PROGRESS OF DRUIDISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17730, 15 March 1921, Page 6

PROGRESS OF DRUIDISM.

GRAND LODGE MEETING. RECEPTION BY THE MAYOR. INFLUENCE OF THE ORDER. The half-yearly meeting of delegates to the North Island Grand Lodge of the United Ancient Order of Druids—the first of such meetings held in Auckland for 10 years—was opened in the Chamber of Commerece rooms last evening. The Grand President, Bro. R. P. Flanagan. Wellington, presided, and the following grand lodge officers also were present.— Vice-grand president, Bro. W. L. Martin (Hamilton); grand secretary, Bro. J. N Grant (Wellington),- grand treasurer, J. Hi A. Laughton (Wellington): grand ; guardian, G. P. Tudehope (Napier); junior past grand president, A. Mewburn (Auckland). There were between 70 , and 80 delegates present. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, who was accorded a hearty reception, extended a civic welcome to the delegates. He referred to the good work in which Druids were engaged, and said he regarded his attendance on occasions such as these as one of the most important features of his mayoral duties. On glancing through the grand lodge reports, he had been agreeably surprised at the widespread character of the Druids' operations. The grand lodge district, he noticed, included not only, the whole of the North Island, but jalso a substantial portion of the South Island. The 84 lodges in the district comprised a total membership of about 10,000, and .the total grand lodge funds amounted to about £93,000. The amount distributed in sick pay last year was £11,250, in medical and other benefits £13,500, and in aeath payments £8108, making a total of over £32,00. It. however, was not alone by monetary benefits that the importance of the work of the Druids and kindred societies must be gauged. Organisations such as these stood not merely for helpfulness, but also ' for constructive work from a social and national as well as a domestic point of view. (Hear, hear.) This was of particular importance, especially at a time of crisis such as the present, when conditions were so unsettled, not only in several European countries, but likewise in several of the outlying portions of the British Empire. The influence of friendly societies tended toward settled and sane government in civic, industrial and national affairs. His advice to them was: '"Do not grow weary of well doing; your work is noble and well worthy of the sacrifice of time and energy which : those holding high offices in the Order are called upon to make." (Applause.) The grand president, in thanking the Mayor for his cordial welcome, said members of friendly societies were not merely bound together for the purpose of assisting each other in times of sickness, distress, or death. The societies inculcated habits of thrift and other good qualities on which their principles and their beautiful rituals were based. Their work enabled them to become better employees, better servants, and better ' citizens. He did not claim for the . Druids anything that he did not also claim for all friendly societies; they were . all engaged in the one good" work. . (Applause.) The grand president in his biennial report, stated that since the last report nearly every lodge in the grand lodge jurisdiction had shown ian increase in membership. The sick and funeral fund had increased by £3659. The insurance fund had improved to the extent of £7593. while £3039 had been earned' in interest. He had visited Australia, and had obtained a great deal of information regarding the table repayment system of lodge investments under which loans were advanced to members of the Order desiring to acquire their own houses". The executive had decided to recommend the adoption of the system, spreading repayments over 20 years. The meeting will be continued today and to-morrow. The delegates will be tendered a reception by the Auckland lodge at the Town Hall this evening.