FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 101, 28 March 1929, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

LOYAL MANCHESTER LODGE, 1.0.0. F. Members of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge of Odfellows gave a fruit banquet last evening in honour of tin, visit to the district of G.M. Bro. A. Pritchard (Ashburton), D.G.M. Bro. Quigley (Dannevirke), and G.S. Bro. Shrimpton (JVellington), the room being crowded. Following the honouring of the loyal toast, P.P.G.M. Bro. Sharman propsed that of the New Zealand branch, coupled with the names of the society officers. G.M Bro. Pritchard, in reply, thanked the members for their hearty reception. He stated that the membership of the New Zealand branch totalled 22,000, with over £1,000,000 in funds, and held out the hope that there would be other districts affiliated with the New Zealand branch in the near future. Reference was also made to the action of the surplus lodges in coming to the aid of the soldiers’ contribution fund, and to the aid of the deficiency lodges to the total extent of about £30,000, which emphasised the financial stability- of the order throughout the Dominion. In reply, D.G.M. Bro. Quigley said that the society had sufficient funds behind it to do practical work. He stated that their tour of the lodges in the North Island would bear good results. A large number of young members were joining the order. District consolidation was going to be an accomplished fact in the near future and he wished the district every success. He paid a high compliment to the G.S., Bro. Shrimpton for the magnificent work he is doing on behalf ot the society. ,' . , Bro. Shrimpton expressed his pleasure at seeing the members presept, combining all sections of the community, which spoke well for the order. Dealing with the admission of ladies into the lodges, he said that it was on© of the grandest things that was e Y® r done in making the lodges mixed. He paid a high tribute to the ability of the ladies in conducting lodges. _ P.D.G.M. Bro. Stein (Dannevirke) proposed the t° as t of the Wanganui district, coupled with the name of Bro. I. Salek. Rsponding, Bro. Salek referred to the progress of the district during his term of office, and emphasised the fact that the Wanganui district had the highest percentage of membership of any in the Dominion. P.G. Bro. Scroggs proposed the toast of visiting officers and brethren, Bros. Webb (Petone), Rogers (Rangiwahia), Clesby (Wanganui), L. Mcßeth (Marton),‘Studd (Dannevirke), Lyon (Remuera), Stubbs (Brittania), Sweetman (Hamilton), Wass (Masterton), Drury (Raetihi) and Sister Schriber (Bulls). G.M. Bro. Pritchard proposed the toast of the Loyal Manawatu Lodge, to which N.G. Bro. G. Northey responded. The toast of the sisters was proposed by P.D.G.M. Bro. Dilks and responded to by Sisters Fowler (Marton) and H. Scroggs (Manawatu). During the evening, instrumental and vocal items, were rendered as follow:—Bro. and Sister Scroggs, piano and Fowler, recitations; Sister Scroggs, Fowler, recitations; Sister Scroggs, song; Bros. Stein, Scroggs and Salek, stories.