MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13180, 13 January 1905, Page 2

MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

A well-attended meeting of tho Olago (No. 1) Ledge of Druids was held in tho Oddfellows' Hiill, Rattray street, 011 Wednesday evening last, when Arch Druid Bro. Hubbard presided. Prominent amongst those present were;— D.G.Y.P. Bro. E. J. Bryant, P.D.P, Bro. llouieril, P.A. Bro. Dove, P.D.P's., Bros. S. C. Broun, Booth, and Dixon; D.G. Treasurer, Bro. W. 0. Evans; P.D.G.S., Bro. Birt, P.A. Bro. Thompson, P. Secretary, Bro. Birt, jun.; Trustees, Bros. H. Gourley and Lemon, and the District President of No. 1 District, Bro. Mitchell. Tile principal business of the evening was the yearly election of officers, a proceeding that aroused tho keenest interest. The ballot resulted as follows:—Arch Druid, Kro. J. Robertson; Vice Arch Druid, Bro.' Norrie; Arch Druid Bards, Bros, Brown and Macaffyn; Vice Aroh Bards, Bros. E. J. Bryant and J. B. Holt; Outer Guardian, Bro. Dove; Inside Guardian, Bro. Hawkins; Seorekry, Bro. Willie Evans; Treasurer, Bro. Hobba; Press Kepresentative, Bro. J. B. Holt. The election of District Grand Lodge representatives was then proceeded with. Tho Otago Lodge ha-s been on previous occasions entitled to two representatives. This year, however, the lodgo will be allowed to send three, owing to the satisfactory increase of the membership of the lodgo. On the ballot being taken,,tho retiring officer, Bro. Mitchell, announced that D.G. V P. Bro. E. J. Bryant, D.G. Treasurer Bro. Willie Eviitis, and P.D.P. Bro. Hobbs had, after a close contest, been duly elected. The District President assisted by P.D.P. Bro. Boineril, duly installed tho various officers into their respective chairs. Bro. Bryant proposed a voto of thanks to Bro. Lemon for his efforts in connection, with the inauguration of the Druidic choir. This was carried with acclamation. Bro. Lemon, in responding, thanked the brethren ior the kind sentiments expressed, and stutcd that on the next lodge night he would be Teady to make another start with the choir. He expected to see a good number of members, and at the end of the noxti half-yearly period he would venture to prophesy that the Otago Lodge would possess a choir that would not only be a credit to tho lodge but. to the order in general. A notice of motion was given, which, if carried, will materially ait-er the existing system of electing secre- v taries and treasurers. Bro. Mitchell then presented the gold medal for having introduced the most members lor the past 12 months to Bro. ,1. Kobertsou. The District President said that it would be observed that the prizo was a, very unique one. He knew that tho recipient would va.uo it, not merely for its intrinsic va-luo but for the pleasant association connected with it. Bro. Eobertson was, without doubt, one of the best workers in the Otago Lodge. Bro. J. B. Holt was then presented with an oil painting, representing the head of Lake Te Anau, for having proposed tho second highest number of visitors during tho past year. The usual congratulatory addresses having been given, the lodge duly adjourned. At the half-yearly meeting of Linden Lodge, U.A.0.D., held in the lodgeroom 011 Tuesday evening, l the balance sheet for the half year ended December, 1901, read by the secretary, showed am increase in funds of £28 Gs 2d, besides paying £29 Cs Sd in sick pay, Tho auditors reported the accounts to be well kept, and everything in a satisfactory condition. Tho election of officers resulted as follows:—J.P.A., Bro. John Swausoii; A.D., Bio. Joseph Lloyd; Y.A., Bro. James O'Brian; A.D. Bards, Bros. G. Newman and Barton Harniess; Secretary, Bro. T. Sunderland (re-elected); Treasurer, Bro. Frank Farley (re-elected); Y.A. Bards, Bros. Alexander Harney and William Duncan; 1.D.G., Bro. William A. More; 0.D.G., Bro. Francis Clough; G.L.K., P.D.P. Bro, Barton Harniess (D.P. No. 1 District); P.A. Bro. John W. Hill (Ivanhoe Lodge). The officers were duly installed by D.P. Bro. Mitchell, assisted by D.G.V.P. Bro. J. Bryant. A voto of thanks was accordedto the installing officers. D.P. Bro. Mitchell, 011 behalf of the ledge, 'presented a P.A. diploma to P.A. Bro. W, A. More. Visitors were D.P. Bro. Mitoholl, D.G.Y.P. Bro. J. Bryant,' and Y.A. Bro. Bobertsou (Otago Lodge). Receipts, £5 10s 9d.

At the weekly meeting of tho Rescue Lodgo of Good Templars, held in the South Dnnedia Presbyterian Schoolroom, representatives from the Hope of Caveruham, Pioneer, and Evergreen Lodges were recoived officially. Bro. Coraissiong spoke or tho good of the order. Harmony was contributed by Bro. M'Connell (piano selection ), Bro. Hilton (song), Sis. Burton (recitation), Bro. Joyce (song), Bro. Jones (song), Bro. M'Connell (song), Sis. B. South (recitation), Sis. Paterson (recitation). A vote of sympathy was passed to Bro, and Sis. Whalo in the loss they havo sustained by the death of their daughter. A vote of thanks to the visitors was responded to by Bro. Jones (Cosmopolitan Lodge, New York), Bro. ll'Coimcll (Hope of 'Caveraliam), Bro. Pinder (Allianoe), and Bro..'\Vatsoh;(Evergreen).

The Pioneer of Duncdin Lodge,- I:O.G;i.;. held their first meeting for the;new. year on Tuesday evening in the Lower Choral' Hall, Bro. Cofhissiong, C.T.,' presiding. 'Thprewas a large attendance of members and visitors, the Alliance Lodge attending officially.' ; A vote of sympathy with Bro. and Sis. Whale, on tho; death of their daughtor was unanimously accorded. Aftjr the usual lodge business.ft debate was carried on with the Alliance liodge' on tho question "Town v. Country Life." After a lengthy discussion the audience voted in favour of country life.