FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Northern Advocate, 25 March 1937, Page 4

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Progress Of Orders Grand Lodge Session Star of Whangarei Lodge, 1.0.0. F. The two meetings of the Star of Whangarei Lodge, No. 89, 1.0.0. F., N.Z., held during the month were very well attended and were presided over by the N.G., ißro. V. Sanders., At the meeting on the 9th, the business was not /Very lengthy and one of the chief items was the second'nomination of officers. The secretary presented the annual report on the affairs of the lodge and financially and numerically, the lodge is very sound indeed. The evening terminated with supper and cards. On March 23 the election of officers took place and resulted as follows: N.G., Bro. J. McG. Walker; V.G., Bro. H. Jones; Recording Bro. R. Waterhouse;; Financial Secretary, P.G. Bro. A. J. Wells; Treasurer, P.G. Bro. A. M. Woods. The installation of these officers takes place on April 6. Two new members were admitted to the Order. The D.D.G.M., Bro. R. Roseman, Grand Lodge representative for the North Auckland district,- submitted a summary of the • proceedings at the 40th Grand Lodge session of the I. held at Palmerston North during the month. He will submit a more detailed report at a later date. At the conclusion of business, supper was served and members enjoyed a game of cards. • Election of New. D.D.GJW. Early in. the month, a meeting of Past Grands of the Star of Whangarei Lodge and Past Noble Grands of the Aloha Rebekah Lodge was held in the Lodge room. The retiring D.D.G.M., Bro. Roseman, presided over an attendance of 30 members for the purpose of electing a new D.D.G.M. P.G. Bro. A. J. Wells was the successful candidate and will be duly installed in office on April 13. 0 ®. / . ® II 1.0.0. F. GRAND LODGE SESSION. The 48th session of the Grand Lodge, 1.0.0. F., opened in the Orient Hall, Palmerston North, on March 16 and was , presided over by the v Grand Master, Bro. A. J. Guy, of Auckland. In addition to the 36 delegates representing districts from the North Cape to the Bluff, there were present five Past Grand Masters not actually attached to the Grand Lodge,

Reports show the society to be in a very healthy position. ; , The year 1937 marked, the 75th anniversary of the Order in New Zealand, the first lodge, Pioneer No. 1, being opened in Dunedin op August 18, 1862, since which date the membership has now grown from a mere handful in one branch to an organisation of 233 brahohes with 18,116 members, having accumulated funds which amount to over £440,000. ■

This society is peculiar in that sick the funeral benefit funds are consolidated, thus giving all branches the same degree of solvency. During the period under review the society has paid to its members by way of benefits in sick allowance the sum of £44,763, and in funeral claims £6780, with medical dispensing and similar services about £60,000, making a total of £112,143. In addition to the standard benefits the society provides several additional benevolent services, A civic reception was tendered the Grand Master and delegates attending the conference, in the council chambers, Palmerston North, by the Mayor, Mr A. E, Mansford. His Worship made reference to the antiquity of the Friendly Society movement. He mentioned that in England the societies’ funds amounted to over £100,000,000, while in New Zealand they were in excess of £4,000,000. The society disbursed in 1935, by way of sick, funeral, medical and medicine benefits, £368,901. 0 0 8 IS U.A.O.D. Lodge. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of Lodge Whangarei No. 38, was held on March 9, the meeting being presided over by the A.D., Bro. Calder. A good attendance of members being present. One new member was initiated into the order. At the close of the meeting, the members participated in a reunion of old officers and members around the festive board. A fairly long toast list was honoured and items were rendered by Bro. West (song), Calder (song), Newberry (piano-accordeon), Mr Ron Leckie (saxophone), Mr Ledger (pianoforte solo).