FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 9

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

FORESTERS. The half-yearly meeting of Court Excelsior, A.0.F., was held last Tuesday. The C.R., Bro. S. Wood, presided over a large attendance, since it was the occasion of the presentation to P.C.R. Bro. W. R. G. Mearns, who had been a district trustee for 44 years. Official visits were received from I.P.D.C.R. Bro. Williamson, D.S.C.R. Bro. Thomson, D.W. Bro. Olson, District Secretary Bro. Macfie, and District Treasurer Bro. Hope, of the District Executive, also from the district trustees, P.D.C.R. Bro. Wilson and P.C.R. Bro. Abbott; from P.C.R. Bro. E. J. Patton, of Court Enterprise; and from P.D.C.R. Bro. Reynolds and P.C.R.'s Bros. Gibson and M'Kenzie, of Court Littlejohn. The C.R. welcomed and toasted the D.E., and the S.C.R. welcomed the other visitors. The D.S.C.R. replied for the D.E., P.C.R. Bro. Patton for Court Enterprise, and P.D.C.R. Bro. Reynolds for Court Littlejohn. After the business of the court had been attended to, the C.R. called on D.P.D.C.R.. Bro. Williamson to make the presentation to P.C.R. Bro. Mearne. In presenting a fireside chair and a pipe to Bro. Mearns, Bro. Williamson spoke of the excellent services be had rendered during his 44 years as a district trustee, and at the same time gave a brief survey of the work of the trustees, concluding his remarks by congratulating Bro. Mearns on his fine record, and hoping that he would be long spared to carry on his activities as a district trustee. D.T.P.D.C.R. Bro. Wilson spoke next, stating that he was very pleased to be present to honour his esteemed colleague, whom he had been associated with for over 20 years, and that it was due to P.C.R.'s Bros. Mearns and Smith and the late P.C.R. Bro. Morrison that Court Excelsior was in such a sound position at the present time. He congratulated him on his fine record as a district trustee, and considered it a pleasure to work with him, and hoped that he would be able to carry on for a number of years to come. D.T.P.C.R. Bro. Abbott endorsed the remarks of Bro. Wilson. The district treasurer, Bro. Hope, then spoke of the great work done by Bro. Mearns, not only as a trustee of the U.0.D., but as a member of the St. John Ambulance, and a a a resident of Mornington. The district secretary, Bro. Macfie, also spoke of the great work done by Bro. Mearns, and 6aid that it was due to him and his colleagues that the U.0.D., A.0.F., was in such a sound position at the present time. He congratulated him on his wonderful record, and said he hoped he would be able to carry on for a number of years to come. P.C.R.'s Bros. Patton and Jackson, sen., also congratulated Bro. Mearns. Bro. Mearns, in replying, thanked the D.P.D.CR. and other brothers for the kind things they had said about him and for the presentation the U.O.D. had made to him. Heathen gave a brief summary of his trusteeship from the year 1899 when he was first appointed till the present day, and in doing so spoke of the help rendered to him by P.D.C.R. Bro. A. S. Adam, then a district trustee, and the late district secretary, Bro. Macfie. He then spoke of the two trustees now associated with him, and of the great help given by the district secretary. In closing his remarks, Bro. Mearns stated that his work as a district trustee and a Q a member of the Order had-been a great pleasure to him, and he hoped that he would be able to carry on for a number of years to come. The singing of " For He's a Jolly Good Fellow " terminated a pleasant evening.

GOOD TEMPLARY

The Hope of Caversham Lodge, No. 128. held its weekly meeting on Thursday evening. C.T. Bro. Giles presided over a good attendance of members. Visitors were present from Star of Freedom, Hope of Dunedin, All Nations, and Rescue Lodges. Bro. Petherick, J.P., Bros. Smith and South, Sisters A. Paterson and Smith conveyed the greetings of their respective lodges. The programme for the evening was in the hands of Bro. J. Hilton, who introduced Mr W. Carey and party. J.lie following items were given:—Part-song, the party; lecturette, Mr N. Bateman; vocal solo, Mrs Stevens; comet solo, Mr W. Carey; sacred solo, Mr White; vocal duet, Mrs and Miss M. Stevens; musical saw, Mr W. Carey. A sketch entitled " Wanted, a Boy," by the party, followed by a part-song, closed the programme. Mrs Stevens was the accompanist. Sis. A. Steedman, Chief Templar, opened the weekly session of the Hope of Dunedin Lodge on Wednesday, there .being a good attendance of members and visitors. The district lodge officers paid an official visit. Sis. Wright, sen., reported on the progress of the Silver Star Temple, The CT then welcomed the district officers, and Bro. E. J. lies, D.C.T., replied, explaining the reason of the visit. Several members who had been absent were given a welcome back. A recess was granted, and the following programme rendered:— Sis. Beath, Temperance recitation; Sis. Raynor, jun., whistling solo; Bro. E. J. lies, reading; musical trio —Sis. Beath, Mrs Beveridge, and Mrs Jones; Bro. Gillian, sleight of hand; Bro. Hilton, song; Bro. Brooks, song; Mrs Jones, solo. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to all those who had contributed to the success of the evening. Greetings were received from the Rescue, Star of Freedom, and Hope of Caversham Lodges.