Lodge, Court & Tent

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 19

Lodge, Court & Tent

A Column for Friendly Society Matters. By " Cosmopolitan.” Tho fortnightly mooting of tlio Pacific Lodge, U.A.0.D., was held last Monday evening, Pro. G. .McKay, A.D., providing over a good attendance, of members and visitors. Two candidates for meiabership wore proposed and one initiated. The lodge intends holding a concert. an<a danco a.t an early date. The Loyal Wellington Juvenile Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.XJ., held its regular meeting last .Monday evening, Pro, O'Sullivan, N.G., in the chair. After the routine business had been disposed of, the lodge wont into harmony, the item "Pound Night’’ on the programme, being done full justice to. I lea-rn with pleasure that this lodge is mating steady progress under the direction of the superintendents, Bros. J. P. O'Sullivan, P.P.G.M., and B. Guy, P.G. Court Loyal Northland, A.0.F., has appointed !iro. I'. Platt as its delegate on the U.F.S. Dispensing Board, vice Bro. Itusscll. The initiation of his Excellency the Governor, as a member of Court Loyal Northland, A.0.F., has been arranged; 'to take place on August 2tUi, at 8 p.m. The meeting of the annual movable committee of the 1.0.0.1’., M.D., wasi oponixl at Brighton on Whit Monday, and I have been favoured with a copy of tlio "Sussex Daily News" which, on Saturday, Juno 10th, published a special A.M.C. edition of sixteen pages, together with a coloured supplement containing portraits of the leaders and places of interest. Tho number is a credit to tho .publishers, as well as a vtd liable record of tho doings at tho meeting. The G.M., Bro. Barnes, presided, assisted -by D.G.M., Bro. A. 11. Warrou, secretary Bro. W. Collins, assistant secretary Bro. W. Simpson, auditor Bro. W. J. Spillar, and actuary Bro. A. W. Watson. Tho number of delegates {close on 700) constitutes a record attendance, each district being fully represented in honour of tho Coronatibn, and owing also to tho interest taken in tho National Insurance Bill, introduced in tho House of Commons by the Chancellor of tho Exchequer,* 1 Mr Lloyd George. The representation worked out; at one deputy for each 1301 members, and tho New Zealand deputy (Bro. ,T. Kershaw, of Wellington), had tho distinction of representing the greatest number —viz., 14,673, The festivities, which were varied and numerous, appears by tho several reports _to Wave been fully appreciated by tlio visitors, and everything went_ off very smoothly, showing much foresight by the. brethren of tho Brighton District. Tho previous mooting of the A.M.C. at Brighton took place in 1862, forty-nine- years ago. Tho address of tho G.M. was a very interesting and "meaty" one, and would bo spoiled in condensation, so J would advise all those interested to get a copy of tho "Magazine’' A.M.C.' number. .Church parade was held on Whit Sunday in the Pavilion Grounds, the) Bishop of Chi-ch-ester preached to a crowded congregation, while hymnsspecially composed for Dio Coronation AAI.C. were sung to well-known tunes. Tho Bishop’s test was: "Honour all men, fear Gbd, honour tho Jung’’ (I Peter, ii., 17). Tho statistics of tho Order showed the increase of membership for tho year to have been 13,056, being tho largest increase for ten years, and tho secessions are tho lowest for tho past thirty-three yea re. ❖❖❖ During tho debate on tho National Insurance Bill, the conference was visited by several Mr G. LockerLaitnpson being present the whole three days the debate lasted* In reply to a coll for a speech, ho said "he Was pleased to have been privileged to be present and listen to tho debate. He had learned much, and would do Ins utmost to assist Friendly Societies generally and tho Manchester Dnity especially.” There were twenty-seven amend raonfs carried in regard to the Bill, and a sub-oommitteo was set up to endeavour.' to get -theem made law. Bro. Warren, of Stepney, was elected G.M. for the current year, and Bro. Barley, of D.GJM. Tho retiring G.M., Bro. Barnes, was the recipient of many presentations, and judging from the remarks . passed, he had .been very popular while holding tho office of GUI. The next A.M.C, meeting is to be held sA Nottingham, opening on Whit Monday, 1912, The High Sanctuary of the Ancient Order of Shepherds also met in Brighton this year. The membership was stated to have reached 12,000. ❖❖❖ The National Insurance Bill came in for rough handling at the hands of some of the leaders, and a committee was sot up to join with other societies in seeking radical amendment of tho Bill. Tho High Sanctuary decided to hold the next meeting at Eastbourne, and Bro. Moiling w’os elected High Paster and Bro. Tyler High Sub-Pastor. "When tho State scheme is thoroughly undcoßtood, even with all its imperfections, it will, in my opinion, be blessed in tho homos of thousands of our members. I urge it as a duty, having regard to the interests of tho people as a whole, not to attempt to block this groat measure of social -reform without sufficiently good reasons.” The first of the great friendly societies bo discuss tho Insurance Bill officially was tho Order of Foresters, and the words quoted were used by Mr W. lister Stead, the permanent secretary, in opening a throeday conference of the High. Court of tho Order at Burton-on-Trent. A joint report had been drawn up by Mir Stead and Mr ’William Marlow, tho Parliamentary secretary. Points suggested in this and in Mr Stead’s and l other speeches are as follows: Friendly society members resent suggestion that they .sweat the medical profession. Maternity benefit should be paid direct to parents, not spent by officials for them. Payment of State contributions into a central department is criticised, and it is urged ttiat a person insured under the State scheme who is already a member of an approved friendly society should be free from any deduction from wages, and should have all the advantages to be provided by the State. It is urged that approved societies i should have some power of investment, especially in continuing work of assisting members on proper /security to be- I come owners of their own houses. j State scheme is expected to render! solvent insolvent courts of friendly socie- i ties without any cost to the members,; and will at the same time provide higher i benefits thad obtained at present.