FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

MANCHESTER UNITY. The fortnightly meeting of. the Loyal Centenary Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., was held in the Forbury School hall on Tuesday evening, the N.G., Bro. Pearce, presiding over a good attendance of members. Visitors from the Loyal Albion and Hand and Heart Lodges were welcomed. The N.G. announced his resignation owing to his approaching transfer from Dunedin, and a motion was passed expressing regreat at his departure, and wishing him success in the future. Several _ P.G.'s offered to conduct future meetings until the half-yearly election of officers. A number of brethren were reported to be on the sick list, the majority progressing satisfactorily. Suitable reference was made to the commemoration of Anzac Day, the permanent secretary, Bro. Rosevear, reading the roll of honour, members standing in silence. An impressive feature ef the occasion was the rendering of the “ Last Post ”by Bro. Morice. A permanent roll of honour is being procured to be hung in the lodge room and is to be unveiled next lodge night. It was decided to invite the district officers to perform the unveiling. At the conclusion pf business a degree meeting was held, and the lodge was then closed. This year the meeting of the Loyal Albion Lodge fell on Anzac Day,' and ii was felt that the occasion could be most fittingly commemorated by holding the meeting in the, lodge room, Stuart street, on' the walls of which aremounted the rolls of honour ■of a number of lodges which meet there.' A large number of brethren and visiting brethren attended to pay their tribute to those members who gave their lives for the cause. The meeting was opened by the N.G., Bro. = E. Downes, and only such necessary business as the passing of sick pay and the report of the sick visitors was dealt with, after which the remainder of the evening was devoted to commemorating the anniversary of Anzac. Members stood facing the roll of honour, on which are inscribed the names of 120' mejnbers of the lodge who served in the Great War, 18 of whom made the supreme sacrifice. P.P.G M Bro. P. Stabb paid feeling .tribute to those brethren who fell on the field of honour, stating that the main ideal of their organisation was service, and these brethren had given the greatest service of all. An impressive service concluded with the rendering of the “ Last Post' by Bro. Morice. A number of visiting brethren also made appropriate reference to the occasion. As a mark of respect, the lodge was then closed. There was a large' attendance of members at the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Roxburgh Lodge on Tuesday -evening, presided over by. N.G. Bro. F. Laloli. Three members were declared on the sick' funds. Matters in connection with the approaching jubilee celebrations of the lodge were advanced another stage when two important items were discussed and disposed of. . The team for the forthcoming initiation competition held its final practice, and gave quite a creditable rendering of the various charges. The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge was held on Tuesday evening. N.G. Bro. Dimmock presiding over a good attendance of officers and brethren. Correspondence was dealt with, and the secretary was instructed to forward a letter of. sympathy to Bro T. Murdoch on the death of his father. Several members reported attending the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Loyal Alexandra Lodge, referring appreciatively to the hospitality extended to them, ill connection with the annual initiation competition for the southern area, which this year is to be held in the lodge hall, a committee was appointed to make suitable arrangements for this function. The lodge team later held a rehearsal, members taking a- keen interest in the performance. - ■. i ODDFELLOWSHIP. Leith Lodge? 1.0.0. F., met last week at Albany Street Hall. There was a fair attendance. A number of sick cases were dealt with. A report on the condition of the lodge allowed its continued progress. This being the eve of St. George's Day, Bro. D. M. Miller introduced the subject as a suitable topic for consideration. It was pointed out that the cross of St. George appeared upon our flag. As one looked into the history of the saint confusion and doubt arose. Several legends were read, from which it would appear that places widely apart .claim to be the place of despatch of the dragon—England, Moldavia on the Danube, the city of Rouen, the Rhone, and others. The historian Butler considered the saint as coming of Christian parents. Gibbon regarded him as a myth. Some considered _ him as signifying the power of the Christian-religion against all things evil. It might be a good thing at times to copy the faithful courage of St. George. The birth and death of Shakespeare having taken place on April 23, it had been suggested that he be regarded as the patron saint of England. When it was suggested that members would be familiar with St. George and the dragon upon the coin of the realm there was some dissent as it appeared that wages are not paid in gold coin these days.