M.U.I.O.O.F.—OTAGO DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 4

M.U.I.O.O.F.—OTAGO DISTRICT.

A meeting of the District Standing Comimitfcee was held at the District C'hamibeTs, Stuart street, Dunedin, on the 11th. Prov* G.M. O. J. Wood presided. The other district officers present were : Prov. D.G.M. A. M'Dougall, Prov. C.S. J. A. Hopcraft, Prov. Treasurer J. H. S. Hamel, andi D.P.G.M. J. H. Orawford. There wer-a 32 delegates present. After the roll w.aa called the Prov. G.M. referred in feeling terms to the loss sustained by the district on the decease of the late Bro. P.P.G.M. Sligo. The executive had received expressions of sympathy from many of the lodges in the district, and had conveyed them to the late brother's family. He called upon the Prov. CS. to read the following letter, which was forwarded to the family: . " The District Executive, on behalf of the Otago District, desires to convey to you and the other members of the family their heartfelt sympathy on the death of your father. His long connection with the district, and the ability and earnestness he manifested in the work, won for him the affections not <miv of the members of this district but of those throughout the - Dominion. His .brilliant work helped very materially to place this district in the proiid position is now occupies, and his life and example will not pass unheeded, especially among those with whom it was their great -privilege to be associated. • Blest with high intellectual and oratorical powers, he used them as his conscience dictated for the welfare of humanity generally, and by bis death a gap has been created which will not easily! be filled. Another pioneer's: name has been added to the scroll of our illustrious dead, but we take comfort in the belief that Death is not all of life, Nor is life all fulfilled - When heart and pulse and brain Are surely stilled. To those bereaved of a. loving father we with them will follow him beyond till© grave, and he shall still have a, place in our memory till we too pay the debt of Nature, when we hope we shall once more meet in a happier lodge and live in perfect unison of" friendship before the ailbeneficent and Most High Gcd. —Believe me, yours sincereiv, J. A. HOPC2AET,, Prov. CS." P.P.G.M. Munro moved that a copy of the letter be inserted in the minutes of the meeting, and that the executive be thanked for expressing the feelings of the district. Seconded by P.P.G.M. J. Wood. Tho resolution was carried in silence, the delegates standing. The Prov. CS. read the application from, the Naiseby Dodge to grant permission to open a new lodge at Ranifu.rly, to be called the Loyal Maniototo Lodge. P.P.G.M. Crawford, who had bean instrumental in the formation of the lodges moved that the application be- granted. Seconded by P.G. G. D. ' Richardson, and carried unanimously. It was further received that the date of opening be leift in the hands of tho District Executive, city and suburhani lodges to be advised of arrangements come to, and that the cost of the initial expenses incurred be paid from the district funds at the discretion of the executive.