L.0.0.F. GRAND LODGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 11

L.0.0.F. GRAND LODGE.

INVERCARGILL, March 19. The session of the Grand Lodge of the American Order of Oddfellows was opened fast evening, when Grand Master Bro. Geo. Crichton, a northern representative, was presented "with a handsomely framed ad-, dress, he and P.G.M. Bros. H. J. Williams (Wellington) and Burchell (Auckland) responding at a social afterwards. The business session commenced to-day The reports of the~G.M., the treasurer, and sti. rotary and the balance sheet were adopted. March 21. The session of the Grand Lodge Independent Order of ■Oddfellows closed yesterday. The Grand Master's report showed that the total membership of the order was 1,393,899, the net gain for 1599 being 42,669, making the largest friendly society in the world. The valuation report showed the order to be flourishing. The funeral benefit had increased from £20 to £30 per membc.-. The election of officers resulted r.s follows: — Grand Master, J. M. Aitken (Invercargill) ; Deputy Grand Master, A. Small (Otaki) ; Grand Warden, D. M. Millar (Dunedin) ; Grand Secretary, William Reid (Dunedin) ; ' Grand Treasurer, J. S. Alexander (Dunedin) ; P.G.M. 's Braitlvwaite, Michie, and P.G. Springer were elected trustees. The visiting delegates were entertained at a banquet on Wednesday evening. About 100 persons were present, nearly every friendly society in .the district being represented. Bro. W. J. Dickson. District Deputy G.M., presided. After the U3ual loyal toa;t list was honoured, P.G. Bro. M'Jjaughlon (Wyndham) proposed " Our Sovereign Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Australasia." P.G S. Bro. "Williams, in responding, said that although the toast was a formal one, there were matters connected ■with it which were of special interest to all societies and particularly to members of their order. As the name implied, the head, of the order was the American Constitution, and in that country it occuined the same relative position as the Msyichester Unity in Britain. The membership totalled 1,091,814, there being 66 Grand Lodges and 11,944 subordinate onep. It would thus be seen that their numbei-s were of no mean proportions, and the order nvust of necessity do good service of a philanthropic character. The Grand Lodge of Australasia was the only supreme governing body south of the equator. As the statistics were made up triennially it was difficult to get at the exact figures, but, approximately, there were in the colonies 22,000 members ; the Grand Lodge funds amounted to £100,000, that of the subordinate lodges to £135,000, and for three years the payments for relief amounted to £59,000. The time would probably arrive when New Zealand would be called upon to work out its own destiny, #ad instead of bfeing attached to Australia would apply to the Sovereign Grand Lodge for a charter, and he hoped the time would come when the toast of the Grand Lodge of New Zealandwould be drunk in conjunction with the Sovereign Lodge. In responding to the toast of " The Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge in New Zealand/ Bro. Criehton said the Grand Lodge of New Zealand had devoted a lot of time for the good of the order, and one of the objects defined in the constitution included the education of orphans. They had that day set up a committee with the object of raising the institution above the ruck of a mere benefit society, and whatever form the scheme would take it would be a lasting credit to the order in New Zealand. It was 16 years since the Grand Lodge officers met in Invercargill, and between then and now they had made material crogress throughout the jurisdiction. The members had increased by 150 per cent., and their funds in a much larger ratio. During his ,term of office the membership had increased I by over 400, and he attributed the general prosperity to the energy and zeal displayed by the lodges throughout the colony. Within recent years Rebekali lodges for women were established in connection with the order, and these were doing good service, and he hoped Southland would follow the example. In regard to the session just held, he said their labours would go far to increase the popularity of the order, one of the recommendations being the payment of fees of aged and poor brethren, the Grand Lodge being willing to meet the subordinate ones and help them in every way possible. He found their relations with kindred institutions the most cordial, and in Auckland. Wellington, and Christchurch they had unions and councils which met and helped one another considerably, and as they were' bound together for the same objects this stave them greater weight and powers for the common weal of societies. Several other toasts were proposed and responded to in the course of the evening. The retiring G.M. Bro. Crlchtou. In his address on' the opening day, "reviewed the events of the past year. «nd gave the following particulars concerning the order and district:— Prom the latest repoit of the Sovereign Grand Lodge (September, 1900), the following table shows the condition of the order throuarhout Uie world —Sovereign Orancl Lodge, "l , quasi-independent Grand Lodges (Australasia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands. Sweden, asul Switzerland), C ; Grand Lodges, 66 ; Grand Encampments, 55; subordinate lodges, 11,969; subordinate encampments, 2660; lodge members, 893,050; encampment members, 130,067; Rebekah lodges, 53-17; Rebekali lodge members, 326,993. The total membership of the order is 1,093,899, the net gain for 1899 being 42,669, making the T.0.0.F. the laigest friendly sooiety in the world. I am glad to be able to report that generally a wave of enthusiasm has swept over the jurisdiction during the recess.- Especially is this noticeable in Southland and Auckland — the two extreme ends of the jurisdiction — where the country lodges-have made rapid strides in the increase of their mernbeiship, the Wallace "Lodge, Rivertoji, calling for special mention. From a personal experience, I am led to believe that our lodges exhibit more life and inteiest in their affairs than they have done for some years past. There are, however, a few lodges in the colony in which one would like to see a little more enthusiasm. Although their membership and funds are good, I re°ret to have to report that the Southern Cross Lodge, Wellington, ami the Star' of Canterbury, Tirnaru, have lost in a very large measure the zeal and assiduity which once made these lodges famous in the order. I very much fear that, although not actually not off the roll, yet we shall lose Popotunoa Lodge. During the term two new adult lodges have been opened — namely, the Hereweka, at Portobello, and the Star of Gisborne, at Gisborne. Both these lodges have been opened under good auspices, which augurs well for their future piosprrity. X have very much pleasure in being abe to report the establishment of the first juvenile lodsrc — namely, the Alpha Lodge at Auckland. From the success v.hich has attended this lodge since its inception. I an; led

to believe that similar lodges in other parts of the jurisdiction would prove a very valuable adjunct to our adult lodges. It is to be regretted that during the term no new lodges have "been opened in the Rebekah branch of tho order. I am, however, pleased to report that among the existing lodges there is a large amount of energy and zeal displayed. Generally speaking, the meetings are made attractive, and the officers fulfil their duties in a veiy satisfactory manner. With a view to further increasing their attractiveness I would seriously commend the adr.rjtion of the beautified work as is done by the Myrtle Lodge, Auckland. As I saw it worked m Auckland it proved an object lesson to me, and I feel sure that if the other lodges adopted it it would infuse new life into them. It is with regret that we notice the large dram some of the lodges are making upon their sick funds. The present scale of contributions were of course only experimental, and are theiefore lmble to alteration. During the term the Olive Lodge has dissolved. The Valuation report for the quinquennial period ended December 1897, has been circulated, and the splendid results should go far to popularise the institution to intending members. It is an excellent record, and shows that the ofde* still maintains its financial stability and will compare more than favourably with many of its kindred societies. There are two important deductions that arise from the report : First, that an adequate scale of contri-^ butions does not necessarily ensure a surplus^ Unfortunately there are some lodges that show a deficiency, a result in many cases that does not arise from any fault of the lodge, but fiom a heavy sickness experience. These lodges should have our sympathy and practical support. Second, that the splendid result of the general funeral fund should show the necessity of the sick funds being controlled in a similar manner. An element that the Grand Lodge mu«t face is the increasing liability on the fund, the experience last quuiguenniuni being only 10 per cent, below the expectation. The remaiks of the valuer a3 to investments should receive the earnest attention of our lodge trus» tees, who are lesponsible for the safe and proper investment of the funds. The report is eminently satisfactory as a whole, and should be carefully studied by the members. TJjis Grand Lodge was ably represented at the last session of the above Grand Lodge by the Grand Secretary (Bio. Reid) and the Grand Treasurer (Bro. Alexander). Their report -has already been presented to you. An effort is. being made to secure a visit of the Grand Lodge of Australia to New Zealand. The next session will be held at Adelaide in May, 1902.

Reference was made to the loss sustained by the order through the death of P.D.G.M. Bro. Russell (Leith Lodge), Bro. J. J. Hamilton (Southern Cross Lodge), and P.C.P. Bro. Fraser (Phoenix Encampment and P.G. of Pioneer No. With the year 1901 we begin a new century and surely this would be a fitting time to raise some monument which, in the years to come, would be gratefully appreciated by our successors. Personally, I ana not at the present moment wedded to any particular scheme, but if I had a preference for any it would be the establishment of a convalescent home. I do not propose at this stage to go into ways and means, but simply commend the matter- to your earnest and careful consideration, in the hope that you may elect a special committee to deal -with it. When the proper times arrives I shall only be too pleased to offer aiiy suggestions that may occur. I ask the Grand Lodge to affirm the principle, and I feel sure that we can evolve a scheme that would be a lasting credit to the order. In concluding, the G.M. referred to the prolonged illness and recovery of the Grand Treasurer, and then went on to speak of the busy period during the year just closed for the Grand Lodge officers, especially for the Grand Secretary and the G.M. himself. He paid a high tribute to the arduous services so cheerfully rendered by the Grand Secretary (Bro. Reid), whose duties had increased so much ,as to necessitate employing additional assistance. He thanked him for many favours and much guidance, and he also thanked the D.D.G.M.s, concluding by bidding the representatives an official adieu as Grand Master. The Grand Secretary (Bro. W.vßeid), in the course of his report, gave the following particulars: —

J am pleased again to be able to congratulate the Grand Lodge on a marked improvement throughout the jurisdiction, financially and numerically. There has been practically .no increase ir, lodges, but the membership has been steadily on the up grade. The following is the state of the order at the end of the financial year: — Number of lodges at last report, 36 ; new lodges opened, 2 ; lodge dropped (by consolidation), 1; number of lodges now on roll, 37; members added by initiation, 276; members added by clearance, 37; member added by reinstatement, 1 ; members lost by N.P.D., 159; members lost by clearance, 36; members lost by resignation, 4 ; members lost by death, 10; member lost by expulsion, I—a1 — a total gain of membership for the year of 104. This does, not include the membership of the new lodges Hereweka and Star of Gisborne, of which, no official return of rnembeiship has been received. Adding those, we have an increase of membership of" 170 for the year, or a total membership of 2617. There was an increase oi- membership in 22 lodges, ,and a decrease inline, the others, remaining stationary. The gain's and losses were relatively , 165 and. 57, leaving a net gain, as aboVe, of 104 members. . . '..'., The fiiuds of -the order again sluiw a satisfactory increase. The Grand Lddge is now worth £12,316 34s lOd, being' an increase of £917 Is 7d, of which the funeral fund has to be credited with £838 4s lOd ; the amount at credit of funeral fund totalling £10,572 5s 2d. When I took office as Grand Secretary, nearly 25 years ago, one of my highest aspirations as an Oddfellow was to see this fund reach five figures. I have lived to see that tspiration realised, in spite of the "fact that the funeral fund has been the milch cow of the institution. ?t was depleted of its first surplus to form the nucleus of a supeianuuation fund, which firally merged into the present extension fund (the usefulness of which has never been questioned) , and it has b^en dra ned of its further surpluses, and of interest earned, to provid° for penpatetic sessions and management expenses. Theie aie, however, m my mind's eye, potentialities in the accruing surpluses in this fund beyond the dreams of our present imaginings. Our older in New Zealand is not carrying out its grand teachings and the " command of its laws ' so Jong as there is a poor and aged Oddfellow suffering the pangs of poverty, and so long as there is the orphan child of an Oddfellow left uncared for and uneducated. To what better purposes could we apply our surplus funds (when we are really assured that we do not require them) than in relieving the distress of our aged pooi, and in succouring and educating the orphan ? The sickness was heavy, and above the average for the last three years, proving that with the incieasiug average age of members, as shown by cur valuation statistics, there comes an increasing liability on our sick funds. The sickness experienced was 1130 weeks 5 days at highest rate of benefit sick pay, £1130 14s 8d ; there were 6fi weeks 4 clays at reduced sick pay, £33 8s 4d; at further leduced rate, 403 weeks, £100 15s;— a total expenditure of £1264 18s, being an increabe of £88 18s Id over last year's record, and £23 9s lOd over the previous year. The funeral expend - ture also keeps increasing. Thirteen brothers (benefit) and five wives died, and funeral benefits wei.e paid amounting to £310.

The position of the licbekah b»e:.ch clemanf* Esiious coj.sid(-r.;tiou ?t the hnnds of representatives. Socially and fiaternally they "aye exceeded the expectations of their most sanguine supporters, but their financial posih.n is neb commensurate with the number of years they have been in existence, and their piospcctiva I 'abilities. They have worlfcd out their own destiny admirably, so far as lay m their power, and the manner m which they have run their lodges and earned cut their fraternal functions Ms been worthy of all praise. With, regard to the position of their funds, no faulfc lies with them nor with the committee which, compiled the tables of contributions and benefits under which they are working. The tables used weie those just compiled by Mr Reuben "W atson for the M.U.1.0.0.F. in England, one of the most competent actuaries m Britain — a man of t\ Grid- wide fame in his profession — and they were checked and revised by Mr P. Black, an actuaiy of well-known attainment:; locally. lam not impugning the qualifications of those gentlemen in my remarks out thf position of our female lodges, nor do I question the accuracy of their figures. It seems to me, however, that the basis of their — that is, the experience of sickness oil which they are calculated — must bo inadequate, or after six years of trial our Rebekah funds would have shown better results. The membership at the date of last report was 348. Since then 40 have joined by initiation, 2 by reinstatement, and 1 by clearance, while 20 have ceased membership, 6 lesigned, aneS 1 -died, leaving a membership of 354 at the> end of 1900, or a net germ of 36. As no return was received from Euth Lodgre this increase has probably been exceeded. There were 20 members sick lor 82 weeks, with a total expenditure of £41 3s 6d for four lodges. - These four lodges possess funds to the total ' value of £228, of which £30 is in the management fund.