ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5205, 23 October 1878, Page 6

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

TIIE ANNUAL MEETING. Tho Lodges ifcDrosonted at the annuil meeting of d"l«att-s of the M.0., 1.0.0. F., Otago District, held in the Town Hall, Lawrence, on the 13th inst»nt were :—Hind and Hoirt i-odge, Dunedin, Bros Blick, Burt id, Sherwin, and Hitchcock; Duncdin Lodge, Bros IbbotHon, Fulton, Stronach: Dalton Lodge, Balclutha, Bros Johnston, Bat>.rick; Albion Lodge, Dunedin, Iroa Lambjth, Godso, Davie; Tuipeka Pioneer Lodge. Bros Harroo, Downes; \Vait»hu a Lolge, Bron Biaek, Ferries; Waipori Lodge, Bro It jbertsou ; Bue Spur Lodge, B'oi .M'Laren, Williams; Wanhy Lodge, Bro Geddes; It ixburgh Lod*«h, Bro Morgan; Tip.nui Lodg-, BroKe:r; Lake Wukitipu Lodge, Bros .Sw»n and Harrop; Bjnd of Friendship Lodge, Bro Robin; Outram Lodge, Bros Cox and H'Micoll. Tho District Officers present wer<j P.G.M. Leslie, pro.iidiiig; Deputy, Bro fish; Secrttary Bro S.igo; and Trt-a mrer, Bro Robin. FitOYISCUIi aaVNB mastsr'S addkbss. Tho Provincial Grand Mister delivered the following ad lr*si :— Worthy Deputy and Broth-*on—For the Br.it timo in tho hist >ry of this i iitrict which hau now been about tw.-nty yeara in exiite ice, we miei in annual session a\v*y from our headquarters in Dunedin. The circumstance that newly all our Lodges a-e widely separated fnm ench other ovjr a territory s une 10 000 scjaaro miles in oxtens, udde I to the fdCt tiiat till very lately tlio mode cf conveyance int > the intorier of the Province w-s bith slow and exueasive, h:is afforded a ready and BUffioie t excuse in the past why the principal rae-tings of our Society should be held in tbe District Chambers. That tbis excuse will not be cons.der.vl sufficient any longer, now that a c msidera'ile extent of country is made ca-Ily accenaib c by means of the railways, was m ido evident by the arguments used, and the large number of delegates who cirried the motion in ftvour of our meeting hoe at tho last District Meeting. I am aware there is some difference of opinion amongst the brethren of the Order with regard to tho-e meetings bolng moveable, mainly because tf the expense they will cunt. But, despite this, 1 trust and bdlieve that a large amount of g»od fllll Sow, front the fact that members if the Dl true wilt be affor icd an opportunity year by year, f mcc ing in the principal centres of population, and thareby profit by personal intercourse with e»ch ether, cement tha bond of unity which exiats, aud disseminate ih* noble principles of our institutions For my own part, I trust that tbis step we h»vo taken will he fo lowed up by othor* tM District Meetings shah have been hod in every locality where there is a Lod^e, fiom Ute Waitaki to the Mataur.i, and from the Nuggcta to the Lakes. The very (treat servi.es whi--.li the Loyal l'uapcta Lodge hai rendered to the Qrder, as thi mother Lodge of a vow num. rmia f imily, f u'ly explains and Justifies the selection cf Luvrenee a* the first country cown to be visited for the purpose ut hoi ling a Dist ict Meeting. 1 therefore congratulate the delegates oil our meeting in this pleosnt town, and in the c jtitro of a district ever memorable in cmceclion wilh the most eventful epooh in tho history of thU Province—vie , tne oiicovery of gold. Having m-ide these p-eUtn'nary remark", let me advert briefly to tha \r. cacdin :s at the latj Annua

Mo*eable Comm lee of the tiri-r in England, fjr I think it is our duty to rcgird with interest »U that transpires at the anmul parluraent of our Order, a,ids ek to denvo such lesiot.a from the proeeediu a thereat as may asiitt as in carryinj; on this di-iUict to ihe same deereo of porfeetion and financial stab lity ns Hv- been reached by many of Iho districts in Great Bdtain.

This year tho A..M.C. was held in the City ot Exeter. 5 the capital of liir Devon, aud w»s attended by no leas ! than 13*2 Deputies, being- 30 more than on any previous occasion. Our worthy Deputy P.P.G.M. Palmer, i reached Homo in time for the meet njj, and, thou-h ; f ji* from being well, attended aud took aa activo part in aorne of tho debates, lt it worthy of mention tint : the Auckland, Hobart Town, aud South Africa distrtuts wore also represented by- deputies. All this ] testifies to the reality of the unity whicli exi-ts tetween tho cuntral Society in Britain and its bra- c c, in the Colonies. This connection our Itcvisiit^ Barrister wis very slow to realise md stuetoa; but I am extremely please! to Uml ;that •an Thursday last a clause waa inserted in the s'rknJly Sooioiies Amendment Act^ before it was passed, recognising anil legalising not only our'couneiitiiiu with the parent Society, but also al owifis a r. f jrence in our Lodge mil District rules to tbe i,cne ; ral rules of the Order. i*

Prom th i Directors' report we find that ok tlie ißt Januiry, 1878, tho number of membrs wis 5iS 88', showing a gain of 813*2 on the year. The number of members admitted during the year was 32,241, while the withdrawals, deaths, &c , amounted to 25309 The income aud expenditure of the Unity for the year 1877 was not compiled in time for pressntatiou t-i tho meeting, and up ti the present timd welnvecot received tha quarterly roports containing tiie nucessary information.

In regard to the second quinquennlM vtoation of the Unity in Great Britain and Ireland, bs^run by tlte late C.S., Bro 11. RUiliffe, nnd only lately compleu d, the Direct ->rs were able to lay bafore th t mi'diiiK an abstract of the re»u't from this we fin 1

thit the present value ot ihe benefits or lab lit es amounts to £11,938,270 17a 2d; whilst the present

value of the contributions gives £7,956,984 18-t 9d ; ant this amount, addod to the capital in hand—viz , £3,607,126 2s2d, makes up a total of £11,564,111 oslid of assets, leaving- a deficiency of £372,168 16s 3d. In 871 the deficiency amounted to £1,341,448 16s 5d ; therefore the present valuation shows a reduction in tho doficieney of £971,278 0s 2d. In explanation of thin favourable circumstance, the Direclors state that it is due to the following causes :—Fiist, an increaso in the contributions. In 1871 tho average annual contributions to the Sick and Funeral Fund amounted to 19s 6d per member ; in 1876 it had risen to 20s sd. Second, a reduction in the benefit!.: In 1871 the present average value of sick and funeral benefits for each member amounted to £28 lis 10s; in 1876 it had been reduced to £25 Ids 94. Third, careful attention to tho investment of the funds, In consequence nf which many L d res are enabled to be valued at a higher rate of interest than 3 per cent., the rate at which all were v* uud at in 1871.

Tho progress towards solvency, which this valuation •hows to havo taken place the preceding five yeara, is matter for great congratulation, and gives us confidence that tho great Manchester Unity will be abe, at no d-stant date, to assert that (every Lodge belonging to it at Homo and abroad has beeu placed on a firm financial foundation, and is in the proud position of being able ta mei-t all its engagements. At the instance of Bro Godfree, of Brighton—a gentleman who has on several occasions done tne Otago District /food sendee—a motion was passed by the meeting affirrainir the desirability "that an endeavour should be made by tha G. M. aad Board of Directors to obtain the regulation of geneial rules in the Colonies."

What the result of this will bs it would be difficult to say; hut the eximple eot by the Revising Barrister and Registrar of this Colony wil, I trust, bo followed by the gentlemen holding similar oflices in the other Colonies. At the same time, lam -ure you will agree with me in thanking our friend for hia interest in Colonhl Directors, and juin in tho hops that the efforts of the Directors miy soon be successful

One of the most important wants of tin meeting was the election of a Corrcsp inlirsr Secretary In room of tho*. late Henry KUeliffe. For this important office there wore lour candidates, which number was reduced to two after die tint voting. Theso cindidatea' names—Collins and Watson—then went again to the poll for final vote, with this result—that Mr Collins sot 104 votes and Mr W.»tson 161, giving a majority of three for Mr Collins in a meeting of 325. It was evident throughout tho couise of the previous proceeding* that party spirit ran pretty hi.-h in regard as to who|shouldjbe Mr KatcliflVs succosaor, and the final voting shows how evenly the parties were bahnced. For all this it i-i to he hoped that the best man has been chosen, and tli <t he will provo h inself well qualiflod for tho higii tllloj he ii now called to, though, from remarks nude, it seems he does not profe6s to have any share of that actuarial knowledge held by his opponent, and the possession of which in such largo measure brought, so much renown to Henry R tcliffeand credit to the Minchestor Unity.

A great deal of discussion soems to have taken place on a. large number of quMtions of little or no intere-t to ua, suoh as the Poor Law Act, the Northampton cisc, and many of tho proposed alterations in the rules.

On the other hand, there wore several questions brought under consideration of ih-i meeting worthy of our attention, had time allowed ; but 1 can only mention a few of them, and no more-such a* the establishment of superannuation funds (.« question which it will be our duty to take up before long), 'he subject of r-luatlon (a question which en-mot lung be delayed by us), the proposal for intercommunication wilh the 1.0.0 F. in America (a result which now soem3 cipa le of attainmeir). The discussion on District Mck Fund*, and on the question of clearances, did not receive that amount ot attention wh'ch they deerved. In reg-rd to clearances, I have been long of opinion tint the A.M.C.'s have not done their duty, for in the ca-io of members who emigr <te to the Colonies a cry great injustice is done under the present Hum*) system. Let me now direct your attention ti the consideration ot our more immediato affairs.

All the Lodire returns have been received, hut some of them so lately tlut teveral errors which we fear exist in them have not been fu'ly rectified. The returns have boen tabulated by our worthy Secretary with his uiual care and clearness, which enables mo to pace before you the following facts regarding our portion on the 30th Juno last On that dale tho niembersh p oi the distiict was given as 1690, of which number 1420 were returned as "good" on the ho- ks During the previous half-year 70 new member* joined by initiation, and eight joined by cloarance. On the other hand we havelost six member* and one member's wife by deuth, and about tho average number have withdrawn or seceded. The total income of our 23 Lodges for tho six months, amounted to £301S 9* sd, made up as fo.'ows :— Admissions .. .. .. £136 16 0 Contributions to sick aud funeral fund, including funeral repayment* for district .. ~ 1,193 7 2 Interest, rents, &c , sick and funeral fund 479 10 8 Contributions to industrial fund, goods, &c. ~ .. ~ 1,409 3 9 Foreign Lodges .. .. .. 13113 8 Interest and rents, industrialfund.. 207 18 2 £3.013 9 6 Tlie total expenditure during the same term am mntcd to £2551 4* 4J, clasified under the following heads : - For sick benefits .. .. .. £429 7 7 Funeral „ 130 0 0 District levies, funeral fund .. 110 2 0 Medical att-n dance and medicine .. 1,02*112 0 Kents, salaries, print;ng, &c. .. 773 14 8 Foreign L idges 101 8 1 1 £2,581 4 4

From this brief statement it wiU be seei tint the addition to tho capital of the Lodges in the dstrkt amounti to £1037 5s ld for tlie six months On the last day of the term, the ba'anca at credit of sick a-d funeral fund in cash, Und, and building bwas £19,021 10s Id Lodges held goods said to be oi the value of £475 15s, and the incidental fund credit balance nnd other assets amounted to £3(iSO 4s sd, so tbat the gross total value of our Lodges appears to be £23,153 15s Od. It would take up too much lime for melo fully an t'ysc theee return?, but there are several particulars disclosed by the complication whichl deem to be i f great importance to thia Dutrict, and 1 crave your indulgence while I dwell on them for a little. The small increase in our me nbers is koI*. in my opinion, at all in keeping wilh the claims of the Society on tho growih of population ," and as all our traders have been f<irly prosperou" durirg the time, I fear it can only be aec muted for by want of energy on the part of the members. It should ever be borne In mind by a 1 of us that the operations of our Socioty are two-fold; on the ono hand, it is a business on the othor, a beneficonce, " a function of pleasure and a mission of humanity." We rccojiiiso the fact that our condition is one of inter-dependence, and we combine together, in or."r| that in times of sickness or when calamitycomes we may have a claim to assistance based on ihe monoys we havo contributed to the So.'iety without loss of self-respect or compromise of individual independence But the aims of our Society embrace the m ral as well as the mit rial welfare of its members, for, as you are aU aware, we are instruct id to practise the cardinal virtues, and to strive to make all tboso/who enter amongst us " better husbands, better fathers, and better members of society. * Such being the ca-io, I do most earnes'.ly lupe that in the future our mc-mbori will beitir themselves and se-k tj alike known the objects and advantages of our i'ocie'y, so that many may be induced to join our rauks. The important question of the indebtednot-s of the Incidental E<p«Jses Fund to tho Sick ai*d Funeral Fund has again engaged tin serious attention of tho District Officer. During the s'x months under service, I regret to say the debt haa increased to the extent of £24 17s 7d, to tlut it now stands at £1012 12. I had h >ped that afor th? many warnings which have been given anent thli matter, it would have been my pleasing duty to announce on the present occ ision that a natural improvement had taken place, it is certainly matter for congratulation that ten ot our Lodges hive balances in hand to tho era-lit of tho Incidental Fund, while sx others have in tho six month* reduced thrirdot.it by £73 19s 3d. Therem-.inin,' seven Lodges are thed.faulters, they having increased iheir md jbtediiem to the ext. Nt of £93 10* I'd. It mint be evi>!e>it to everyone «ho has carefully considered this question, that power should be given to tha Distict Officers to at ence put a stop to a practi c fraught with so gre t dinger to tho Lodges, and through them to the District. It would bo matter fir treat praise if tlie members of our Lolges would strive to know their duiy, and to do it of their own free will and accord, without any pressuro being brought to bear ou ih-m cither by the District Offlcers or tbe Registrar; bat if they do not do it, thej mEst be taujht it. The current expenses for doctor, medicines, rents, salaries, un I other management CKoeiiies ou^ht to be paid for ou the completion ot the terms of service; and if the regular contributions of the member.-) to tne IneiJent 1 t'u..d prove inadequate, the wisest cour=e U to m ike a levy at once for tiie amount short in the past, and for the future to watch wel that there be no needless expenditure, and if the contributions are still shor*, then 'aise the contributions But the payment of tho existing debt should he borne by the persons in whose boh vlf the services were provided, as it is manifestly unf or to ask new mumbors who maybe paying an adequate ammntfor the tervicss provided fir themselves, to ass-st in pying OS a debt contrjc.cd by tlie old members of the Lodge. All the service* c mnected wilh the Inci ental Fund or Management Fund of a Lodge are ol thi naturo of timo birfvius, ,aud should be pai-i at the time pronipt'y. The amount of interest on capital received during the past term proves very conclusively th-t much more attention ia now being paid to this most important ni.tter than wan the«ase a Bhort time a^o. Yet for all this a few Lodges are socmingiy as careless as ever. The value of goode lielcfi by tho various Lo Iges presents somo peculiar features w rtby o( your attention—for example, one Lodge with on'y 11 member*, returns the valm of i*s goods at £-10 17a Od; while another, 161 members, has toods to the value of £20 -jnly; or again, seren Lodge*, with a membership of 359) holds goods which thoy value at £333 lis; while the reinniuiiu 10 Lodges, wth liil member , value their goods at £142 la only. I have no ie won todoubt the corrcct'*e.is of the values given by the Lodges, yet it ctustbe|appareattojouallthatthenevenLodge*relerr d to have been very extravagant or culpabk careless. It will not therefoio surprise you to be told thitiu

nearly every cisc this wa-stefulness lus been at me expe*is; of the Mck a-'d Funeral Fund capital. I wou'd urge upon the members of these Lo 'ges to reduce tlieir stock of goods aa speedily as possible, a*id invest the morey to batter account. There on'y

remains 0113 otlier fe'ture drawn from the returns tor SM to dwell up-in, hut it is a most important one, His to draw your attent on ttfthe trci tnat iv four of our Lolges the expenditure during the six months has

exceeded the income, whi c several others h tve done (tittle more than hold their grju-.d. In the casu cf one of the Lod ci the sickness experience hr.s been heavy, but with tho others the sicklies* was not graiter than was to be eipec'.ed. I hope this reverse may only be aosidmital, but my reason e«ntra.'iets my hope; and therefore 1 say to you plainly, it is high time that we should

mate a. teurching ii.vM'igation into our aft'n'rfl, and, faeiiiff the qucs'.lon manfully, apply such remedies as ace found to ho necossary. Wu li ive teen what the parent Soc cty tins found it necessi yto do, and it we are to attain the sune U<h eo.inoiice, it must ba by folloY/inir tho same courses. With 'Friendly Societies there is no royal road to sslvcncy. The want of hnow edge is one of tho gr«ittst obstne'o lv regard to thin siibj >ct which has ra be overcome, and the diflicEl y of educating members te ihe nece*sary point all but insurmountable. But It wo are sincerely desirous of making our insttui.ion as perfect as we can, itmut bn attempted, and we m-ait labour to make our mem-iers clearlj apprehend tlio real responsibilities thstsueh a Society as this ucdirtakes. Durinp; the last six months (as will bo eejn by tiie report nf tho Bye-Uw-Revision Commiitee) ■&IO financial coadition of oar Society I as frequently fccupiel the attention of tho Commit cc, and though thoir labours wero i.ot (hushed iv time to enable us to

lay Ihe results beforo you at this meeting, still I may be permitted to say lliatit has br.en ngreed to recommend for adoption by thi* District a scale of fees and c intributioits which wo believe will, il adopted, place our Society en a sound basis. Having B-id tli a, I ho|« that j-ou will all thi k earnestly over thi maWer, so tbat wheu the special meeting tekes place [or the consideration of the ltovision Oomiffiittce'i reesramendjitigns, we may be iiblo t > disciiM the mbjejtf ully, fairly, and temperately.

Worthy Ualeij-itcs -At the closo of this meeting the Distrkt Officers resign tho clia-ge which you committed to their keeping twelve months ago. 5. fcaro to thank tfce brethron of the Order for the «i«pm:tth(y hairegw-eune, and tin kindness I havo

iKeceivec traia ale The past year has, in many relaßectr, Etaai * bmy one, buD you: District Officers

have one and all wrought most heartily together, and to tho best of our ability, for the interests of the Dist-ict. To my worthy Deputy-£lro Fish I tender my most sincere thsnks for his able assistance and support in carrying out the duties of my offlce. To our Corresponding Secretary, Bro Sligo, I offer my warmest, thanks for the kind ano courteous manner iv which lie has always met me, for his readiness at all times to attend to the requirements of the Society, and for the able manner in which ho has conducted the business of the District. I now ask your kind assistance in conducting the business of this meeting, ar.d I trust the result of our deliberations may.tend to the advancement of this Society and tho benefit of our fellow-men. I have now pleasure in declaring this meeting duly opened. TnE TUAPEKA HOSPITAL. Bro Harrop moved thnt the sum of 10 guineas bo voted from the funds of tho district as a donation to tha Lawr-nce Hospital. Bro Roms said tint had it not beon that the Incidental Fund was in such an unsatisfactory state, he shou'd have moved for 10 guineas being voted to too Tuapeka Hospital, and a like sum for the relief of sufferers by the floods. He would, however, content himself with moving that £5 5s bo voted to i-a-.h obj-ct. The Noble Grand oi the Dalton Lodge, Balclutha, had lost his life by these floods. The Chairman was of opinion that the amendment was not iv order. The original motion was then cirried. A NEW LODGE Permission was granted to the Dalton Lodge to open a new Lodge at Stirling, to be called tho Loyal Matau Lodge. OFFICERS' EXrBNSES. The District Officers were voted a sum of £5 to recoup tlieir expenses in attending meetings for the revision of rules. Bro. Harrop's motion was agreed to, that for the enensuing year the levy on the Incidental Fund be Is, and for fcicfc and Funeral Fund ls 6d. RLECTIONS. The election of District Officers was then proceeded with. The candidates for Provincial Grind Mastership wer-i D.P.Q.iI. FMi, and|P.D.G.&f. Cover id. liro. Fish was returned. Those who stood for the offlce of Deputy woro P.D.G.U, Coverlid, P.G.S Forsvth, and Bros. Cox, Ibbotson, and Sherwin. Bro. Cox, of Outram, was ihi successful candid-to. For the office of Corresponding Secretary P.G. Black wa-i returned, his opponent being Permanent Secret iry Fulton. The salary w..a fix-id at £75.] P.P.G.M. Robin was ic-ippointed Treasurer, INSTALLATION OF OmCKRS. The meeting closed witn the installation of ofli -er3 In taking ihe chair P.G.M. *lsu said that c • far as his abilites would permit he would endeavour to emulate the nets of his predecessor. If at thu end of his term he could feel that s-jlf satisfaction which Bro. Le-iie mint feel to-day, or po'sossed the satisfactory feelings wilh wheh those present viewed the pa,t Omul's service-, he should consider ho hal achieved considerable success. The time had gone by when pcr'ons Used to sneer at the OrdeT, wlvch was now recognised as one of the grea est friendly societies in the world. The time had now arri.cd when tho groatoßt stuteimen did not fail 'o support th'S in-titu-tion, and the people cf Great Britain were alive to ihe great so.iial objects and reforms whioh thiiand kmdre 1 Societies k'ndlei in their midst. He cone uded by hoping tint a spirit ol enthusiasm would onable him to spreai tho branches t f the Order. MIsCKLLANSOUS. It was resolved that tha next purple and district lectures ba held at Outr<m, the time to bo fixed by the District officers and officers of Loyal Outram Lodge. Tho la'e Arbitration Committee wero reappointed in conjunction with ihe District officers. It was unanimously ngrccJ that Provincial Grand Master Leslie's name be placed on tha District Merit Board, and that ha receive a certificate to eaable him to take the degree of R.P G.II. TUB SCPI'ER. The supper was he;d ut the Commercial Hotel, where au excellent sprea-l was provided. In replying to tin toast of " The District Offlcers," f.tl.M. Fis.i said his election as hoad of the Manchester Unity in tho Otaso district was a position he was proud of, and his fcedngs were akin to the occasion when he wss returned as Aiayor of Dunediu for the first time. OJdfel owship ho looked upon as a t-chool from wliich public men rose from a lesser to a tire iter decree of eminence. The admission that day of tho Press to their proceedings was a step towards progression. In conclusion, he referred to the very valuable services rendeedby Past Odicors Leslie and Sligo.