ODDFELLOWS' JUBILEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15096, 12 September 1912, Page 5

ODDFELLOWS' JUBILEE.

FIFTY. YEARS OF PROGRESS. -

Jcbileb celebrations of tho 1.0.0. F. of Now Zealand, Auckland district, were" held in tho Trades Hall, Hobson-street, last evening. Iho hall was filled with members of the order, who showed the, greatest enthusiasm in doing honour to tho lodge. Representatives from various other friendly societies wero iJso present. An apology for absence was received from the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. •G. J. Parr). .Bro.. Hugh N. Latimer, D.D.G.M., prosided, find welcomed those present. L the. course of an address, tho Grand Master, Bro. It. C. Gray, expressed pleasure at seeing so largo a number present-to celebrate tiio jubilee of tho 1.0.0. F. Ho regretted that of those who founded the institution in Now Zealand at Dunedin, none remained, tho last to pass away being Bro.. the Hon. Hugh Gourley. Continuing, vhe traced tiro history of tlio order, and mentioned incidentally that the Auckland branchwas younger than those of the South Island ■ Ho explained that the lodges established in 1862 had been ■ offshoots ot tho A. 1.0.0. F., but tho young ledges had not boon satisfied with tho parent body. Ultimately all tho lodges, with tho exception of one-, hacl been taken over by tho 1.0.0. F., a branch of tlio Manchester Unity of (ho 1.0.0. F. The 1.0.0. F. had grown steadily, and now was equal in membership to "any two other friendly societies, the total membership being 2,025,731, and the relief funds distributed being £1,142,000 per year. From 22 members in 1862, when tlio first lodge had been established in New Zealand, the order had grown slowly until in 1852 19 lodges had been in existence, with a membership of £36. In 1902 the lodges had increased to 36. and tho membership to 2617, while the latest figures, those for 1911, disclosed ' tho fact, that the lodges had further increased to 74, and the membership to 8150. In 1911 a total of £4043 had been paid away in "sick benefits, j £5103 had been paid in medical fees, and £650 had gone out- in .funeral benefits. It would bo seen, therefore, that the order was doing good work in assisting those most in need of help. In conclusion, he pointed one that the Auckland district had the honour of having tho largest membership of all tin; 1.0.0. F. lodge districts in New Zealand.

The Grand Master, Bro. Robert C. Gray, during an interval in the proceedings, presented the trophy to tin's year'.-; winners of tho ritual competition, Wynyard Lodge, No. 57. During tho evening an excellent programmo of music was supplied. Songs were contributed by Madame Chambers, " No, No. No " (Tito Mattel); Mr. S. Prirehard, "A Son of the Desert Am .1" (Lochacl): Mr. A. 11. Kipley. "To Mary" (White), and "I Hear You Calling;" Mr. S. llalliwell, " Oboron In Fairyland" (Slater); and Mr. Tom Harris, "A Deaf Man's Blunders." Tho latter also gave a musical monologue, " Tlio Green Eyo of tho Little Yellow God." Miss Thelnia Gallaher played a pianoforte overture, "A Storm at Sea." "while Mr. Deo. M. Swales contributed a violin solo, "Un Soil' do Portici" (Papini), and Mr. F. V. Hoffman a iluto solo, " Camovalo di Yenezia " (G. Briccialdi). Accompaniments were tastefully played by Mr. Leo. G. "Whittaker.