MANCHESTER UNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22630, 23 July 1935, Page 18

MANCHESTER UNITY

The Albany Street Lodge Hall was well filled on Monday evening when the Loyal Valley Lodge received an official visit from sister lodges. Bro. G. MTate presided, and, extending a welcome to the visitors, said it was gratifying to see so many present, the attendance being over 200. All lodges were represented, the effort of Loyal Mosgiel, with a muster of 21 members, being a meritorious one. Following a:welcome to the visitors, a musical programme was presented, the following contributing:—Bros. Macdonald, Young, MTate, Clayton (songs), Bro. Bus well (violin solo), Bro. Russell (recitation) , ■ Bros. Bachop and Robertson (piano solos). A feature of the programme was the first appearance at a lodge function of the Princess Mary Choir, under the leadership of Bro. -Young. Although formed only recently, the choir rendered several pleasing selections, and gives promise of developing into a useful musical combination, bisier West acted as accompanist. At the conclusion of the programme supper was served. Many of the visitors, acknowledging the toast, congratulated the N.G. on the success of the function. Responding to the district toast, P.G.M. Bro. J. D. Cameron also expressed pleasure at the large gathering, which .he hopeti would also be the case at the remaining official visits. He congratulated the N.G. on the programme which had been contributed to entirely by their own members, and also made mention of the new choir. P.D.G.M. Bro. E. W. Hey and P .P.G.M. Bro. W. J. Johnston also spoke to the toast. During the evening the N.G. referred to the presence of P.G. Bro. P. Thomson, a member of 55 .years’ standing,"' who was well known in the Valley Lodge, and those present gave Bro. Thomson a cordial welcome.

N.G. Bro. J. R. Waigth presided over the fortnightly meetip" of the Loyal Roxburgh Lodge held recently. There was a very- good attendance of members, the new officers displaying considerable keenness and enthusiasm." At the conclusion of business an adjournment was made to the lodge room of Court Roxburgh (A.0.F.), where members spent a pleasant evening as the guests of the Foresters. For next lodge night a mock police court has been arranged. The fortnightly meeting oi -Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge, held on Tuesday evening last, was presided over by N.G. Bro. C. H. Bissland. Members discussed the auditor’s report and half-yearly balance sheet. The auditor stated it was pleasing to report that sick pay for the six months (£601) showed a decrease of £l7l on the previous half-year, and w-as the lowest since December, 1932. The Sick and Funeral Fund stood at £66,324—an increase of £1350 for the half-year. Tne Management and Hall Funds were in a satisfactory position, showing increases on the previous period. The membership of the lodge was 667. Tributes were paid to Bro. G. Davidson (secretary; and Messrs Burfon and Patterson, (lodge, agents) for their attention to the affairs of the lodge. Bro. Hamel (treasurer) and P.G. Bro. J. G. Patterson spoke on the balance sheet, which was adopted. In a discussion on the United Juvenile Lodge, it was stated that this branch was making headway, and it was proposed to again meet fortnightly instead of monthly. A recommendation was made to the trustees that the sum'of £4 be given towarus defraying the rent of the hall for the Juvenile Lodge. P.G. Bro. A. H. Williams, who recently completed his term of office, was presented with a framed emblematical certificate and P.G.’s sash in appreciation of his services while in the chairs. Before the lodge closed mention was made of the excellent 1 work of P.G. Bro. C. Hunt as hospital visitor, and a minute was placed on record expressing the lodge’s appreciation of his services. The N.G. announced that members of the Court Pride of the Leith (A.0.F.) would be the guests of the lodge at the next meeting. Following the fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Dunedin Lodge oni Thursday evening last, a social function was held to do honour to a member of the lodge and District Executive in P.G.M. Bro. J. D. Cameron.-' There was a large attendance of members and visiting brethren. N.G. 'Bro. J. Lees extended a welcome to those present. The, members of the executive were also in attendance. The evening took the form of a smoke social, and praise is due to the lodge Social Committee for the excellent manner in which the function was arranged and conducted, those present spending a pleasant evening. A number of toasts were honoured. The chief toast, that of “The Provincial Grand Master.” was proposed by P.G. Bro. W. Trewern, who, in the course of a tribute to the guest, stated that the Dunedin Lodge was proud of the fact that one of its members now occupied the highest office in the Otago district. Bro, Cameron had joined the lodge in 1913, and had given consistent service. ’ Bro. Trewern mentioned that the wife of the P.G.M. was a member of the ladies’ lodge, while two sons were also,- j past grands of the Dunedin Lodge. On behalf of tbe lodge, he congratulated Bro. Cameron on the honour he had gained, and extended best wishes for a happy term of office. In reply, Bro. Cameron said that he nad never regrettted his entry into the Order. It had been his privilege to visit many of the older members on the sick list, and the fact that these brethren always appreciated his efforts had encouraged him. He appealed to; younger brethren to attend and give support to those who were carrying on the work of the lodge.. The toast of “The Loyal Dunedin Lodge ’ was entrusted to P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. F. Hamel, who said the leading characteristic of the lodge was its solidity. All the administrative officers had been thorough, and the lodge was a sound financial institution. One of the most able district officers from the lodge was the late P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Chapman, to whom the district owed much. The speaker stated that when the executive was considering the revision of rules, Bro. Chapman, who was a schoolmaster, had spent his six weeks' vacation in revising the rules, and had presented the complete redraft to the district. The Dunedin Lodge had had many outstanding brethren, who had not aspired to district hondurs. Th e toast was responded to by P.P.G.M. Bro. W. Ibbotson, who has a membership of close on 60 years. Other toasts honoured were “ The District Executive ” and “ The Visitors.” The former was proposed by Per. Secretary Bro. J. W. Smeaton, who paid tribute to the work of the executive officers, who gave their time and service for the Order. A number of enjoyable items was contributed by Bros. Robb, Walls, Sligo, and Messrs G. Currie and Cameron. Opportunity was taken during the evening to present P.G. Bro. E. D. Cameron with an emblematical certificate. The presentation was made by P.G. Bro. G. Crosbie, who said that the recipient had made a very capable officer. The toast of the visitors was acknowledged by representatives of sister lodges.