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

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 27

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

DIAMOND JUBDLEE, OTAGO DISTRICT. BANQUET AND BALL IN THE GARRISON HALL. Oddfellowship (Manchester Unity) in the Otago district has completed " its sixtieth year of existence, and a suitable programme of celebrations has been drawn ud to Jnark the auspicious occasion. It was on the sth of December, 1848, that the first meeting of the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge was held in Dunedin, with 11 members. The progress of the lodge is shown by the following table, commencing 1868, 20 years after its establishment: —

into a separate and distinct division of "the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. The fiat Provincial Grand Master was 3ro. .John Dalton, who held office from -1857 to 1862. The progress of the order in Otago is. shown by the following- :=—

* Including three Southland lodges, skice formed into a separate district. The Oddfellows have therefore every reason to be satisfied with the support accorded to them in Otago, and their numbers* in the district warrant the brief season of jubilation upon which they have now entered. The first of the events marking their diamond jubilee was held in the Garrison Hall on the 4th, taking the form of a banquet and a ball, whioh was attended by members of the order from all parts of Otago. P.P.G.M. Bro. A. Sligo was chairman, being supported by the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. M'Donald), Rev. Dr Nisbet, Prow Grand Master Bro. James H. Crawford (Otago District), . Bro. J. F. Arnold, MP., Bro. T. K. Sidey, M.P., also representatives from A.O. Foresters, 1.0. Oddfellows, U.A.O. Druids, and various friendly societies in Dunecjin. JJy special invitation Bro. Thomas Blafcch (1852) and P.G. Bro. J. K. Popham (1858), the two oldest members of the Lov-al Hand and Heart Lodge, ' supported N.G. Bro. W. H. Liddiooat, chairman of committee. In all there were about 400 persons present, including many ladies. The Crosses of the ladies, the majority of whom were attired for the ball, heightened -. cry considerably the brightness o£ the fcijectaci-R, and the scene, viewed front the stage, was extremely pretty. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Bros. Macfie (Foxton) and W. Reid (1.0.0. F.), Mr D. M'Pheraon {president of the Dunedin Chamber of < Commerce), Mr T. Mann (Nelson), and 3>c Macpherson; and greetings were forwarded by Tuapeka. Pioneer Lodge (Lawrence). After the toast of " The Kfng " had been loyally responded to, tha» programme of the evening was taken up. P.P.G.M Bro. A. ShgOj who was received with unanimous applause, expressed his gratitude- to the brethren for having placed him in the positio-n of chairman. He recognised that the honour had n«t been tendered to him because of any special merit or fitness he possessed, but because he was one of the oldest living members of the order who were available. If his age and his long connection with Oddfellowship furnished a justification for hia Acceptance of the position, a further justification, if he might be permitted to Bay it, was to be found in the fact that he •hid filled nearly every position in lodge and district, as well as an office that did not fall to the lot of mfcny— that ofProv. Corresponding 'Secretary for the district. There had been only five district secretaries in all these years, and he filled the position for nine years. Bro. J. A. Hopcraft, present holder of the office — !ap^ pl&use), — had exceeded him in length oi service, as also had the late Bro. P. Black. Then he had twice filled the po<=t of Prov. Grand Master of the District— the highest office in the gift of the brethren.— so that there was reailv s^ire excuse for his selection as th*> oocup.T-t of the ohair that night.— (Applause^ 1& gave him pleasure to preside over such a large, representative, and influential p-athering. and he was delighted to see in their midst many distinguished citizens. Above all. he was proud and gratified that the two oldest living members of th« Jodffp — oldest as xo their" number of years a-nd 1-enjrth of membership— we; e also witb them : he referred to Bro. Thomas Blatcfi and Bro. J. H. Popham.— (Applause.) These two esteemed brethren resided some distance from Dunedin, and it required some persuasion to get them to make the journey. Bro. Blatch became a member of the lodge on the 25th of May. 1852— nearly 57 years ago,— and Bro. Popham on the 28th of December, 1858, or just on 50 years ago.— (Applause.) Bro. Charles Braid became a member in 1859. Bro. James M'Gill (who was prevented from attending that night by illness) «> 1802, Bro. James Robin in 1863, Bro. W. G. Geddes (who was pwjsent) m 1863— (applause).— Bro. John Allan (who was also present) in 1864- (applause),-and himself in 1865.— (Applause.) On the call of the Chairman three hearty cheers were given for Bros. Blatch and Popham, followed by the singing of "For they are jolly good fellows." Proceeding, the Chairman eaid the Oddfellows of Otago had fome cause to be proud of their society. It was in the y«air ♦hat the Drovinoe of Otago was founded that the Hand and Heart Lodge was organised and but a few months after the landing of the pilgrim fathers with those <grand old men, Captain Cargill and Dr Burns, at their head. — (Applause.) After a few words of eulogy for Dr. Burns and Dr Oibb. past pastors of First Church, and for Dr Nisbet. the present pastor. th« chairman said he believed the Hand and Heart Lodge was the first civil organisation started in Otajafo. On tho sth December, 1848, five Oddfellows met in the Commercial Inn. High street, and then and there decided to open the lodge under the auspices of the Wellington district of the Manchester Unity. Those mcmb*r« wero Messrs H. B. Graham (then editor and

proprietor of the Otag-o News, the first paper published in Otago), Samuel Gibbs, Francis Shirley, William Underbill, and another gentlemen whose name could not now be traced. [Later in the evening, as the result of inquiries, Bro. Sligo said that the fifth gentleman wa probably Mr Monson, who at one time held the position of Collector of Customs.] They admitted six new members on the first night, and continued to get a few more till, in July, 1850, they numbered 40 members, and decided to have a hall building erected for their own use. This was erected on ground in Princes street now covered by the buildings of the A.M.P. Societj', and was accomplished by the members contributing in kind towards the object in view — one member giving 500 ft of timber, another 300 ft, another offered to do tho carting free, one- offered, nails, another locks and hinges, and another I offered a supply of candles 'to light the hall for the first six months (this was before the days of kerosene), and so on. On the occasion of the second anniversary of the lodge in 1860 they were able to celebrat? it by a dinner in their new hall. What he had said • in reference to the origin of the lodge was compiled by the. late P.P.G.M. Bro. Charles Reid, to whorn^ Oddfellowship in Otago owed . mora perhaps -fcb&n to any other msun. — (Applause.) The late Bro. Reid was amonjr the first Oddfellows in Otago, and to hia wise eounse and guidance for nigh 40 years : much of the success of both the Hand and ! Heart Lodge" and the Otago District wae i due— (applause),— and lie had pleasure in 1 intimating that there were present that ! night three of the late Mr Reid's sons — iMr Donald Reid (of Milton), Mr T. H. Reid, and Mr Arthur Reid.— (Applause.) ' The late >fr Reid was town clerk of i Dunedin— perhaps ckrk of the town board ! was the correct designation — 50 years ago, '• and retained tho office until, in 1862, the . increasing demands of his private business compelled him to relinquish it. He had alluded to the importance of the office of ; Prov. Corresponding Secretary ; another I office equally important was Permanent ! Secretary in a lodge-. It was remarkable { that in 51 years they had only had five ! District Secretaries, but it was more rej markabl* that in the 60 years of their , existence they had had but three Perma- , nent Secretaries of the Hand and Heart : Lodge— Bro. Charles Reid, Bro. Thomas ' Burton (who had but lately been called j away), and Bro. James Brown, who at '. present held the office— a position he had '• held for 29 years.— (Applause.) To all these men the' lodge owed a debt of gratitude. In 1861 the foundation stone of a Mff ha<H T.«s laid by B*-o. Charles R«;<1 in George stneot, on the ground on which now stood the premises of Mr Brown, confectioner. Later on that building was removed bodily to Caversham, where it remained to that day, just as it once stood in George Btreet. Bro. Reid' also laid the foundation . Atone of the present hall in Stuart street. That was on the 23rd September, 1882, Bro. ! Reid then being, as he was in 1861, the : oldest t>ast offioer of the lodge m Dunj etiin. After referring -to the tables sfaowI ing the progress of the Order in Otago, the ' chairman said that after deducting £195,805 ■ for juvenile lodges, etc., the average capital ' per adult member of the Manchester Unity ' all over the world he estimated at about • £15 as at tho end of, 1807. The average ''capital per member of all the Friendly . Societies in New Zealand at the same time ! was £21 8s 10d.— (Applause.) The average capital per member of the Manchester Unity of Oddfeilows in New Zealand at the same time was £25 7s lOd. and the ; average capital per member of the Otago ; District. Manchester Unity, was £28 9s. i while the average capital per member of • the Hand and' Heart Lodge was £47 9s 6d. > 'Applause.) The total capital of the I Friendly Societies of the colony at the end of 1907 was £1,118,217. The beneiits con- ; nocted with Friendly Societies did not, ; however, begin and end with financial con-

siderations. He had known many instances j In which brethren had hnsn helped under • circuimtHiuvs of misfortune when they had Ino lc-ga' claim on the societi-ss. He had ' known catyps in which sympathy, comfort, j and the hand of fellowship had been exj Winded to those who, sick and lonely, had come to Dunedin from outlying districts for I medical attention in the Hospital. The I hearts of many of their members so- placed ■ had b°en gladdened to find brother O<"<'fe!io\vs seeking them out and aiding aiid as-is'..iiig them us far as possible. Another great advantage to a young ' man ' joining a friendly society was the initiation j ho might obtain into business methods and , tli© training for his after life. He was sorry ihat Bro. James Robin, who had for so !c,is£ filled the position cf ucasurer for tiro district, and who had recent :v removed to Wellington, w-an r.os v. ith them. Ha ■ was plsased that co many tli-stingui&hod j cit izens, most of whom were members of i the order, were in the company, and to all of them he tendered his tihaivks for their ' presence. He would have been pleased to 1 mention, the names of others who had done yeoman eorviee for th" ordar in y*ar3 gone I>\, but. rime would n^ l pr-imit. H>s est«em<>d friend P.r.H.M. Bio. W. f>. Geddes. whom he rejoiced to see amwar them, lightly c-arrjmcr h.-> burden cf 84 1 years, was Prow Donutv Grand Mastor ! when ho (the speaker) join-ed the orJer. I Bro. Geddes attained tho kighe^t position in 1868. Then, still looking back, ihoie j wero Bro=. T. Birch. H S. I?!-* I',1 ', H. Bom- ! ing's. R. Howli-on. R. Swan. .1 Hcpcraf*-. ' F. Palmor, J. C. Mirny. J. Sh-»r\\i;i, - r . 1 Rogers, C. Braid, G. Bc-nd, and V,. I,c-elie, j all of whom were men of light and leading in the days of HO or 50 years a.go.—(Applause.) In doeing he gave a word of advice to the engaged and. a' vet, d'n- ' engaged young ladies who wet* picsfnt, and that was that before raying "Y^" they should insist upon the swain be-wriing i<n Oddfellow or some other friendly society fellow before consenting to make of him an even fellow— (applause and laughter),— and they would lie doing the right thing in the interests of the community. E\<mi if they required none of the benefits for themselves they would be helping a good cause.— (Applause.) His Worship the Mayor proposed the toast of the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge and the Otago District. He was pleased to know that the order had made great strides in the last 60 years, and that with its prese.nl wealth it was able to afford considerable help to its many members. It had to be remembered, at the same time, that roanv noble and worthy hearts who had worked for th« order in the past had passed away. The younger srsneration must renvember that the position the order now occupied wat» dv-» to rhe efforts of t*v» old I and re^r>ect<»f! V»r»thvATi who had c>ne before I them. -(Applauee.) He Lad to couple with

the toast t&e names of P.E.G.M. Bro. Sligo ' and P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Crawford. Congratulations of 'other friendly societies were voiced by D.C.R. Bro. Brugh (Foresters) and Bro. Connor. | P.P.G.M. Bro Sligo, in reply to the toast, thanked the Mayor for the kindly things he had said concerning the order. Speaking particularly of the Hand and Heart Lodge, he said that the total contribution received from the foundation of the lodge until now amounted to £50,504. Interest had been received (with some rente collected) to the extent of £33,000. The disbursements were: Sick pay, . £22,413, and death payments £5000. Medical attendance and medicine, as well as the building of halls, had also been provided for. and at the en i of the year the value of the lodge would bo about £31,600.— (Applause.) He also thanked the assembly for the manner in which it had received ""the toast. P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Crawford also replied to the toast. He '"said it wa6 unnecessary that he should trespass upon their time by giving an array cf statistics, but there was a feature which might be referred to in a cosmopolitan gathering, and that was the amount cf sickness and distress relieved HI which must otherwise hav^ been borne by livic or other charity. Thi? feature readily i permitted of the assumption that the men | who volutarily became members of the | order or a-ny eccity with similar benefitsand objects must- invariably join to secure I greater independence as regarded the receipt of charity, and secure by the real j spirit of eacrific-b help for their folk in liic event of death. And yet while seeking mr dependence, while perform ing sacrifices, there was realised the bond of true brotherhood. With the , realisation of this bond the glorious ideal contained in the motto of the ordei- assumed and took on «omethincr more than an abstract formula. Their motto wan " Friendship.' Love, and Truth."' Ii friendship they had the active' prirveiple of brotherhood, in love the consummation of ell the* virtues, and shining lake two radiant stars from out that galaxy were self-deniei and tolerance, while in the third term, Truth, they had all that man would ever b© able to personify. To the Hand and Heait liCck-e he tendered his heartiest congr&tulaiion« on the attainment of it<3 diamond iubile-e. The records of the lodge showed that business methods, combined with kind!ines3 cf hea.rt, had been suoceseful beyond measure. He earnestly hoped that the mother lodge in the Ota go district would still go on prospering. — (Applause.) The Her. Dr Nisbet, who was called en for a few words, expressed hie pleasure at being aeked to take par.fc in the gathering, and at the. honour oonfer.red upon him of conducting the religious service for ihe Oddfellows on Sunday. He also spoke of the influence the Odd-fellows were exercising for good in the community. Bros. J. F. Arnold and T. K. Sidey, M.P.'s. also addressed a few words to the gathering. P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. F. Ha-mel proposed a vote of thanks to P.P.GrM. Bro. Sligo and P.S. Bro. J. -Brown — a. vote that wes agreed to with acclamation. An excellent orchestra, conducted by P.P.G.M. Bro. J. G. Briggis, contributed a. selection (" Bohemian Girl ") and a waltz i ("Mikado"); eongs we-re sung by Bros. J. j Jago (encored), F. Salter, and A. Ibbotson ; a quartet was given by Messrs Canter, Jago, Ibbotson, and Salter; and Per. Sec. Biro. C. G. O Naumann played a violin solo. Mr R. Bennell played the accompaniments in a manner that was satisfactory to everyone.

Sear. Lo 1668 ... 1878 188& ... 1698 ... 1908 (Jane) xiges. Members. J n* ... ioie ... 23 " ... 1603 ... 24 ... 1208 ... 29 ... 2663 ... I 30 ... 4287 „. Lodge FuacL £ 7,286 24,586 48,270 79,109 123,623 Ls.

Year. ■ 1868 1878 1888 1898 1908 IOC7 it.Members. J 238 287 416 503 652 Lodge Funds. £ 3,520 8,203 14,205 21,796 31,602.