M. U. I. O. O. F.

Otago Witness, Issue 1031, 2 September 1871, Page 11

M. U. I. O. O. F.

MEETING OF THE AXXTAIi MOVEABLE COADIITTEi:.

The AM.C, the Annual Legislative Council of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, met at Bury St. Edmonds, in the county of Suffolk, on Monday, the 29th of May. Most of the Deputies had arrived on the previous Saturday, and on Sunday evening the members of the Order, to the number of 500, accompanied by the Mayor and Corporation, marched in procession to St. Mary's Church, where the Vicar preached to a congregation numbering at least 3000 persons. Previous to the commencement of business on Monday, a monster procession of the members of the Unity was formed in the cricket field, and marched through the town, being joined by the members of other Friendly Societies ; the number of persons taking part in the procession being about 2300. The townspeople had subscribed liberally for the erection of a number of triumphal arches, and a number of citizens had also erected arches at their own expense, while nearly every house in the principal streets had nags, mottoes, or illuminations. The banquet was held in the Corn Exchange ; between 500 and 000 gentlemen sitting down to dinner. The Marquis of Bristol occupied the chair, the Mayor of the town being in the vice-chair.

On Wednesday, the Deputies and their friends visited Cambridge, where _ they were entertained in the Town Hall in the most handsome manner. On Thursday, by the kind invitation of the Marquis of Bristol, they paid a visit to his noble park and mansion at Ickworth. A review of the West Suffolk Militia— of which the Marquis of Bristol is Honorary Colonel — was held in the park, the deputies and Committee of Management of the A.M.C. afterwards partaking of a collation in a spacious marquee, specially erected for the purpose in the park. Tile meetings of the deputies (numbering about 24U) were held in the Athenaeum, the Grand Master of the Order, Bro. Geo. Rtunsdon, presiding. In the course of his opening address, the President, after alluding to the war between France and Germany, said — I cannot re-

f rain here from contrasting the effects of our operations with the calamitous results just referred to. It has been our pleasure and privilege to sooth the widow's grief and dry the orphan's tears. Ours has been the success which, leaving no pang behind, has carried comfort to thousands of hearts, which, but for the operations of our society, would have bean plunged in dark despair. Well might the poet say : Were half tha power which fills the world with terror — Vi'eve Julf the wealth bestow'd on camps and courts— Uiven to ledeem the human mind from error, There were no need of aihenaU and forts, This brings me, gentlemen, to what has ever been a subject of interest to every Oddfellow— --the progress of our Society during the past year. It may seem superfluous on my part to allude to it, seeing that our excellent Secretary, Mr Ratcliffe, has published, in the report for April, one of the most valuable and exhaustive digests of the position of the f Order which it has ever been my pleasure to read ; but I hope you will pardon me if I offer a few remarks thereon. As you are aware, the number of members on the Ist of January, 1870, was 434,100 : the number of members initiated during the year was 29,970 (a rate of increase very rarely surpassed in the extrordinary progress of our Society) ; the number of deaths during the year was 5437 ; and the withdrawals, from non-payment and other causes, during the same period, amounted to 14,167 : leaving the total number on the Ist of January, 1871, 442.575. One gratifying feature in these returns is — that while, of the whole number of initiations, 72. 13 per cent, are under 2G years of age, the number of withdrawals has been less than in either of the two preceding years. While the Order lias increased numerically its finances have also been considerably augmented. Though, from the short time which has elapsed since the returns were sent in, Mr Rateliffe has been unable to compile a complete statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Order dining the year 1870, the following figures, I have no doubt, will be found a close approximation to actual results :—: — Contributions t:423,."00 12 1 Admissions 1.">,420 1 3 Interest 10.1,142 14 0 £.517,072 7 10 Sick Benefits "OS,.V>" 0 2 Funeial do h7,UM 10 10 300.221 11 0 Making a net gain upon the year of . . i.l ">0,&.">0 l(i 10 Total capital, V3.U42.43S 10s. lid. Comment upon these facts would be waste of time. They stand out in bold relief, and show in unmistakeable language what can be done by the working classes in this country, if left to their own I resources. They show too, that the masses I are not deficient in administrative ability. The Board of Directors in tliair report stated that they had appointed a sub-committee, to whom all matters having reference to tho Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the operation of Friendly Societies should be referred. The report detailed the principal points on which the members of the Committee had been examined by the Commission, and the answers of the Committee. The large amount of business remitted to the A. M. C. was got through within the week allowed for the purpose, the deputies sometimes meeting so early as eight in the morning. Among the resolutions arrived at was one to the effect that the maintenance of the Manchester Unity Life Boat — which was subscribed for by the members of the Unity, and launched at Cleothorpes in 18G8 — should be made a charge on the funds of the Unity, the annual expense being about £50. The deputies were congratulated i on the fact that already their Life Boat j had been instrumental in saving a number of lives from shipwreck.

The various proposed amendments and alterations in the General Rules of the Order having been disposed of, the election of officers took place on Friday, the 2nd June, when Bro. Reuben Ginn, Solicitor, Cambridge, was elected Grand Master of the Order. Bro. James Gerrard, of Chester, was elected Deputy Grand Master ; and Bro. Henry Ratclitfe — the tried and able Secretary of the Order — was reelected as Corresponding Secretary.

The next A. M. C. was appointed to be held at Lancaster.