discus-ion it was put to the meeting : andion a show of hands the .chairman gave -it: "'Jhe amendment' is lost,' 'do ye see." (Great amusement.) The chairman next proceeded to put jt„he -/motion,, but, .w^asjßqon brought "to bay by* Mr -Winning ■witi'l^f urtner amendment to the effect . ".that a vote of thanks be given the delegates. and np further ■action be taken in the matter." * Mr t^atdferbn .pointed out the dilemma many would find i themselves in, in consequence of the terms of this jamendment. However they might differ . otherwise, he had --no. doubt the meeting : would be quite unanimous ih a vote of thanka ;to the delegates,' but. those that desired to tak.ei further steps in the matter would find them- ' selves compelled to vote- against the amend-.mei-tas it stood. The amendment was put and lost,* and -thi,bri_3nai;_hpl«)n wai.tiie.^puiy'anlclf -carried. A vote of thanks to the delegates • was 1 hen proposed and carried unanimously, Mr)Virf_iing i-OseVofidiAglft-*,' isiplaihihg afe ; .length his reasons for njoving*thej am endnrient 'to be to give an ' opportunity to have the f ] question thoroughly discussed. A vote of -;t hanks to the chair, proposed by Mr * a.llerv - bro ight*? i veTy 0-md-iir4j *• •to f^ close.