DRUIDISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21215, 22 December 1930, Page 13

DRUIDISM.

rJr® vT ortD iß htl y meeting of Linden Lodge No. 6 was held on Tuesday. December 9.A.D. Bro. T. Jenkins presidmg over a good attendance of officers and members. D.P. Bro. Clarke, who visited the lodge officially for the purpose of installing officers, was received and accorded a very hearty welcome, me usual lodge business was dealt with —Bards report received and sick, pay nnd accounts passed for payment. A pleasing feature of the Bards’ reports was the very small number of memhers on the sick list. The election of D.F. was then held, there being four asp, rants for the honour. The balance sheet was read and received, and also the auditors’ reports. After a short discussion, the balance sheet was adopted. Arrangements were reported to be well in hand for the children’s night, which would be held next lodge night. This function had_ been a great success in the past and this year promised to be no exception. D.P. Bro. Clarke, assisted by P.A. Bro. M'Crone, Otago Lodge, installed the officers in their chairs for the ensuing six months in a most impressive manner. The officers returned thanks for the honour accorded them. £ be toasts were then given, that of The Visitors” being responded to by P.A. Bros, M'Crone (Otago), Doig (Lily of the Valley), and Reeves (Ivanhoe), candidates for the position of D.P. A very enjoyable meeting was brought to a close at 10.15 p.m. - At . *be las t meeting of Ivanhoe Lodge the A.D. presided over a good attendance .of members and visitors. Christmas greetings were received from several, sister lodges. The election for the position of district president was taken, D.P. Bro. Clarke acting as scrutineer. The balance sheet which was received and adopted, showed the finance of the lodge to be in a very satisfactory state. The lodge thanked the auditors for their detailed-report. The officers who were elected on the previous lodge night were installed into their various offices. D.P. Bro. Clarke and P.A, Bro, Owens carried out the installation in a very praiseworthy manner. The visitors present were—D.P. No. I.District’ (Bro Clarke), P.D.P, Bro. Knox (Enterprise), A.D, Bro. Tasker, P.A. Bro. M'Crone, P.A, Bro. Avery (Otago), P.A. Bro. Doig and P.A. Bro. Carr (Lily of the Valley), P. A. Bro. Owens (Linden) and Sister Wilson (Bay). On the following Wednesday night the lojige officers gave their usual Christmas treat to the children of members, the hall being filled to its utmost capacity by happy children. P.A. Bro. W. Gray was the fortunate member to win a cake. The fortnightly meeting of Good Intent Lodge was held in the Oddfellow’s Hall, Mosgiel, on Wednesday evening. A.D. Bro. L. J. Rankin presided over a good attendance of members and visitors; ' D.P, Bro., Bartlett was present officially, for the purpose" of installing the/ new officers. The candidates for office of D.P., P.A. Bro, Kilgour, and PjA. Bro Durable, were also, present. They were balloted , for in the usual manner. The lodge having lost another member, Bro. Robert‘Murdoch, by death, a motion of sympathy was passed with his ' widow and relatives, members standing in silence. The secretary read the half-yearly balance sheet, which was received. The auditors gave their report, it being adopted without discussion. ‘ D.P. Bro Bartlett, assisted by P.6.P. Bro. T. Walsh, installed the following Bros. into office, for the usual terra:—l.P.A., Bro. L. J. Rankin; A.D., Bro. D. Thomson; V.A., Bro. Fraser; secretary, Bro. Smeatoh; treasurer, Bro. Tait; 1.G., Brq Pearce; 0.G., Bro Bolting; A.D. Bards, Bros M. Thompson, aid W. Goughian; V.A. Bards, Bros Alex Rankin and Robert Thomson, jun.; M.C. Bro. C. Scott; and minute secretary, Bro. Jeffs. - A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the installing officers and was carried by acclamation. The newlyinstalled officers thanked the lodge for their election. Two friends were proposed for membership, and one of them who was in attendance, was balloted for and .initiated as- a full benefit member of ' the ’ lodge. A.D. Bro. D. Thomson, on behalf of the Lodge, presented P.A. Bro ,M. J. Thompson with a-small trophy for best rendering of V.A. charge in recent competition. M.C. Bro Scott reported! on a. cricket match' with North Taieri Club, - and also with the Mistletoe Lodge. The secretary was granted leave of absence for. the holidays, and Treasurer Bro. Tait agreed to act for him during his absence. The lodge was then adjourned till January 7. The meeting of Enterprise Lodge was held last Wednesday, Arch Druid Bro. T. H, Mann presiding over a good attendance of members. The routine of the lodge was quickly disposed of as it was children’s night, and the members were anxious to, make an early start. The children were admitted along with their parents, and were given, a warm welcome by the Arch Druid. “ Father Christmas ” then' arrived, and each child was presented with a toy and a bag of sweets. During the evening games and competitions were carried out, refreshments were served to the youngsters. Bro. J. Denny gave two songs, much to the amusement of all. Linden’s Pride Juvenile Lodge was well attended, A.D. Bro. M'Gregor presiding. Routine ‘ business was promptly carried out for the purpose of entertaining the members. Twenty-one members promised to bring in each a new member at the first meeting of the new year. Bro. M|Callum (Enterprise) was a welcome visitor. The executive was well represented. Supper was handed round, and a pleasant evening spent. The Olive Branch Juvenile Lodge held its filial meeting for the year in the hall, George Street School, A.DV Bro. Cochrane presiding over an attendance of 36 members. Official visits were received from D.P, Bro. Clarke, No, 1 District, President Bro, Hunt, and members of the Juvenile Council. Welcome visitors were P.D.P. Bro. Faulds, P.A. Bro, Alexander- Smith, and representatives from, the juvenile branches. Addresses were given by the D.P. Bro. Clarke, Bros. Hunt, Faulds, and Smith, who responded to the welcome accorded them. The superintendent (Bro. M'Farlane) thanked the officers for the ' assistance rendered during the year./ Treasurer, Bro. Avery, P.A., was complimented for securing a large number of honorary members, and intimated that a member of the Order had presented a gold medal for a competition to be decided by the executive. Christmas greetings were extended to all. : The Lily- of the Valley Lodge assembled in the hall, Millar street, A.D. Bro. Munro presiding over a fair attendance. Routine business was attended to. Satisfaction was expressed at the lodge’s winning the euchre shield, it having now won it 13 times. The halfyearly balance sheet was read by the secretary. The auditors, Bros. Rankin and Reid submitted their report, and commented on the financial state of the lodge, which showed a slight increase ill funds. . After some discussion, the report and balance sheet were adopted, and the auditors thanked for their services. A vote of thanks was accorded P.6.G. Bro. B. Reid for the interest and service rendered by him on behalf of the juvenile movement. Bro. Reid briefly replied. Stress was laid on the question of members for the coming year, and a campaign was urged. Supper was dispensed, and season’s greetings extended to all. The meeting of Southern Oak Juvenile Lodge was held in the Forbury School i Hall on Friday, A.D. Bro. D. Densem presiding over a very large muster of members, Before business could be dealt with, members of the various other lodges were admitted and finally the Juvenile Council, who were received with musical honours. The correspondence included invitations from Progress, Pride of the Oak, and Olive Branch Juvenile Lodges. Sick pay was passed, and the .case of one brother was left in the hands of the superintendent. Bro, Gallon gave an interesting resume of the

shooting team’s visit to Myrtle Lodge. It was decided to forward a letter of congratulation to the Invercargill Lodge op its success in winning the competition. The routine business being over, the toasts were honoured, the following replying:-—Bro. Hunt (president of Juvenile Council), A.D. Bro. Cochrane, of Olive Branch, replied on behalf of the visitors present. The lodge now adjourned to the larger hall to carry out the item on the syllabus, that of a social evening for the last lodge night of the year. Bro. Hunt (president of the Juvenile Council), in addressing the gathering of parents and friends, gave an interesting account of how he became interested in juvenile lodge work, and the pleasure to be derived from it. He stressed the work that was being done by the various lodges, and urged parents to help the Order by sending their boys along. In presenting the prizes. Bro. Hunt made mention of the keenness of the competitions, and congratulated the recipients of prizes on their wins. The following are prizewinners :—Bros. Maslin, Alexander. M'Kee, Ritchie. The concert portion of the programme was contributed to by:— Miss E. Leathley, song; Bro. A. Meighet, song; Miss B. Robinson, recitation; Miss N. Moffett, recitation; Mrs Gibson, song; Bro. E. Leathley, song. Miss E, Leathley was the accompanist. Pride of the Oak Juvenile Lodge held its anniversary night on Monday. The routine business having been concluded, the lodge adjourned to allow the games to be played off. Shooting was held for visitors from Dunedin lodges. Grand President Bro. G. Thompson presented the following prizes which had been competed for during the year:—Tail on the Pig: Bro. M'Elwee 1, Bro. Cldwell 2; Rats and Rabbits; Bro. Potter 1, Bro. Coulson 2; Potato Race: Bro. Donaldson I, Bro. Potter 2; Most Popular Boy: J. P. A. Druid Bro. Hodge; Hard-up Night Prize: Bro. H. Gibbs; Fancy Dress Prize: Bro. Donaldson; Prize for the most members proposed during the year up to the end of September: Bro. M'Elwee; Shooting Competition: Bro. W. Wade 1, Bro. W. Mason 2; Quoits Competition: Bro. W. Wade 1, Bro. F. Clark 2; Shooting Competition for Town Members: Bro. M'Pherson (Myrtle Lodge). The evening was concluded by honouring the toasts, A.D. Bro. Donaldson wishing everyone the compliments of the season. The visitors present during the

evening were:—Grand President Bro. G. Thompson, V. President Juvenile Council, Bro. Sinclair and council members and representatives from the following \ juvenile lodges:—Olive Branch, Southern Oak, and Myrtle.