ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 20

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

FORMATION OF A KEBBKAH LODGE. A mceticg was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, i South Dunedin, on Friday, for the purpose I of forming a branch oE the Daughters of ''■ Rebekah, 1. 0.0 F., in that district. There i was a good attenrlarce. NG. Bro. Brooks presided, and amongst; those prefect were ' officers of the Grand Lodge, Unity Lodge, [ Linden Lodge, Lincoln Lodge (Victoria), acd i tbe Lincta and Ruth R»bekah Lodge?. Apologies i were received from Bro. Alpxander and Bro. ] Reid. Dr Emily H. Siedeberg sent an apology owing I fo another engagement, but Bfc&ted that she ; would be vety pleased to become an honorary : member of the lodge. j P.N.G. Sis. Sfatham delivered a sborb | address on the piaclicai tide of Oddfcllowship. i She stated that this was a practical age. Ib J was one in which many women had to 6arn i their own living and the living of their families. The time bad gone by, long &go, when tha only aim and object of a woman's existence was to I get married. There were other avenues of life J now opened to her, and Oddfeliowship afforded [ hf-r tbe aid — both practicr.l, social, Rnd religious aid — to render ber mission in life successful. ' Sister Statham then" detailed tho work of Odd- ! fellowship, and gave .instances of the good work | ti had accomplished, .G M. Bro. Higgin3 stated j that the Kebtkah 'branch-was a conipsrafcitely 1 new branch in New Zealand, but wherever j branchts were established— ther« were Soar in i the colony, two in Duneclir, one in Auckland, and ono in Weliiij&ton— thuy had }»tvv:nl an i unqualified succeiis.. In. Auit'tics the It-ages j had been worked on - * much larger scale. i According to the last returns there were something like 500 lodge*, which contributed relief at tbe rate of £72,000 per aunum. If a Rebekah j lodge were established in South Dunedin he ' fully expected it wovld bB the best in New Zea- | land.— (Applause.) D.D.G.M. B-o. PatUson [ and B:u. Crichton also s»pok«. Ou the motion I of fho Secretary (Bro. Hintou), seconded by P.G. Bro. Crutcbftelc) (Victoria), ib was re- ; solved to establish a Ri-b&kah lodge in South Dunedin. Names were then taker, and over 30 signed the usual petition to the Grand Lodge. On tbe motion or Bro. Anderson it; was decided to call tbe lottye M riam Lodge, No. b, Danghters of Rebeksh, and Sister Statham was uu.iniaiouzly elected a& the first Noble Grand. Sister Sfcatham acknowledged the honour conferred upon her with a few appropriate rematks. Dr Siedeberg was appointed surgeon, and it was decided that the lodge be instituted on September 6. The tvc-ning's proceeding? v?tre pleasingly diversified by eevernl musical contributions.