FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22213, 16 March 1934, Page 4

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

DRUIDISM. Bay Lodge, No. 18, U.A..0.D., held its fortnightly meeting in the Masonic Hall, St. Kilda, on Monday, March 5. Arch Druid Bro. Thomas Allan presided over a splendid attendance of members. P.G.P. Bro. C. Jacobson, P.D.P. Bro. A. C. Dumble, P.A. Bro. Tasker, and P.A. Bro. R, Morris 'were welcome visitors. The correspondence included invitations to Enterprise Lodge, Mistletoe Lodge, and, the Royal Arch Chapter. Notification was received from Court of Woodlands Pride that about 30 members would attend next lodge night. Arrangements were finalised for the entertainment of the visitors, and one candidate- ivas initiated as an honorary member. It was decided that the memory of the late secretary (Bro. R. S. Cox) should beperpetuated by having a .piemorium printed on the respect board. Dr C. E. de Lautour was given a hearty welcome _to the meeting. He gave an interesting address, for which he was duly thanked. Thg Roasts were given and responded to by the visitors of” the various lodges. The fortnightly meeting of the Royal Oak Lodge was held in the lodge room on Monday night last, A.D. Bro. M’Keich presiding over a fair attendance, of members. The routine business was quickly disposed of, but intensive discussion of the Grand Lodge order paper necessitated an extended sitting. The lodge representatives (Bro. T. Hudson and A. Hinton) had their instructions given on several important remits, but on many were left a free hand. In response to an invitation from Mistletoe Lodge, the A.D. and Bro. T. Hudson were appointed to represent the lodge at their next meeting. A further proposition for membership was received. • The quarterly meeting of Ivanhoe Lodge was held on Wednesday last, when A.D. Bro. Vernon was greeted with a good attendance of members and visitors. A large amount of correspondence wag dealt with. Invitations were received from Enterprise Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter. The business paper for the Grand Lodge meeting in Invercargill was fully discussed and delegates received their instructions in regard to this. Two candidates were initiated into the rites of Druidism, and a brother was accepted by clearance from All Lodge._ D.P. Bro. Morri?, No. 1 district, paid the lodge an official visit and received a true Druidic welcome. The committee reported that all necessary _ arrangements had been made for the reunion of Ivanhoe members and lady friends to be held on March 14 in the lodge room. The bards reported fully on the sick members, and sick pay was passed for payment. The lodge was in mourning for one of our oldest members, P.G.P. Bro. J. Haymes, and the secretary was instructed to send a letter of condolence to the widow and family. The usual loyal toasts were duly honoured and responded to by the visitors.

Lily of the Valley Lodge, No. 11. U.A.0.D., held its fortnightly meeting on Wednesday last in the Albany Street Hall. P.A. Bro. 0. Wahrlich presided over the meeting in the absence of _ the Arch Druid. An invitation was received from Mistletoe Lodge asking two delegates to attend its next meeting. A.D. Bro. N. Ingle and V.A. Bro. M'Cluchion Were appointed to represent the lodg". The Royal Arch Chapter also sent in an invitation to attend its next meeting, when, all members would be welcome to hear an address by P.D.P. Bro. J. T. Faulds. A letter from the Friendly Society's Dispensary asking for two delegates for the ensuing 12 months was received, and P.G.G. Bro. B. Reid and P.A. Bro. H. Green were re-elected to represent the lodge. The lodge ' received Superintendent Bro. R. Morris and the officers .and brothers of the Olive Branch Juvenile Lodge, who were asked to take over the chairs and conduct the initiation ceremony, which they carried out iu a very creditable manner. G.S, Bro. W. B. Steel gave an educative address to the boys, and explained to them how to avoid the pitfalls throughout life. A hearty vote of thanks Was accorded Bro. Steel at the conclusion of his talk.* Bro. Craib, of the Olive Branch, entertained the brothers with mouth organ solos, The visitors welcomed were;—Grand Sec.retnry Bro. ,W. B. Steel, P.D.P, Bro. H. Brockie (of Ivanhoe Lodge), Bro. Blackmore and Jeffs (of Waimate Lodge, Canterbury), Superintendent Bro. R. Morris, A.D. Bro. Bradshaw and officers of the Olive Branch Juvenile, and P.A. Bro. Avery (of Otago Lodge). The first quarterly meeting of Good Intent Lodge, No. 8, for the year was held in the Oddfellow's Hall, Mosgiel. P.A. Bro. C. Scott occupied the chair in the absence of A.D. Bro. R. S. Thomson. D.P. Bro. E. H. Bezett attended officially, and was received with musical honours. P.A. Bro. Leathley (of Enterprise Lodge) and P.A. Bro. Metcalfe (of Bay Lodge) were also made welcome. D.G.P. Bro. T. Walsh read the Grand Lodge business paper to the meeting, and it was left over for discussion till next lodge night. Past Arches Bros. Leathley and Metcalfe, candidates for

the office of D.P., both spoke and said that if either were elected he would carry out the duties to . the best of his ability. A ballot was taken, to be sent lo tue Grand Lodge. P.G.P. Bro. Walsh proposed the toasts to the D.P. Bro. Bezett and P.D.P. Bro. Smeaton,-the toasts of the D.P. aspirants, and each' responded. It was decided that a vote of thanks should be sent to the Grand Lodge foi the efficient manner In which Bro. Bezett carried out his duties at D.P. in No, 2 district. At the conclusion of the business items were given by Bros. Leathley, L. Waldie. C. Scott, R. Ellis, and E. H. Bezett, D.P.. MANCHESTER UNITY.' At the . fortnightly meeting . of Loyal Albion Lodge, held on Thursday evening, N.G. Bro. C. A. Varcoe presided over a large attendance of members and visitors, the latter including visiting brethren frOm Loyal Milton and Winton Lodges. Motions of sympathy were passed with .• Bros. Potts and Sullivan in their recent bereavements. ’ The secretary of Loyal Albion juvenile branch wrote notifying a meeting of delegates. A challenge to debate with Loyal Cayersham Lodge at the latter’s next meeting was accepted, the N.G., V.G., G.M., and Bro. Ha f y to represent Albion. The retiring delegates to the Dispensary Committee were reappointed. One new member was initiated. Mention was' made of the lodge’s success in winning the efficiency shield, several speakers congratulating the officers on their good work during the competition period, which had resulted in the shield being gained by Albion for the first time since the competition was inaugurated. Tributes were paid to the service rendered to the district by P.P.G.M. Bro. C. L. Calvert, who has just completed his three years’ term as a district officer, and it was resolved to place on record the lodge’s appreciation of his services. Bro. Calvert suitably responded, thanking his fellow members for the whole-hearted support extended to him. At the dose, of business the lodge adjourned, and members were the guests of the trustees at a card evening.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Otago District on Saturday, P.P.G.M. Bro. W. J. Johnston, a member of the Juvenile Council, quoted figures showing the membership of the nine juvenile lodges in the district, showing that since 1928 a total of 154 members had been transferred to adult lodges. He stressed the value of the juvenile branches as recruiting grounds for the Order, instancing the case of the Loyal Mosgiel Lodge, five of the present officers of this lodge being ex-juvenile members. The council had now placed the funds of the juvenile lodges on a sounder basis. Progress had been slow, but he hoped, as a result of the figures supplied, that the adult brethren would get whole-heartedly behind the juvenile movement, as was the case in the Old Country, where the leaders of the Order made a feature of the juvenile activities. P.G. Bro. L, Jack, in supporting the appeal, stated that their experience was that the ex-juvenile brethren made good members of the ailuTt lodges. The good work performed by the hospital visitors was eulogised _ by several speakers at the annual district meeting, when the P.G.M. read a number of letters written by members of the Order who had been inmates of the Dunedin Hospital. Several country lodges also wrote in appreciative terms of the Hospital visitors’ attention to country members, and the meeting decided to place on record the thanks and appreciation of the district to Sis. Reddell and Bros. Hunt and Sharpe, the official Hospital visitors. It was also recommended to the Hand Bonk Committee that file names and addresses of the Hospital visitors be published in the official hand book. In connection with the Sligo and Harrop Scholarships, which are conducted by the Otago district, and are competed fqr by' children of members, the advisability of including juvenile brethren whose parents are not members of-the Order, was discussed at the district meeting, and it was resolved that the district officers be recommended to consider a proposal to make provision for juvenile members to compete for these scholarships, and report to the next meeting of the District Committee. During the discussion it was pointed out that the conditions governing the Sligo Scholarship can be altered at the discretion of the District Executive, but under the terms of the Harrop bequest an application to the Supreme Court would be necessary lo alter the conditions of _ the Harrop Scholarship. It was also decided that in future secretaries of lodges would receive notification of the marks awarded the entrants for the scholarships. Interesting visitors to the annual district meeting were the Prov. G.M. of the Southland District and Bro. Kelman, who was accompanied by the N.G. of the Loyal St. George (Invercargill) Lodge. These brethren made a special journey from Invercargill to be present, and P.G.M. Bro. Jack extended a cordial welcome to them. Bro. Kelman extended greetings from the Southland District, and extended an invitation to members to attend the annual meeting of the Southland District, which would shortly be held. Later. Bro. Kelman assisted in the installation of the new P.G.M., Bro. A. Hart, and attended

the jubilee banquet tendered to delegates by the Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge on Saturday evening. The Loyal Princess Mary Lodge held its fortnightly meeting in the Hall, Forbury corner, N.G. Sis. E. Packer presiding over a good attendance of members. Correspondence was considered and accounts passed for payment'.’ Delegates were appointed to. the district meeting, and after consideration of the order paper a free hand was granted the-delegates. The, syllabus for, the Evening,was a_ ritual competition, competitors being required to deliver the warden’s and V.G.’s charges. P.G. Bro. Swann (Loyal. Valley) judged the competition, which was won ‘by Sis. Edna .Longworth, A brethren responded to the visitors’ toast, and fraternal greetings from the Sister Pearce (Christchurch) Lodge were conveyed by P.G. Bro. Cameron. ,_ : The Competitions Committee in its report to the district meeting stated that the : annual institution competition had ’ been fixed , for. April > 14, at Dunedin, while ’ the competition for- lodges in the southern, area would be held on April 28. Owing, however, to the former ’ date clashing with, the. opening of a Past Grands’ Lodge at Oarriaru, the meeting made a recommendstion to the committee that the date of the Dunedin competition be altered. During the fortnightly meeting of. Loyal Caversham Lodge,, congratulations .were extended to P.G. Bro. A. J. Miller on his recent appointment as vice-president pi the Otago District Juvenile Council, tributes being paid to Bro. Millers work for the juvenile movement.