DRUIDISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 13

DRUIDISM.

■'' -y i The Endeavour Lodge hold iis fortnightly meeting in the Oddfellows Hall on Tuesday* ovonuig;-when there was a good attendance. . -Threo candidates wore initiated, the-officers carrying out their respective parts in a pleasing'' manner. It 6F ea ' ffl well for tho interesttaken in the lodge by tUio members when jt is stated that 27 new members, have been added during this quarter,; '.. .? ■■■

T'no -Ivanhoo Lodgo met ori Monday cvoning, A.D, Bro, E. S. Moss presiding, and there ■«#' a . good attendance of members. Two cdndiuatosAvere initiated. The visitors included P.G. Sec. Bro; Shelton (Olajo Lodge) and P.A. Bro. Pcllett (Prido- of Moriiington), Tho ■ latter rerespondod to" the sceond toast. The receipts for tho ovening wcro £21 17s. Tho Lindon, Lodge met on Tuesday evening; • A.D: "-Bro. More in the chair. After business had' been dealt with, the members spent the ovening together in & pleasant manner, which always helps to enliven interest, in t'iq rtieetinge. Tho Otogo Lodge met on Wednesday evening, A.D. ; Bro\ Watson presiding. Bro. Wohler, of Invercargill, was present, and received .a ■ hearty welcome. Ho thanked tho brethren for their kindness to him during tho time ho had been in Dimedin iindcr' medical treatment, and gave an interesting aceonnt of tile opening of Otago Lodge some ?0 years ago. ' Bro. Butler (Lily of Valley Lodgo), in responding to the .visitors', .toast, mentioned the progress the juvenile lodge was making, having a membership of 80 and a credit ljalanco of £90. An effort is being made to get 100 members and £100 credit before tho end of the year, and judging by tho interest tiikon in tlho \matter it should be accomplished.

At t.ho usual fortnightly -meeting of the Gore Lodgo a splendid muster of 40 members were present, Arch Druid Bro. AY. Scott presiding. Afterjlio opening coremonies were performed a. delegation from the Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, and from' the Acorn Lodge, Invercargill, consisting of Grand District President Bro. Mitchell, G.D. Secretary Bro. Lamaeli, D.P. Bro. Burnliam, P.A.'s Bros, .Cook, Keane, and Roche, of tho Acorn Lodge, Invercargill; was received. The initiation ceremony then tobk place, and seven new\ members were admitted to tho order and six .proposed. Bros. Mitchell and Larnach pravo interesting addresses. Tlie latter said that .the .order was progressing satisfactorily all 'over (ho ■ district, especially eo 'in tiro' lodges outside of Ihmedin. There were 20 lodges under- tho jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Oligo and Southland, and tho increase of funds for tho six months ending June 30 was £1178 2s 8d: aiid by tho affiliatioh recently of the All -Nut-ions' Lodge, Port Chalmers, an accretion of the funds .of over £1200 resulted, and the Grand Lodge of Victoria was responsible for" thrco years yet for tho funeral benefit, if any, of that- ledge. Tho totai -funds of tho. district, were now £23,411. aiict the meriibcrship 2187. The Grand Lodgo 10 years' ago started with 639 members, so it- would be 6oeu that the Order was progressing. lie was extremely pleased with the progress of the order as evidenced by the. member-. ship and attendance at the Aeoi'n. (Iraki, ami Gore Lodges during his visit this week. The Acorn Lodgo was one of tho,most properous and most financially successful lodges in the district. In conclusion, he referred to tho growth of the various lodges in tho 'district, and was applauded by tbe brethren. Bros. Barnharii, Cook, and Keane also delivered short addresses. Some routine business wa6 . transacted and tho lodgo adjourned. . The . visitors were sulisoquently entertained to a. smoke social, and an hoiir-was pleasantly spent in speeches, song, and "story. During the evoning Bro. Barnhani,. D.P., presented a handsome barometer for presentation to the member who sccurcd Hie most members for the half-year ending Decemlier next. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Acorn Lodge, Invercargill, was held on Wednesday evening, when there, was a very Jiirgc attendance of members, no doubt the official visit from Grand Lodgo officers helping-to' increase tho attendance. After ordinal? busmen? had been gone through'tho D.G. President (Bro. Mitchell) and D.G. (Bro. Larnach) wexo received on an official visit from the Grand LodfiSi .an? 4 a lirartj, „wel-

oome. Two new members wero added, to the membership. The lodge then adjourned for hai'inojiy. Tho usual toasts were given and responded to. Bro. Mitchell spoke at. length to tho progress being made 'by the order. Bro. tonnch reviewed tho' last- six months' work and gave figures showing" the progress being innde; also that ho wis pleased to sec they had iirraly established ;i juvenile lodge, which would bp a fowler to tlio parent lodge, which had dono splendid work, both numerically unci 'financially, for tho' half-. year, and 'concluded by wishing Uicnvooq-' tinned success, and hoped to visit them, at a. future date. Rofro=hments were handed round during the evening, and a vpr.y pleasant meeting came to a. closo by singing " Auld lons' Syne." • "" ~

Tho" 0.6. President, Bro. Mitohclli. aTid". D.tJ. Secretary Bro. Larnach, accompanied by D.P Bro. Burnham and P.D.P, Bro. . Strang; journeyed down to Oolao Bay .And Attended tho ordinary mooting of Oraki Lodgo on Thursday night. Notwithstanding the very..wet night and tho-long jour-' ncy. 60vcral members lnvo to mako, as ntost. of thorn livo a long way from i tho lodge, , thero was a'fair attendance of metnbora •to welcome tho visitors. A pleasant, oven-' ing was spent, and tho visiters spoko very' encouragingly to tho members, and ex-'" pressed their , pleasure at tho loidgo in :a : . part, of tho district so far away holding ita ' own so well. Members appreciated tho .; visit very much, and no doubt muoh gtood.will' bo'tho result. :