INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18075, 25 October 1920, Page 3

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

GRAND LODGE SESSION. ARRIVAL OF DELEGATES. In preparation for that important event in connection ; with tlio Independent Order of Oddfellows—tho session of the Grand I#odge of Australasia—the remaining offioora and representatives from abroad arrived in Dunedin by the first express on Saturday afternoon. 'These delegates, 16 in number, wore from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, and, with tho delegates who arrived on Monday last from Queensland and South Wales, and the six New Zealand representatives, will make a total of about 34 at the sitting** of the Grand Lodge sessions. Amongst tho arrivals w«as Bro, it. llobb, G.M. of Now Zealand, who will preside over tho various gatherings to bo held this week. At the station tho party was met and welcomed by Bro. William llcirt, Grand Secretary, Bro. W. ftipley, D.D.GiM., Sister ■k* Elawn, L.D.D.G.AI., and a number of office-bearers and members of the order in this district. THE VISITORS ENTERTAINED. ENJOYABLE SOCIAL FUNCTION. In the evening the officers and representatives of the Grand Lodge of Australasia were entertained at a banquet in tho Art Gallery Hall, iand this function proved an unqualified success as well as an oxcellent means of at onco placing the visitors at their ease in their new feurrcmndings. Bro. llobb, G.M. of New presided, and was supported by the visiting and local Grand Lodge omoers. The Mayor was also present. Alter justice had been done to the admirable re.past provided by the catorer, a lengthy toast list was entered "upon, the standard of the speaking being uniformly high. Bro. D.i M. Miller, P.G.M., in proposing of tho "Grand Lodge of Australasia/ stated that he paid an official visit to Australia go mo years ago, and for a. very long timo hands had been stretched across j the sea in tho hope that the Australian delegates would one day bo able to visit the dominion. They all knew the difficulties winch had been experienced during the last i few years, and' that it had not been possible to hold a Grand Lodge session since 1914. He | assured the visitors tbat they were very cordially weloome, and he trusted that they would spend a profitable time in this city.—— (Applause.) Continuing, he stated that since its establishment the Grand Lodge had made ocmaiderabl/s progress in membership, and it r, of something like £800,000. + -l' tliey had accumulated funds «w such a rate that on a per capita basis he thought Ujcy occupied a premier position, but at the same time the lodges in Ausoccupied a very .strong position. Bro. Milter added that such an order as theirs had an important duty to perform in harmonising the forces of the world; and he behoved that during the next few days thoy would be able to give very tangible evidence of the great principles for which they stood. —(Applause.) J -^ ro - Clarke, P.G. Sire, on rising to reply, was very warmly received. He said he had been looking forward to this visit for a considerable time, and he was pleased i.- u \ v , eUto that the jurisdiction to ■S ™ was very fully represented. Tho visitors were all very pleased to be here, jmd he believed that much useful w r tl,r OT >! * n ?i. He wishcd to apologise t£ r 1 f th « Actm S Grand Sire lad the Grand Secretary (Bro. J. 0. Smith). ±-rooeeding, he stated that the Grand Lodge of Amtmiosia had) been created in 1878, anu ? 0f £ he movement had been Harmon whom he had had the pleasure of hearing deliver an address in the lod«e room in Rattray street. After describing tho process of consolidation he referred to the sound financial position of the order, paiticularly m New Zealand. The order still stood for the great principles of friendship, love, and truth, and there was no reason why it b^J ono iota from those principles, but should g-o on to even greater things.— (Applause.) The • Gra-nd Lodge sessdon °ha>. SS T fh and although the y assembled 1. hoped il would not be 111 MWei3 connected mth the OTder thece was mo name more respected than that of G.S. for New Zealand, and ho trusted they would retain him in lon S possible.—(Loud applause.) In conclusion, he stated that' although the lodge had built up a strong financial credit there was a use for every penny of thai stun and there was a call to service and a call to unity right throughout the order to which he hoped and believed one and all would respond.—(Applause.) . After an absence of 38 years f*om this city it did his heart goo£ to be back here, and he greatly appreciated all the kindness and love which hadl been manifested towards him since his return.—(Applause.) Bro. Carl Glasgow, P.G.M., New South Wales, proposed the toast of "Tie Parliament of New Zealandcoupled vrith the name of Bro, a j. Talbot, D.G.iL Ho stated thfcit the various Parliaments both in Australia and here had done much by their enactments to help tho order, and as a whole they merited the gratitude of members. Personally he would like to see more members of friendly societies in Parliament, so that the n.i™» and aspirations of their order and of other similar orders would receive even greater consideration.—(Applause.) ® ro * C- J. Talbot, D.G.M., briefly responded, deprecating the disparaging manner in which I arliament and members of Parliament were too often referred to, but stating that whenever people wanted anything they invariably assailed Parliament with their requests. In view of the great benefit work which was dono by the various friendly societies he »» strongly of opinion that Parliament should help them even more than it had done. Bro. Talbot also paid a tribute to the Dunedin members of Parliament.—(Applause.) Bro. Xj. D. TCitcliio, G.T., in. proposing tne toast of the "City Corporation." commended the way in which the oity fathers performed their duties, notably in connection with the trading ooncerns, which wero largely responsible for\ tho rates being lower here than in any other city in the dominion. There was only one point upon which he desired to criticise the City Council, and that was in connection with its lack of • support to educational purposes. Dnncdin occupied a preeminent position in education, and he did not think that the ratepayers would raise any kind of objection if the council contributed financially to tho university or to the "\V.EA. These weire the days of free education, and in his opinion civic bodies should play a leading part in extending educational facilities.—(Applause.) Mr Begg, in replying, recaJlcd tho fact that Bro. Clarke, who had received his early training in municipal politics in Dunedin, had attained to tho high honour of being elected chief magistrate of tho city of Syd ney. Regarding what Bro. K.tohie had said he would just like to remind thoso present that the City Council provided the university and the other educational institutions with cheap lighting, water, and tramway fares, and what botter donation could they have? He wished the work of the order every success. —(Applause.) Bro. W. Lucas, G.T. of South Australia, proposed the toast of "Tho Grand Lodge of New Zealand." Its membership, he stated, was about 8000, and it had accumulated funds to the extent of £100,000, and, further, that its Grand Secretary, Bro. Reid, had held office for 42 years, a record! unequalled by any other man in Australasia. He trusted that their deliberations during the ensuing week would increasi and strengthen the fratternal feeling which already existed between the order in Australia and Now Zealand.— (.Applause.) Bro. Robb, in reply, referred to the progress which the order had madte during recent years, especially in the direction of increased membership. New lodges were baing opened, and their finajioes were being placed on an increasingly sornnd footing. Additional assistance was also being received from the Government, and in view of the heavy demands which had been made by the war this was particularly welcome.—(Applause.) Other toasts honoured during the evening were "The King"'; "Kindred Societies," proposed by Bro. R. C. Gray, P.G.M., and replied to by Bro. P. ~W. Stabb (president of tho Friendly Societies' Council); and xhe Press," proposed by Bro D. R, Cooper. Songs were rendered during the evening by Messrs J. Paterson and B. Rawlinson, while Mt Paul Reno gave an exhibition of juggling. Mr F. C. Pizey played tho accompaniments. HEREWEKA LODGE ANNIVERSARY. Tho first of the social functions in the official programme of the entertainment ot' the Grand Lodgo of Australasia took place on Friday night, when the visitors travelled to _ Portobdlo to attend the anniversary social of Hereweka Lodge. The non-arrival of tho representatives of Victoria, Tasmania, and West and South Australia made tho party 'uracil smaller than had been anticipated ; but a largo number of Dunediii brothren and Rebektth sisters loft but little rcom to spare in tho ferry beat that carried th* visitors from Port Chalmers to Portobello. Tho .arrangements nmde by'the Hereweka brethren were admirable. Gocd orgarJeation and hard work, combined with a spirit of cordial co-operation for which the Hcrewoka Loilge is noltd, produced tho inevitable result. The programme ivns carried through without a hitch, everyt-hin" worked smoothly and happily, and tho Herc°weka Lodgo can look back with satisfaction on a most successful function. To the iadios who so loyally assisted a large portion of tlio credit must be given. Mesdamcs Clearwater, Seaton, and M'Cartney, with a band of willing helpers, wore untiring in t-lioir efforts to achieve success. Tho visitors arrived at Portobello at 8.30, and found the audionoo pa.tiesntly awaiting

their arrival for tlio programme to commence. Bro. M. Wodderspoon, representing Grand Encampment of Australia., and Bro. 1. Casey, representing the Grand Lodge of Now South Wales, were conducted to tho stage and introduced by tho chairmaai of tho meeting, Bro. W. Seaton, Noblo Grand of Hereweka Lodge. Ail excellent programme of mmsic-al and elocutionary items was then given as follows:—Mrs Habersham (piano solo), Mr Miss Guy, Mrs Smith, Mr Swan, Miss Hanna, and Mire Green (songs), oroliesti'al selections, Oddfellows' choir (part songs), Miss Stokes and Miss W. Beck (recitation), Mr and Mrs Ridley (3uot), Miss P. Weir (violin, solo). of tiie it-ems wore <\ncored, and ]xir"ticular note sho'uld be made of the performances of tho Oddfellows' choir. Theso jxirt songs, given with such excellent effect, were the result of much persevering- preparation, and groat credit is due to tho members of the choir, particularly tho conductor, Bro. A. Hatuia.. Tho entertainment concluded with a presentation to Mrs Habersham of a small

"tolcori of tho appreciation of hor services and continuous kindnoss to tho lodge, this taking l tlio form of a brooch. A MOTOR DIIIVE. The visitors were taken for a motor drive to points of scenic interest in and around the city yesterday afternoon, tho beauties of Wairongoa being especially admired. The serious business of tho ses&ion will commence to-day, unci in the evening a social and tCance will lx> held in tho Art. Gallery. Tho. rivic reception will take plaeo to-morrow afternoon.