THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13210, 22 June 1906, Page 7

THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

II GREAT GATHERING AT THE H CHORAL HALL. ~ py The " memorial service bold under the ; Iffauspices of the United Friendly Societies ■: ''.' of Auckland, in the Choral Hall, Was large"rly attended, the platform being crowded, ' ■ and the hall and side, entrances filled in every part. There was an intense earnest-' . ness throughout the proceedings. The platform had been set apart for the mem- . hers of friendly societies, and'all; the or-; ders in Auckland were largely represented. ." The Manchester Unity Oddfellows were represented by Bru. John McLeod, Prow CIS. ; the Ancient Order of Foresters by lire. D. J. Wright, district secretary; the • 1 0 O.F. (American Constitution) by Bros. i R. C. limy, D.D. CM., ami H. C, Holds- . -worth, district secretary; the U.A.O. Druids by Bros. W. Blomtield. D.Q. president, W. Hunter, D.G. guardian; and J. S. Dickson, district president: 1.0. ■ "■ Rechabites by Bros. J. W. Foster, D.C.R.. and J. G. Carr, D.S. ;. National 1.0.0. F. by Bro. J. T. B. Dines, Prov. G.M., and Bro. S. Moulden, D.G..M.; and Protestant Alliance bv Bros. H. H. Seabrook, D.G.M., and W. South, district • secretary. Other orders ..representee! were: Cornwall No. 1, i.0.0.F., and Tamar Lodge. No. 285. U.A.0.D., .Tas- . mania, Bro. J W. H. Martin; Order of : Buffaloes, R.A.0.8. Primo Casey, and 'Free Gardeners by Bro. Kuehu. The ' >, late Premier was an old member of the s'• Manchester Unity Oddfellows, but the ;t; ; \ whole of tho friendly societies joined in -'paying their last respects to one who had S. ;taken a great interest in the work of the '■■'• friendly societies. It was fitting, too, that tV: the address should be given by Mr. A. J. '.;:'■:. ; Black,whose father worked in Mr. SedV don's interests on, the occasion of his first I return to Parliament to represent the West Coast. The service was opened by -~ the organist, Mr. R. Leslie Hunt, playing a voluntary. The congregation then sang v ' some, hymns, and sacred solos were rendered. . , - MR. BLACK'S ADDRESS. Mr. Black's address was ; an eloquent and touching one. He said they Lad gathered out of respect to the memory, of one .'who < 1 Lad recently been taken from them,.whom ; they* had loved "so 'clearly!'".' Mr.' Seddon kid laboured long for the colony in which. *h lie lived and dwelt, and his, works were ',;.viewed from broader fields, extending as, far j.-'as the British Empire extended. There was '!'. general mourning among men in every sta- , tion of life, from the highest and richest I to the humblest and poorest in the land. ; There was that day one great name on S 1 every lip, and they gathered in that way , and manner to do honour to a man. whom God had given'to their country, and who . ■ undoubtedly was used in a. very marked de- ■/ gree to benefit every portion of the com- .'■■■■■ munity. He thought it desirable that they fji; should view that great life' with fairness : :'.i! and sympathy, so that they could properly , J value it. They could look closely, and see !y; in tho life the sanctiy, the untiring zeal, •j.,and the devotion without which it was not •i possible for Mr. Seddon to undertake the . cause of the people of this country in,the j' way he had done. Their American cousins '',:* were justly proud of one whose name would ji;'; never fade—James Garfield—who rose ■-,;;■, from a humble, boy reared in a log cabin to ,;',. White House. Had they not in This colony ;/; the parallel case of one who rose from obscurity, to the highest position it was possible for him to attain, and whose life and • • work would live for succeeding "generations'/ Mr. Black referred to his own life, as a little boy and the familiar figure in their town on* the West Coast of Mr. Seddon. He was a big, hearty, happy, and much-re- \ spected man who was sent to Parliament by tnat community with hope that their interests would be preserved . and that he would do a great work, not only . to the West Coast, but to the whole of the colony 1 and to the world. Mr. Seddon's actions had in been criticised and flaws found in his ad- ' ministration, but they were not there to criticise him harshly or find fault, but to ■;.;■;, do honour to a man who had spent his life in doing his best, for the community, and i had now passed away belie-riug that he had done his duty. The humanitarian sym- ':-;■; pathy of the man had been strikingly . evinced in legislation, in assisting the aged ..: ; and infirm, the poor and needy, as shown •■';'.' ; "■} the old age pensions and" the estab- ".. . lishment of various homes. The tribute -{.from General Booth, the champion of !;;submerged humanity, was worthy of endorsement by all. The sneaker referred to ;!; the earnestness displayed in every depart- . ' merit of the ' deceased's life. Someone had . said in England some years ago there were ■" three kinds of' work-— head work, hand work, and heart work. Surely none would '.' deny that Mr. Saddon combined these •.;, three. It seemed only yesterday they were standing in great - throng" in" '" the city square, when he was there . extending a. hearty welcome to the ' ■victorious " All Black's." Mr. Black went - on to refer to the deceased's efforts for the .promotion of closer unity of the Empire, ■'•'id to his happy family fife. ' RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY. Brother J. McLeod referred to deceased's great interest in, friendly societies, making ■ '• special reference to the last great annuity ,scheme which the deceased had in mind. He moved: "That the United Friendly So- ' cieties of Auckland, in meeting assembled, ->■',■ desire respectfully t,o tender an expression of their sincere condolence to Mrs. Seddon |lgv hi the sad and . lamentable bereavement ', which she has suffered by the death of her •'..! dear husband, the Right Honourable Richand John Seddon, P.C., LL.D., Premier of J '• New Zealand.. They also deeply regret the '.' irreparable loss sustained by the family of ("Kibe deceased, statesman, whose great love .V . for them.was ever apparent, and hope Al- ',.[[ mighty God will ever keep them and their ■'. loving* mother under His protecting care. They furthei desire to express their lull sens/i of the calamity which has befallen ', .the Empire in the untimely removal of, a ; great statesman, whose sole life's aim was 1 ~ the uplifting of humanity.'' I" • Brother R. Armiger seconded the motion, which was carried, all standing., The coinnegation sang the hymns, " 0 .'■ god; Our Help in Ages "Past," and "Lead, j Kindly Utfiil.'"' The" following sacred solos Were'rendered—Miss Alice "Rimmer, "I ;;■ Know That. Mv- Redeemer Liveth;" Mr. - G. Hiesjott, "The Refuge of-the Soul:" Mrs. Black, '-Crossing the Bar'' (with violin obligate bv Mr. G W. Johnstone). ~ Brother' W. Thomas acted as marshal, ■:":■! Brother D J. Wright as treasurer, and , Brothers J. McLeod and J. S. Dickson as ; ' secretaries. Mr R. Leslie Hunt efficiently , ' , presided at the organ. lifiWv":;::\ :^.'':^;'^'^y-:: -■.'':■:■' '.-■" - -

The service was concluded by the organist plaiying the "Dead Maxell "An " Saul,": the congregation standing. ~,> ". . .A.collection was taken up in aid of the United Friendly Societies', - Seddon Memorial Fund, £16 18s 7|d being contri-. buted. ■ ,: . • , ,\ f