VALEDICTORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 June 1927, Page 2

VALEDICTORY

PRESENTATION TO MR AND MlhS GRAHAM

The evidence of the esteem in which P.75.G-.M. Bro. i‘\ Graham is held by Use members of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows was -strikingly manifested in tho gathering of members that attended the farewell and presentation tendered to the departing brother this week. After the usual routine business of the. Loyal Nelson Lodge, the proceedings took the form of a “free and easy evening,” to which members of the Order, their relatives and friends had been invited. There were also representatives of (tie Wakatii Juvenile Lodge. The District Grand Master, Bro. A. J. Pellew, presided, and was supported by the guests of tlie evening, Mr and Airs. Graham. The chairman expressed regret, that Bro. Graham was leaving them. A telegram was received from llrn. Win. Liddle wishing Mr Graham every success in his new sphere of life. Bro. A. G. Slirimpton, the T.P.G.AL of the New Zealand Branch, was invited to make the presentation. To Brother Graham he handed a handsome leather suit case suitably inscribed and an electric torch, and in doing so referred to the long and faithful services he had rendered to the Order, a, service worthy of emulation. In the course of his remarks to AL's. Graham he said her husband's fellow members could not, help recognising the fact, that it. was undoubtedly due to her unselfish and selfsacrificing spirit that Bro. tlralliam had been able to v take his place in the Friendly Society movement and while the members realised that they could not hope to adequately recompense her for those sacrifices, lie asekd her to accept, in the spirit () f appreciation a set, ot stainless cutlery, as a part of her reward. Bro. Slirimpton appealed to those presold, to Militate the. iceord of service hold by Brr,tliei' Graham, which had been a true follower of that, excellent precept of life, “Service before sell. ’ tie concluded by wishing Bro. and Mrs. Graham health, happiness and prosperity in whatever quarter of the globe they ultimately decided to settle. The chairman on behalf of the Past Grands of the District, presented Bro. Graham with a case of pipes, trusting that they would serve to remind him o( his old associates.

As Bro. Graham was very closely associated with the Wakatu Juvenile Lodge, it- was only natural that the boys should desire to show in sonic small measure their appreciation of his servicesl.o them, and this they did by presenting him with a valuable tobacco pouch'’ suitably inscribed. This presentation was made by a Juvenile member, Bro. D. Stabard, who made a neat little ■ speech. After a number of members had eulogised Bro. .Graham's worth as a member of the Manchester Unity and a citizen, Bro. Graham rose amid applause, and suitably replied on behalf of himself and Mrs. Graham. He thanked the members most sincerely for their handsome and useful presents ; .especially did he thank them for the kindly thought that, prompted them to- consider Mrs Graham as being equally entitled to be a recipient. He very naturally regretted his severance from those lie had been so closely associated with for so many years, and with whom lie had spent so many pleasant hours, but assured them that- he would never forget the Loyal Nelson Lodge and the Wakatu Juveniles, the lodge in which he had received his primary education in Oddfellowship, and from which he recruited to the senior lodge in the year 1891. Whatever he had done for the Order had not been done with thought of self glorification, but- because he felt it his duty to lend a helping hand in a cause that sought to inculcate humanitarian principles, and was endeavouring to make life’s pathway a little smoother for suffering humanity. He felt sure that those whom he was leaving behind would keep the Manchester Unity flag flying, would worthily uphold the traditions of the Order, consolidate its position and hand it down as a heritage worthy of acceptance. During the evening Air Amos gave a vocal solo. Supper was provided by the social committee and dispensed by the sisters of Hie Order. All present then joined in singing “Auld Lang Syne,” and gave three hearty cheers for the guests. The hall was then cleared and dancing indulged in until midnight, the. music being supplied by Sister Currie and Bros. Thomas and Smallie. Bro. F. Ivrahagan was an efficient M.C.