DRUIDISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20586, 8 December 1928, Page 24

DRUIDISM.

Th& regular meeting of Royal Oak Lodge was held in the lodge room. Car* ersham, A.D. Bro. Wilson presiding over a large attendance. D.P. Bro, Johns was present officially, and received a hearty Welcome. Bro. Hunt reported on .the opening of l the Juvenile Lodge at Port Chalmers, and Bro. Chiircbill on the social evening given in honour of G.P. Bro. A. Walker. The aspirants for, the position of D.P. addressed the meeting, after which a bollot was taken, D.P. Bro, Johns and P.D.P. Bro. Bond acting as scrutineers. The balance sheet and auditors’ report for the half-year were submitted by the secretary,-and after a brief discussion were adopted. \ The installation of officers was then proceeded with, D.P. Bro. Johns, assisted by Bro. Bond, installing the officers, into their various chairs in a very impressive manner. A hearty vote of thanks to the installing officers and retiring officers was carried by acclamation. D.P. Bro. Johna, Sister Wilson, P.D.P, Bro. Bond, P.A. 'Bro. Bartlett, P.D.P. Bro. J. Hudson, and P.A, Bro Trumble replied to the toast of the visitors.

Enterprise Lodge held its regular meeting last Wednesday, A.D. Bro. H. J.Peacock presiding over a large, attendance of members. An invitation was received .from the Lily of the Valley Lodge to attend its thirtieth anniversary, but owing to children’s night falling on the same date, the members had to decline the invitation. During the evening one brother was accepted on clearance. The question of children’s night was discussed, and finally left in the hands of the f-ylla-bus Committee. , Owing to the resignation of Bro. J. Byrne on the Executive Cbmmittee of Progress Juvenile Lodge, Bro. J.. Leathley wag duly, appointed to take his place. D.P. Bro., Johns then installed the officers into their respective chairs, and was accorded a hearty vote of for the creditable manner in which, he carried out his duties. After the customary toasts had been given and received, the lodge was closed. Amongst the visitors present was P.D.P, Bro. Hudson, a charter member of Royal Oak Lodge. >

The, half-yearly meeting of Linden Lodge was presided over by A.D. Bro. Owens, a good attendance of officers and members being present. The usual business having been transacted, and' the bards’ report and sick pay having, been received apd passed for payment, matters pertaining to the social 5 which was being given to G-.P. Bro. Walker were finalised. D.P. Bro. Eusbridge paid an official visit, and P.A. Bro. Hughes (Lily) was a welcome visitor. A discussion took place qn the election of officers, and eventually, after keen competition, the following were declared elected:— A,Hi, Bro. Tipping; V.A., Bro. Pratt; secretary, Bro. A. Walker; treasurer, Bro. R. W. Eusbridge; 1.G., Bro. Cope; 0.G., Bro. J. Owens; A.D, bards, Bros. Stewart and Boardman: V.A. bards, Bros. Hunt and Litolff; M.C., Bro. E.' M’Parlane; G-L- reps., Bros. MTerlane - and J. Stewart; G.L. subs., Bros. Eusbridge and IJuff. The social tendered to G.P. Bro, A. Walker was an unqualified success, G.L. officers being present, also delegates from the lodges of No. I and No. 2 districts. The evening took the form of a dance, and during. the interval G. Secretary Bro. W. B. Steel was called upon to present to G.P. Bro. Walker, on behalf of the members of Linden Bodge, an oak weatherglass, G.P. Bro. Walker suitably replied. Solos were sung by Bro. Simpson, Mies Owens, and Miss Stewart, while Bro. Eamage gave selections on the whistle.

, ®* e °.f the Valley Lodge held its half-yearly meeting on Wednesday in the Millar Street Hall, A.D. Bro. R. Doig having the pleasure of presiding over a very large number of officers and members- and visitors. D.P. Bro. Rusbridge attended officially and received a warm welcome, as did P.A, Bro. Gray, of Ivanhoe Lodge. The passing of sick pay and accounts and the dealing with correspondence was conducted speedily, after which H-H-' Bro., Rusbridge, assisted by P.A. Bro; Hughes, installed the newly-elected officers ipto the chairs. A hearty vote of, thanks was accorded the retiring officers, Several reports were given by officers and members who’ had attended other functions on behalf of the lodge during the past fortnight. The final arrangements were completed for the thirtieth anniversary to be held next lodge night, December 19, all lodges in Nos.'l and 3 districts having been invited, D.P. Bro. Rusbridge and P.A; Bro. Gray responded to the toast of the visitors. A.D. Bro. J. W. Clark presided over the quarterly meeting of Ivanhoe Lodge on Wednesday, when a- large attendance of members and visitors was present. D.P. Bro. -Rusbridge paid an official visit, together with P.A. Bro. Hughes and P.T. Bro. Robertson (Ijily), and P,D.P, Bro, Ocfcwell (Enterprise), a large amount of correspondence was dealt with, and one brother was admitted on clearance from' Oamaru. . One candidate was initiated, after which tne election of officers took place with the following result;— A.D,. Bro. W. Jf. Rainbow; VA., Bro. A. Rundle; J.P.A., Bro. J. W. dark; secretary, Bro H. Brockie; treasurer, Bro. C. H. Wilson; 1.G., Bro. I. G. Anderson;. 0.G., Bro; A. M. Brown; A.D. Bards, Bros. T. Borrow and W. Graham; VA.. Bards, Bros. E. Heather and R, O. Wilkinson; M,-secretary, Bro. W. Brockie; G.L; representatives, Bros. H. Brockie and J. D. Sinclair; G.L. sub., Bro. W. T. Gray. The usual loyal toasts were given and responded to by the visitors. It was decided to hold the annual children's night on' December 19. P.A. Bro. W. T. Gray and P.A. Bro. Hughes were nominated for- the position of district president.

The people of the seaside suburb of St. Hilda stood' wondering around the St. Hilda Town Hall on Tuesday night anxious to know what all the stir was about, but little did they know that the Bay Lodge had two star attractions on that night; first, it was installation night, and, secondly, it was a special evening put on by Sister Wilson in honour of her seventy-third birthday. The lodge opened at 8 p.m., A.D. Bro. E, W. Bartlett presiding over a very large attendance of members. G.P. Bro. A. Walker and D.P. Bro. Johns attended officially, and other welcome visitors were P.G.G. Bro. Reid (Lily), P.D.P. Bros. Bond and Oekwell, P.A. Bro. Welsh, P.A. Bro. M'Farlane, and A.D. Bro. Peacock (Enterprise), Bro. Firth (Mistletoe, Christchurch), P.A, Bro. Clark (Royal Oak), and Bro. Griffiths (Otago). 'The correspondence included notice of the R.A.C. meeting and the season’s greetings from Otago Lodge, which were heartily reciprocated. Sick pay and accounts were passed for paymeent, and the election of D.P. then took place, P.A. Bro. Welsh, of Enterprise, and P.A. Bro. E. W. Bartlett going to the ballot. G.P. Bro. Walker and D.P. Bro. Johns acted as scrutineers and sealed up the votes, which w r ere forwarded to the grand secretary. The installation of officers was then proceeded with, and the ceremony was efficiently carried out by D.P. Bro. Johns, assisted by G.P. Bro. Walker. The loyal toasts wre given and responded to by G.P. Bro. A. WalW, who gave an interesting and instructive address on matters pertaining to the good and welfare of the Order, his remarks being listened to with interest by all present. D.P. Bro. Johps also replied, and extended Christmas greetings to all the members. The other visitors then replied and a recess was declared in order to carry out the second part of the programme. A.D. Bro. Bartlett, in proposing the toast of Sister Wilson, made mention of the work and enthusiasm which she puts into Druidism as a whole, and Bay Lodge in particular, and on behalf of the lodge he wished Sister Wilson many more years of health to still carry on her good work. The toast was drunk with musical honours. The grand president and district president also added their congratulations and wished Sister Wilson many happy returns. Sister WiL

sou, in rising to reply, was given an ovation that made the room ring. gjj e thanked the members for their felicitationa towards her and hoped‘that she would be spared for several years to still carry on the good work. A sumptuous supper was provided by Sister Wilson, everybody enjoying the good things provided. The lodge is greatly indebted to Sister Wilson for her wonderful entertainment, and every one went away expressing that it had been one of tbe best night* spent in Bay Lodge for some considerable time.