BRO. WILLIAM REID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18601, 8 July 1922, Page 6

BRO. WILLIAM REID

AN OUTSTANDING ODDFELLOW. The official notification of the retirement of Brc. William Reid from active Oddfellowship as Grand Secretary has just been received by the various L0.0.F. lodges in the Otago district , It is safo to say that the retirement of Bro. Reid is the retirement of one of the most prominent Oddfellows in the dominion. For no less than 45 years he has filled with outstanding ability the Grand Secretaryship of the L0.0.F. Grand Lodge of New Zealand, and he -is also a P.G.Mi of the Grand’ Lodge of Australasia, the highest rank attained by any Oddfellow of the Antipodes. Bro. Beni was initiated into the order in Dunedin in 1869, joining Alexandra (now Leith) Lodge, of which institution he is still a member. Ho has received at the’ hands of his lodge the prized distinction of the veterans’ jewel (awarded for 25 years’ active membership), and last year, at a memorable function, was presented by .the Grand Lodge of Australasia with an honourable veteran’s jewel (the first such jewel presented by the lodge in question), denoting’ an active membership of 50 years. At the recent meeting of the South Otago District Lodge eulogistic reference was made to the service and work of-Bro, Reid, and keen regret that the state of his health made his retirement necessary was freely expressed. The D.D.G.M. (Bro. Skinner) and the secretary (Bro. Seaton) were - deputed to prepare! a minute expressing regret at Bro. Reid s retirement and apprecia-’ tion of his dong and faithful service. Bro. Reid has circularised the various LO.O.F'. subordinate lodges as follows :.k “It is with feelings of regret that I have to announce that I have sent on to the Grand Master my resignation ns Grand Secretary. Increasing years and failing health have impelled me, entirely of my, own volition, and notwithstanding the encouragement I have always received, to take this step. I have felt for some time past that I was not doing justice to the duties, and that a younger man, capable’ ot, putting more energy into the work, should be appointed. Looking back over the 45 years that I have held the office, I feel glad that I have been associated with the" great success which has attended our efforts. When I took office in 1877 we were a very humble institution. We had only a few lodges in Otago and South Canterbury, 515 members, and a few thousand pounds of assets; this after 15 years of existence. We have now 125 lodges—male and female-over 10,000 members, and £150.000 of assets. We are now second largest jurisdiction of the L0.0.F. ,in Australasia, and can take the credit of having been the first to introduce reforms into oilr methods which have been copied, by others ted -.have stood the test of time. I have had a unique experience as your. Grand Secretary in that I have been always re-elected without opposition, showing, I think, that I have held the confidence of my brethren during all those years. Although the friends of my youth have.passed away, I have been received with fraternal kindness by the younger generation which has sprung up to take qn their burdens and carry on the good work. My relations with the secretaries of lodges have been of the most fraternal character, and one, of my regrets in retiring is that correspondence, extending in some cases over many years, will come to an end. With my colleagues on the, various executives with which I have been associated I have been on the most fraternal' footing, and though retired from active life, I can still count all of them as esteemed friends. From mv present colleagues I have received much kindness and assistance, and one of the regrets of my retirement is that our pleasant associations will ceate. To mv inorp im--mediate colleague, Bro. L. D. Ritchie', my thanks are due for much kindness shown and encouragement given me. . My relations with my assistant, Bro. F. Wilkinson, hate been most amicable, and during the oiglit years he has _ been with me he has performed the routine work of the office to my entire satisfaction. It is needless to add that even in my retirement my ex : perience and knowledge, gained through long years, will be always at the disposal of those who may require it. My_ thanks and good withes will ever be with the order I have served bo long and love so well.” .