MANCHESTER UNITY

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 24

MANCHESTER UNITY

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Otago District Committee of M.U.1.0.0.F. was commenced on Friday, 28th ult., in the lodge room of the Loyal Pride of Kaitangata Lodge, Kaitangata. Prov. G.M. Bro. W. Sulhyan occupied the chair. Before the formal business of the meeting was ente.ysd upon Mr T. Cairns (Mayor of Kaitangata) extended a very cordial welcome to the delegates on behalf of the town. On the motion of Bro. James Brown a motion was passed expressing thankfulness and gratitude to God that the fearful conflict with all its attendant horrors was over, and while deploring the loss of life and awful devastation, rejoicing that the 0 0 -" 3 ® ot righteousness and liberty had triumphed. The Grand Master proposed a resolution of sympathy with the relatives of 35 members who had died and 19 who had fallen at the front during. the last half-year, and also with the relatives of Bro. W. Russell (for many years permanent secretary of Prince Alfred Lodge) and Bro. J. A. Drain (late permanent secretary of the Waikaka Lodge). . , The motion was carried by all the brethren standing jn silence while Bro. Briggs sounded the Last Post. DISTBICT OFFICERS' EEPOBT.

The district officers' report stated that the number of members on January 1, '9lB was 4692, and the number admitted during the year was 85- Two hundred and two left by arrears, resignation, clearance, and death; leaving a total of 4575 on December 31, the decrease for the year being 117 The value of lodge funds on January 1, 1918, was £188,875 6s lOd, and the receipts for the year were £30,158 Is lid; total. £219,033 8s 9d. ; The was £24,992 16s 3d, and the value of lodge funds on December 31, 1918, was £194,040 12s

I In the year 1869 no fewer than three Manchester Unity lodges were opened in the Otazo district,' and will, therefore, be celebrating their jubilees this year. There were t Lodge Alexandra,' Port Molyneux, and Roxburgh and Tapanui Lodges, district. , 1 The executive has received from the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge a very generous offer of £IOOO as a donation to 'the' District War Relief Fund. In the course of his address the Grand .—Master (Bro. Sullivan) reviewed the events ■ of the year , A motion was carried expressing thanks to the Grand Master for his able and comprehensive address. Bro. Sligd made a brief congratulatory speech respecting the jubilee of the Loyal Alexandra Lodge. He added that the Rox;, burgh' Lodge would celebrate its jubilee in June, and he hoped to see a large gathering of Oddfellows on that occasion. The G.M. hoped lodges would take a prominent part in the forthcoming peace celebrations." It was decided to donate £lO 10s in connection with the Flood Relief Fund; to recommence lodge competitions in six months' time. It was decided that the next meeting bo held at Tapanui. ',.-,■

QUESTION OF CONSOLIDATION.

THE PRINCIPLE AFFIRMED.

The annual meeting of the Dictrict Comof the Otago branch of the M.U.fu.O.F. was concluded at Kaitangata on Saturday afternoon, Prov. G.M. Bro. W. Sullivan presiding. The greater part of the day was devoted to an interesting discussion on the most important question set down for consideration at the meeting—the report of the committee which was set up to go into the matter of consolidation. At a former meeting, held in September last, the_ district adopted an interim report outlining a .scheme of consolidation wnioh maintained the principles of the individual management of louses, whilst at the same time embodying the salient advantages of complete consolidation. The committee also before the meeting a series of amendments to the rules which, were deemed necessary to bring about the position outlined in the report in the event of the latter being adopted. - Bro. Sligo moved, in order to initiate a full discussion, that the report on consolidation as now submitted, together with, the rules prepared by the committee, be received. The motion was seconded by Bro. Brown, who paid a high tribute to Bro. Sligo for the, admirable manner in which he hr.d marshalled his facts and figures.—(Applause.) After a number of speeches and a reply by Bro. Sligo the motion, was carried with enthusiasm by 65 votes to 8. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. llie election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—Prov. G.M., Bro. W. Fleming; Prov. D.G.M., Bro. 0. H. Russell; Prov. Corres. Sec, Bro. J. A. Hopcraft; Prov. Troas., Bro. J. H. F Uamel; auditor, Bro. C. Grater; Lodge Book Examiners, Bros. W. B. 0. Reid and J. G. Patterson; Arbitration Committee—Bros. M'Dougall (Dunedin), Cbughlan (Albion), A. W. Palmer (N.E. Vallev), J. Wilson (Caversham), R. B. Black (Albion), W. Allan (Mosgiel), A. Cable (Port Chalmers), F. Calvert (Albion), Stabb (Albion), J. Knox (Dunedin), J. Will (Caversham), and A. Sligo (Hand and Heart). GENERAL. On the motion of Bro. Black, it wa3 decided to increase the voto passed on the previous day for flood relief in Kaitangata to £25 A voto of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. A resolution of thanks was carried to the Kaitangata Lodge for the generous hospitality which it had extended to delegates. JUVENILE SOCIAL GATHERING. On Thursday evening the brethren of the Loyal Pride of Kaitangata Lodge tendered a social evening to the members of the Kaitangata Pioneer. Juvenile Lodge. A largo number of visitors, comprising delegates from lodges throughout the Otago district. Wero present, together with members of the Otago District Executive Committee. The Juveniles were heartily congratulated by tho visitors upon _ tho manner in which they Conducted their business, and opinions wero reely oxpressed that the juveniles of Kaitangata could give a splendid lead toward the formation of similar lodges within tho district.

structed their delegates to present a report oh their visit to the Kaitangata Pioneer Juvenile Lodge, with a view to the forma tlon of a lodge for juveniles, these heing duly recognised as being the real source of

strength for lodges in the future. After the oloso of the meeting and socirl an adjournment was made to the dancing hall, where an Oddfellows' ball was held. Tho attendance was very much greater than was anticipated, with the result that the floor was crowded until tho close of the ball at 3.30 a.m. Several vocal items were rendered during tho evening.