GOOD INTENT LODGE, I.O.O.F., M.U., AÑIVERSARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 6

GOOD INTENT LODGE, 1.0.0. F., M.U., AÑIVERSARY.

Tin-: members of tho Good Intent Lodge of Oddfellows, 'Manchester Unit}', celebrated their 27th anniversary on the 17th July, by a dinner and ball in the lodge-room, (JookBtreet. About 100 gentlemen sat down at 0.30 to the table, which was laid in Host Codlin's best style. .Substantial justice having been done the viands, and tho usual loyal and patriotic toasts drunk in (lowing bumpers, G. M. Allan proposed, ' The Manchester Unity."—l J .P. G..M. Cole, in responding, said Manchester, as tho toast denoted, was the head quarters of the Oddfellows' Society,—the largest friendly society iu tho world, and arc doing an incalculable amount of good in many ways. Lancashire (the county" in which Manchester was situated) had over 00 districts, 510 lodges, and 02,000 members. Yorkshire, the next in relative strength, possessed O'J districts, 43S lodges, and 00,000 members. In Now Zealand there were 13 districts, 90 lodges, and 7,500 members. The number of lodges in the Unity, according to the la«t returns, was 4073, with a membership of fiIS.O'JO, and possessed of £4,000,000. Their Parliament —designated in Oddfellow phraseology the Annual Movoable Committee— met every Whitsuntide, and comprised 400 deputies, each representing a certain district. The sick benelit.-i for last year amounted to £350,000, ami there was paid in the same period £120,000 as funeral allowances.— P.P.G. M. Cole then proposed, "The Auckland District of Oddfellows."— —P.G. M. Combes replied. He said there were 14 lodges in the district, tvith an aggregate membership of 1200, and they were in a verr satisfactory position iinauoially and otherwise ; £2200 lay to their credit in the bank iu anticipation of rainy days. During the year he had opened three lodges, each of which was prospering aj well as could be wished.— The toast of the evening, " The Good Intuit Lodge," was proposed in a neat si-etuh by P. P.G.M. I'leming, and rc=pon;U-d to in an equally felicitous manner by Secretary Smith. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Smith supplied the following statistics :--The lodge numbers 200 members; during the year one member died, and one member's wife, the funeral claims paid being £32. The total funds of the lodge, after paying all accounts, is £1420 ISs 2d, or an average of £7 -■ S|d per member. The sick claims during the year amounted to £ISO Is od. There has been £20 expended to relieve oases of distress; £260 surplus funds has been added to the Investment Account, which account produced during the ycr.r £09 2s 0d as interest, or one-third of the amount that was paid to sick members, and at the end of the year the Treasurer had .\ balance of £42 17s. The Lodire also has a share in the district funds wMeli amount to f:2:,'05 (is 10d, and produces interest at the rate of £105 per annu.n. It will be seen by he above ligures that the Lodge during the year ended June 30th, poid from its funds to relieve sickness and distress on evei v Lodge night the sum of £'J 7s «Jd—P.P.G-.M". Cole proposed iu a highly eulogistic speech, the health of Dr. Stockwell, the surgeon of tho Lod'je.—The toast having been drunk with the usual honours, the Chairman (P. P.G.M. Combes) presented to Dr. Stockwell, on behalf of the Lodge, n, handsomely framed and illuminated testimonial. Dr. Stockwell brielly returned thanks.— The remainder of the toasts were : " Sisier Lodges, , ' " Kindred Societies," " The Sick and Distressed of the Order," "The Ladies," "The Press," and "The Host and Hostess." Messrs. T. H. White (11.A.C.8.5.) and F. Christmas (Foresters) responded to the toast " Kindred Societies." The ball was commenced after a due interval, occupied in clearing and re-arranging the hall. The dance music was supplied by the Hibernian Band, under the skilful conductorship of Mr. James I'. Louergan.