Lodge, Court & Tent

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7853, 15 July 1911, Page 19

Lodge, Court & Tent

j A Column for Friendly Society Matters.

By “ Cosmopolitan

This column will bo devoted to matters of interest to Fr.cudIv -Society members, and Secretaries and members of Loegcs, Courts, or Teats arc asked to avail themselves of tho offer ly forwarding shJrt reports of their meetings, dates of mootings, and any Information of interest to members of the various Soc etios country Jotlges included—-addressed to “Cosmopolitan," care of "N.Z. Tic ,es." not later than Wednesday evening each week.

The Poneko Lodge, U.A.0.D., held its fortnightly meeting at Petono on Mondav last, Bro. Savage, A.D., presiding. One candidate was initiated and another elected on clearance. A challenge lias accepted from Court Epuni, A. 0.1 •> l° r tho annual card tournament for the Shield, to take place on July 27th. Reference was made to Dr. Mason s lecent lecture on “Bacteriology,” and h;s generous offer to members of Friendly Societies. Several visitors were present.

Tho Loyal Britiuuiia Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., met at tho Manchester Chambers on Monday last, when the officers for tfie ensuing term wore installed, and routine business wus transacted. Certificates were were passed to enable those entitled to decrees to lake them at the Purple Lecture to bo held on Wednesday next at B p.m.

The Loyal Sister Wallis LodgeJ.o.ol M.U., met on Tuesday last and installed the officers for the ensuing half-year, 'iho balance-sheet showed very satisfactory progress both financially and numerically.

Tho hand of Death has been very busy recently among members of i'rieudiy Societies, and it looks as though a record will bo established this year in tho matter of death payments. Among those who wore “leaders" in their Hocieties 1 may piontion: In the A.0.1*. Bro. WiiitefoPd, Tor many years tho District Secretary; Bro. H. Birch, District Treasurer; and Bro. J. T. Webber, for a long period his Court Secretary besides boin" President of tho U.P. Dispensary. The 1.0.0. P., M.U., is also having its share, as 1 have noticed two funeral announcements this week by the same Lodge, which 1 learn has now been draped with mourning for seven oonsective Lodge nights.

I would bo pleased to bo supplied with a list of meeting nights of tho various Lodges of tho several orders and the adureat, of the secretary or reporters' so as to be able to place an account of their meetings before their brethren. Tho “Foresters Miscellany” offered prises for tho member who introduced the greatest number of new members during the year 1910. Tho results; too just been made known, and Bro. A. C. Penman, P.D.C.R., of Court 2110, Lowestoft, in East Suffolk, has been awarded premier place. In order to show what a single individual can do, and as I think his record would be hard to beat, I quote it in full: “Bro. Penman joined his . Court in 1893,- and tonco began td'Take an active interest in' the work of Court 2410. In 1b97 lie was appointed Woodward, in 1898 S.C.R., and in 1899 C.E. and has since been annually re-elected a member of tho Committee of Management. From tho time he commenced to serve as an officer he became a missionary of the Order and since 1903 he has introduced tho following number of members —1903, 15; 1904, 40; 1905, 18; 1900, 20; 1907, 31; 1908, 29; 1909,8; and 1910, 50; making a total of 211 members for the period under review." Surely this is a record to 100 proud of.

I notice by,magazines just to hand that the London United District of the A.O.F. has merged its Supplementary Funeral Fund into tho District Funeral Fund so os to assist the former in carrying out its liabilities. Tho , Supplementary Funeral Fund was started in 1877, and carried on successfully until 1897, when it began a chequered career until at the close 1910 it was decided to close down owing to its liabilities having increased at an alarming rate through the increased ages of its members. In this connection I would refer ail Friendly Society members to a very useful publication recently issued by the Registrar of Friendly Societies in New Zealand, in which ho instances numerous cases similar to the above and includes, in his useful volume tho history of the P'riendly Society Act and its several amendments from its first becoming law up to the last session of Parliament in 1910. It is a book every member should possess.