LATE BRO. JAMES MACFIE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17424, 19 September 1918, Page 6

LATE BRO. JAMES MACFIE

MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED. There was a, very large gathering of Foresters in the Albany Street Hall last Coilrt P frll fI 01 and membcrs of "ot.K.rsLt»is idd "»<■«» — P.O.C.jR. Bro. W. B. Anderson, who presided, apologised for several prominent mmebers of friendly societies who wore urahlo to be present. In addiH°" ,v a - muster of membera from the District Executive, A.0.F., and the city and suburban ' courts of Foresters, representatives were present from the folio wing kindred societies: —U.F.S. DisDensujy. MU.L0.0.F., U.A.0.D., ProteJuS T>'n C< V Hibernians. nf thf'S; ,i Bro V R - Volley. (Court Star Bro V. J nver 'carsill) said the late Bro. Macfie had endeared himself to the aeart of every true worker in friendly j work. He was a broad-minded man and one who did not think that the on sooiecy in the world, and ho had never been backward in asking tne opinions of members of kindred societies. .The late Bro. Macfie landriln I)unedin in 1867, a robust young m.m a nd experienced the up 6 and dovfns <rf the pl °") M i rS j Ile startod Wof k from the toiT u n ,°. v ? r been afraid of hard foirlncc • WaS amb L ltlous . courteous and fearless ,n everything that he undertook He was always a model of punctuality, and took every man's word as his bond! In SjdTT I s 41)6 lato Bro - Posaor, Volce ' md could sing 5°u g ' e , ad alwa -ys admired the good and beautiful in everything. On Sen--187 t °-u he was into tSe Pride of tho Leith, and in January, • ! ele ftcd junior beadle; secretary m April of tne same year, .and chief disranger m 1874. He thus in four years mounted from the bottom to the top ran? in iorescry When he joined Court Pride at Jie_ Leith there was a membership of 44 ana the funds amounted to £49 13s 3d and at his death on November 30, 1917* the membership had increased to 300 and the tunas t-o £7820 8s 7d, including a surplus of £1130. He was elected district ?arM SUre l m l ' keld that office till J.aU4, when he was appointed district secretary—an office he held until liis death. He was secretary for the United Friendly Societies for 30£ years. The late Bro. Macfio was the founder of the local branch, of the United Friendly Societies' Dispensary in 1887, and its growth and prosperity were largely due to him. It was owing to him that- the Board of Management took up the question of Hospital beds for men* bers of friendly societies. This took up a - 1 I but , he - worked harmoniously with the Hospital staff "1 , rP ar r s : the speaker said that the late Bro. Macfie had been an unselfish upright man, one who had always lefused to let his left hand know what hia right hand was going to do, and there had been many 6tranded Foresters who had reason to bless him. Bro. Follcy then unveiled the memorial— a handsome oak tablet designed by Bro. J. il. Oliver, the workmanship being skilfully executed by Messrs J. and A. Wilkin, son. One panel contains an enlarged photograph of the late Bro. Macfie, and tha other a tribute to tho memory of the departed brother. Addresses were also given by P.D.C R Bro. John Robertson (treasurer), P.D.CJL Bro. John Hope (district treasurer), and visitors from other courts and kindred ,S.C.R. Bro. J. H. Oliver sang e J ' and at the conclusion oi the function supper was partaken of. It 13 interesting to note that Court Pride of the Leith has established a fund called the Macfie Memorial Fund, which consists of the interest from the surplus fund and the annual donation from the management l • . object of the fund is to pay tha subscriptions of members over 65 years of age. \