FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 14

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

• , MANCHESTER UNITY. At the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Albion Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F.,, held on Thursday evening, P.D.G.M. Bro. L. C. Calvert was the recipient of a gold star from his lodge to mark his accession to district executive rank. The presentation was made by N.G. Bro. L. J, Broadfoot, who conveyed to the new district officer. congratulations and good wishes from his lodge. Bro. Calvert made suitable response, and thanked members for the kindly sentiments. Prov. Treas. Bro,A. Sligo gave members an account of his recent visit to Wellington to attend the opening meeting of the proposed Dominion Council of Friendly Societies. While in Wtllington he met an old member of the Albion Lodge in P.P.G.M. Bro. , W. Sullivan, and he had pleasure in conveying fraternal greetings and good wishes from him to the lodge. The syllabus for the evening was a degree meeting, and this was duly held'.'after ordinary, business had been transacted. The degrees were ably delivered by P.P.G.M. Bro. J. Robson, who wa« accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of the lectures. During the meeting four new mem-bers-were initiated. A number of visiting brethren was present, the following lodges being represented:—Loyal Valley and Loyal Dunedin, Latest reports to hand from the Old Country indicate that M.U. lodges in Great Britain show steady progress for 1930. This is especially gratifying in the face of the adverse circumstances of the year, with its record amount of unemployment Tn the country. The' appeal which; the. Manchester Unity makes to the thinking portion of the rising generation as a' cheap and real insurance against sickness and disablement is in a large degree responsible for the increases recorded. Among a number of increases recorded are the Berkhampstead district, which gained 158 pew members during the year, while the Newmarket Juvenile Lodge increased • its membership by 167. The largest lodge in the Unity,,the Royal Naval Lodge, recently '.celebrated its diamond jubilee at Portsmouth, Starting 60 years ago with 13 members, the lodge has now a total of nearly 7000, with fundS' totalling £99,000. Speaking at the jubilee gathering P;G.M. Bro. E. Heather stated that the lodge was now distributing. the sum of . £IO,OOO yearly in sick pay. They paid the contributions of all members over , 60 years of age. and over 25 years membership, and they also paid weekly pensions to,i a number of aged • members. ~ , The fortnightly meeting of Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge, held in the M.U. Hall, Stuart street, on Tuesday, evening, drew a largo gathering of members of the Order. The \ lodge was favoured with an official visit .from sister lodges, the majority of which were well represented. The Princess Mary Lorge, which met the same evening, adjourned at an early hour in order to attend the function, and had a good representation of some 40 members. The N.G. (Bro. G. W. Bryant), : who presided, welcomed the visiting brethren,; after which harmony was de- ■ dared, a number of the brethren present j contributing acceptable items.- Later the members of the District Executive, headed ■by PBro. E. Longworth, were cordially welcomed. On the conclusion of the musical programme. the visitors were entertained at supper, after which the floor was cleared and a short dance held. Bro. John Johnson, whose death ■ occurred on May 28. was the second oldest member of the Loyal Hand and Heart which he joined on Decemberi. 17, 1867, his period of membership • thus' ex- , tending over 63 years. Of a quiet and unassuming disposition, Bro. Johnson was well known to the older generation of members, having held the position of ■gaardian in the lodge for 10: years.. For ■ the last_ 20 years he had been on the sick list, which .precluded him from taking an part. in the. affairs of bis lodge. ' : druidism’ - -Grand President Bro. W. MXeod, ac-. companicd by his officers, paid an official ■ visit to Hampden Lodge on Monday last. The district president, Bro. M'Elwee, was also. present to install the officers, this ceremony beingcarried out in a very impressive manner. Bro. MXeod presented j P-A. Brov Green with his. P.A.. diploma - ■in recognition of faithful service to-his lodge.. Past Grand President Bro. George Thompson presented a past district presi- . dent’s diploma to P.D.P. Bro. Dungey for faithful service rendered to the district under his care.' Bro. Dungey suitably replied, and said it was a great pleasure to him to carry lout those duties'when he was so ably supported by the memof Rosa of Palmerston Lodge" and Hampden Lodge. The newly-installed arch Druid intimated that three candidates would be initiated next lodge, night, and expressed the hope that there would be a. good attendance of members. The Grand Lodge officers were ! entertained at supper, daring which they had, ah opportunity of putting forward-matters oflin- ' tercetto the members. The A.D. of the , expressed pleasure at" haying ■ a visit from the Grand Lodge Executive, and' also from members of the Rose -of Palmerston. Lodge. , • Star of Tuapeka Lodge held its installation meeting on Tuesday last, and also received a visit from Grand President Bro. MXeod -and hife officers. The A.D. welcomed thd visitors, and offered the gavel to' the grand president, who accented At, and, assisted by :his officers, carried 1 out the business of the evening. Past Grand President Bro. George Thomp--ebn was called on to install the newlyelected officers, which he did, assisted by District President Bro, Fletcher, in a very capable -manner. The installation of the district president then took, place. •P.A. Bro. Montgomery being presented to P.G.P. Bro. Thompson, who invested him with the badge of his office and expressed the hope that the lodge would prosper under , his guidance. During supper the Grand Lodge officers addressed the meeting:—G. Treas. Bro. Birt, G.Q. Bro. Ruston; and P.A. Bro. Hunt. Bro.F. Robertson, on behalf of the Tuapeka, Lodge, thanked the brethren for their visit ’ and the able assistance given to their members, and expressed the hope that they would be again favoured with a visit from the executive. The half-yearly meeting of the Good Intent Lodge was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Mosgiel, on Wednesday evening, and .was presided over by/ A.D. Bro. David Thomson. D.P. Bro. Kilgour, of Enterprise Lodge, and P.A. Bro. Durable, of Mistletoe Lodge, were present, and received a hearty welcome. The baityearly balance sheet was read and, received. The auditors gave their report, and found'.everything in order, due to the excellent manner , in which-the secretary had carried out his work.’. Their report was! received, and they were thanked. 'the balance sheet bias then adopted. D.P. Bro. Kilgour, assisted by P.A, Bro. Durable, of the Mistletoe Lodge, installed the elected brothers' into their' office for the ensuing six months. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the installing pfficers, and was carried by acclamation. The newly-installed officers returned thanks for their election. It was with regret that the lodge reported the death of another member, Bro.’George Scott, who, after a long illness, had passed away on Sunday. The funeral, which was largely attended, took place on Tuesday, six of the lodge members acting as pall-bearers, along with some of his friends from other interested bodies. v The Druids’ funeral oration was very, ably Tendered by P.A. Bro. M. G. Thompson, and it was resolved that a letter of sympathy and condolence be forwarded to the relatives. After the usual toast to the visitors, tjie lodge was then adjourned for a fortnight. The meeting of the Olive Branch Juvenile Lodge was presided over by A.D. Bro, Davies.. A good attendance, including visitors, was pTesent. An official visit from the Lily of the Valley, consisting of A.D. Bro. ! Rishworth, V.A. Bro. Walrlick, P.A. Bro, M'Bratney, and Bro, Aitken, was paid. The A.D. and officers of Southern Oak also attended, along with two brethren of Linden’s Pride, and all visitors’received a hearty-welcome. After routine business had been disposed of, the lodge adjourned to carry out the syllabus. Superintendent Bro. Avery entertained with gramophone selections, while Bro.' Sinclair and Bro. M'Grath rendered a recitation and song respectively. Games were indulged in, Bro. Callan being the winner. Next meeting being quarter night, it was decided to invite parents. Supper was handed round, and an enjoyable evening spent, the visitors expressing pleasure at being present. The half-yearly meeting of Royal Oak Lodge was,held at Caversham, PA. Bro._ Hinton presiding. D.P. Bro. Kilgour was present, and received a welcome with musical honours. One candidate was

initiated into the Order. P.A. Bro. Hunt , reported on the address given by P.G.P. Bro. Dove on “Our Hospital," and Bro. T. Hudson reported on the work of the Jubilee Committee. D.P. Bro. Kilgour, assisted by P.D.P. Bro. Workman, installed the newly elected officers into their respective offices, and were heartily congratulated on the able manner in which they had carried out their duties. D.P. Bro. Kilgour and PA. Bro. Bezett (Enterprise) replied to the .toast of “ The Visitors.” Otago Lodge held ,a very successful evening last Monday, when Arch Druid Bro. Tasker presided over a large attendance of members. It being half-yearly night, a-considerable amount of business was transacted. The balance sheet, as presented, showed the lodge to be in a very good financial position, and it was adopted after congratulatory remarks from several members. Feeling references were made to the memory of P.G.P. Bro. Harland (All Nations), the members passing a vote of sympathy to the relatives of the deceased brother. The of the annual church parade was altered to June 21. D.P. Bro. Reeves paid an official visit, and during the evening very impressively installed the lodge officers into their respective chairs. The members of the Lily of the Valley attended in large numbers for the playing off for the Euchre Shield, and after a spirited contest the visitors suffered defeat by one game. The final scores stood at: Otago 16 games, Lily of the Valley 15 games. Other visitors present were P.G.P. Bro. Walson, P.D.P. Bro. Hughes, Ford, and Clark. One candidate was initiated into the mysteries of Druidism by the lodge officers, who' carried out the ceremony very ably. ■ Linden’s Pride Juvenile Lodge met in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Roslyn, A.D. Bro. Curtis presiding over a fair attendance of members. As soon as business was dealt with, entries were cabled for the A.D. competition. Bro. D. Dakers won by half a point, A.D. Bro. Curtis being a close second. Bro. Harness took third place on . the list. AH brothers gave an excellent rendering of the charges. Shooting was then indulged in, after which the lodge was closed.