ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9101, 20 March 1901, Page 3

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

PROPOSED CENTURY MONUMENT. (Special to Herald. > DUNEDIN, this day. In has report to the biennial meeting of the Grand Lodge of Oddfellows, sitting at Inverairgill, Grand Master Crichton says : "With the year 1901 we begin a, new century, and surely this would be a fitting time to raise some monument which m the years to come would be gratefully appreciated by our successors. In America there are many practical realisations that Oddfellowship is not a "mere beneficial institution." To those of us who have been able to review the various reports from America, the many splendid results achieved must surely L*ve filled "us with wonder and amazement, and should stimulate us to go and do something similar. Of course, we cannot hope, at the commencement, to raise such elaborate monuments as qur American brethren, but if we are to maintain our proud position amongst kindred institutions we should certainly endeavor to raise the institution above the mere ruck of a benefit society. There are many forms m which we could raise some monument to mark the new century, such as a convalescent home, an orphanage, an old folks' home, and the providing' of scholarships for children of Oddfellows m the colony. Personally 1 am not at the present moment wedded to any particular scheme, and 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 intp ways and means, but simply to commend .the mattef%to your earnest and careful consideration, m the hope that you may elect a special committee to deal with the matter when the proper time arrives. I shall be only too pleased to offer any suggestions that may occur. } I ask the Grand Lodge to affirm the principle, and I feel soie that we can evolve a scheme that would be a lasting credit to the Order. On the subject- of new adult lodges, P.G.M. Crichton says:. "The Gisborne Lodge was instituted by my D.D.G.M. at Auckland, Bro. R. Amiger, jun. The spread of our Order to the East Coast of the North Island is a great source of gratification, and my sincere hope is that it will be the means of further disseminating Oddfellowship m that, district.