SIXTY YEARS OLD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18529, 16 October 1934, Page 6

SIXTY YEARS OLD

M.U. ODDFELLOWS JUBILEE DINNER LAST NIGHT’S GATHERING The sixtieth birthday of the Loyal Gisborne, Lodge, 6087, Manchester Unity Oddfellows, was celebrated last night, with a diamond jubilee dinner in Freesia Ixmngie. There was an attendance of approximately 150 over whom Bro. A. G. Hicks, N.G., presided. A large birthday cake was on the table, and was cut by Bro. John Mogridge,

P.G., the oldest member. For the occasion, several visitors attended, including the- following:—Auckland district grand master, Bio. J. E. Allen; Bro. B. Nicholson, grand master, Hawke’s Bay district, and Sister Nicholson ; Bro. Mills, P.G., financial secretary, Netherton; Hauraki Plains; Bro. Stcnibridge, P.G., group officer for Hauraki Plains; Bro. C. Martelli, Netherton; and Bro. John Mogridgp, the inly surviving foundation member of the fx>yal Gisborne Lodge. Before the dinner, a lodge meeting was held, and the gathering sat down to dinner at about d. 30 o’clock. The Mayor, Mr. John Jackson; representing the Druidic order, was among those present at the dinner, and other friendly societies were also represented. ' A welcome to the visitors was extended by the ; Mayor: Apologies for absence were read from the following:—Bro. R. A. Ambridgie, P.G. Christchurch, Bro. 0. Morgan, P.G., Tokomaru Bay; Bro. T. Hettel, P.G., secretary, To Kuiti Lodge; Bro. A. G. Neals, P.D.G.M., Morrinsville; Bro. H. Bull, P.D.G.M., Napier; and Bro R. Cook, P.D.G., Rangiora. UNIQUE OCCASION The district officer, Bro. F. T. Robinson, welcomed the district grand master, to whom the speaker presented a memento of his visit to Gisborne, in the form of a photograph album containing photographs of interest to Gisborne and tile Loyal Gisborne Lodge. The District Grand Master, in reply, laid that Manchester Unity, in common witli sister societies, filled a most important place in the community, being of great help. The M.U. was established in 1810, although Oddfellows existed as far back as 1775. In those days, however, the lodge gatherings were more for social purposes, but gradually developed into the present form. The M.U. had extended throughout the English speaking world, and also other orders which had severed from the M.U., but stood for the same principles of friendship, love, and truth. . This was the first occasion on which ho had been able to see Gisborne in daylight, his last visit having been at night, and he was pleased to see such a ; fine town and its appearance of prosperity.

It was unique, lie a<l<JeiU that two district grandmasters should visit the same lodge on the one occasion, and he was very pleased to meet Bro. Nicholson, of Hawhc's Bay district. Auckland was the largest district in the New Zealand branch, with 60 lodges, from the southern outposts of Gisborne and Taumarunui up as lav as one would care to go. Recently he had had the pleasure of opening a new lodge .at Kaitaia. The enthusiasm was unexcelled in the district, he had found on his tour. One reason for this was the consolidation ot lands and the admission of lady members. Where lodges were strong in lady members, one usually found good strong lodges, particularly on the social side. The district had now an accumulated fund of £I2UO,(fOO. Gis-

borne interests were being saleguarded in Auckland by the property and investment committee, which had to overcome many difficulties in such a time as the present. It was agreed that- tjie present difficult period was only a passing phase, and oldfcr membeds would remember other such periods in the past. It was a wonderful thing to have Mich a big consolidated fund, and the smallest lodges need have no fear of the financial position of their lodges, which had the huge fund behind them. THE OLDEST MEMBER Bro. Nicholson, D.G.M., Hawke’s Bay, said that his district did not have the same consolidation as Auckland where the funds of each lodge was invested, the interest being paid out by the district, so that none of the lodges need have tear ot losing its investments. The work in Hawke’s Bay, in spite of the depression, was good, and membership was improving. There was also an improvement in ritual. The attendances, however, were lower than formerly. He congratulated the Auckland district on having such a good lodge as the Duval Gisborne Lodge, which was the third in. the district for membership and the biggest for the town of Gisborne. The Mayor, proposing the toast of Bio. Mogridgc, the lirst secretary of the lodge and flic only surviving foundation member, referred to the fact that Bro. Mogridgc ilew to Gisborne from Napier. The Mayor was surprised to see such a well-preserved man. The Manchester Unity, the Mayor added, was the pioneer of friendly society lodges. In 1850, Henry Ratclill’e, a M.U. secretary, was the man who put the lodges oil a financial basis in England, and £ls years after the work done by Henry Rateliffe was embodied iu the' Friendly Societies Act. At about that time, Bro. Mogridgc was working in Gisborne on the other side of the Empire, and Bro. Mogridgc returned to-day looking almost as young as ever. Friendly societies did a great deal to bring young men out in the matter of public speaking. He paid a further tribute to the “grand old man.” At this stage the Mayor presented Bro. Mogridgc with a knife with which to cut the diamond jubilee cake. In return, Bro, Mogridgc handed the Mayor a coin to mark the occasion. MEMOIRS OVER 60 YEARS Bro. Mogridgc said that it was amazing to return to what was 60 years ago known as dusty Gisborne or oily Gisborne and to see the great changes which had taken place. Gisborne had been a progressive place ever since it started out to build a breakwater. (Laughter.) There were no roads in those days, only tracks through the titree. One day lie walked to Waere.nga-a-hika along the only road, which was but a track. Sixty years ago, he added, the lodge had very entertaining meetings, and progressed by leaps and bounds, as it was the only friendly society in Gis(borne at the time. It met first in the Masonic Hotel, not in the hall, as was previously stated. Often, a lodge did not bother much about the attendance, but he urged officers and members to see that all meetings were well attended. Ob his last visit it was unique to find ladies as members, and lie congratulated the Gisborne lodge on admitting females. It was a progressive movement, and was a tendency to uplift the tone of the lodge. lie concluded by expressing thanks for the warm welcome extended.

Tlie district grand master, proposing tlio toast to the Loyal Gisborne Lodge, said it was a wonderful thing that one who helped in the founding of the Gisborne lodge £0 years ago was able to attend and tell the gathering ot times long past. Another old member, Bro. John Clark, P.D.G.M., district treasurer, sent fraternal greetings, and with one exception Bro. Clark was the earliest member to pass through the chairs. COURAGE CUT FOUNDERS The speaker said he visualised the courage of the nine early members to open the lodge in such a small place as Gisborne was then. The present members must' be thankful to the courage and vision of those old members. At present it was a comparatively easy matter to open a lodge, but in those days there was a risk of financial loss individually attaching to .the members. The present permanent secretary, Bro. C. H. Ambridge, had been secretary of the Loyal Gisborne Lodge for 42 years, was a past district grand master, and had done great service to Oddfellowship,. sitting as a member of the board of directors of the New Zealand branch for 10 years, the speaker added. Had Bro. Ambridge agreed to accept an offer of the position of grand master of flic New Zealand brnacli, it was withinghis grasp. On the speaker’s invitation the gathering rose anti drank to t ho health of Bro. Ambridge. Bro. Ambridge, in reply, said no one was prouder than he to have Bro. Mogndge and the Mayor present, lie said that at one time suggestions had been made to wind the lodge up. In 1882, the lodge had dropped down to only 21 members, but fortunately clforts wore made and the closing of the lodge was prevented. The speaker said that he was elected to the position of permanent secretary in 1885, and he had field the position ever since. The lodge had had many sicknesses, and in one year all hut two members were on sick

pay, hnl lie had not come across any record of Bio. Mogridge being ill. The speaker believed tlmt Bio. Mogridge lmd not collected more than £5 in sick pay in his 60 years. Bra. Mogridge was a good investment for the lodge. The speaker himself, too. had not collected that much in his 62 years with tho lodge. Bro. Robinson said that lie was the district book examiner, and knew that Bro. Ambridge was the right man ill the right place. KINDRED SOCIETIES Bro. Paul Sehwabc, R.U., proposing the toast to kindred societies, said that it was some years since he took an interest in friendly society conferences, and he recalled many happy times. The delegates : never forgot that they were working for one aim, the benefit of humanity and the good that they could do. Bro. Williams, * Ancient' Order o! Druids, said that he had been charged by the Arch Druid to carry the good wishes of the Turanganui Bodge, wiiich had just recently celebrated its golden i'ibileo. It was his lodge’s earnest wish that the goodwill between • the friendly societies which existed in the past would continue.

Bro. Clark, Independent Order of Rechabitcs, Bro. 0. Harvey, Independent Older of Oddfellows, and Bro. J. YV. Somervell. Star of Mangapnpa Lodge, also extended their congratulations to the Loyal Gisborne Lodge.

Bro. Harvey said that Oddfellowship owed a deep debt to the Manchester Unity older. It- was through the initiative of members of the Manchester Unity in the United States to spread Oddfellojvship that the Independent Order commenced. .. . Bro. Somervell stated that in Bro. Ambridge, the Loyal Gisborne Lodge had an officer whose service was outstanding in all lodges in New Zealand. Bro. I. Mirfield', a P.D.G.M'. of the YVcll'ngton district, replied, together with |!ro. I l ’. C. Ellis, R.G., Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge. Bro. Ambridge, proposing the toast to the medical officer and the chemist, said he had vast experience with many modi cal officers, and many members were better satisfied than they had ever been in their lives with their medical attention. The friendly society member in Gisborne was not looked on as a pauper. The speaker was sorry that the chemist was unable to attend. Dr. TL Angell. in reply, said that during bis period of service in Gisborne he had found that his friendly society nutients were the most considerate, and lie wished them not to look upon him merely as a doctor hut as a. friend in time of need. Mr. D. Murray, on behalf of the lodge chemist, Mr. T. A. Crawford, said that his relations with the lodge had always been of the best. Bro. Mogridge proposed the toast of the trustees, and Bro. ,L F. Jeune, P.G., ami Bro. I’. Sehwabc, P.G., replied. Bro. C. F. Stubbs proposed the toast to the press. The evening was brought to a close with the singing of “Anlrl Lang Syne.” A very enjoyable musical programme was rendered by the following:—Sister T’obinu Cook. Miss G. Fanning, Bro. S. TL Vincent, Bin. W. Harris, R. 0., and Mr. TL Lee. Sister ID Hey worth and Mrs. M. Smith ]Lived the aeconinaniments, and Bro. J. A. Vagg played the. musical honors.