Friendly Societies

Southern Cross, Volume 11, Issue 38, 19 December 1903, Page 10

Friendly Societies

lodge anniversary. On Sunday evening the members of the Pioneer of Southland lodge, 1.0.0.F.,A.0., together with those of the juvenile branch (Minerva lodge) attended St. Paul’s Methodist Church, There was a good representation of both lodges. The Rev, Mr Blamires, of Gore, who was conducting the church anniversary services, preached from part of the ninth verse of the sixth chapter of Hebrews, “things which accompany salvation, ’ He welcomed the Oddfellows as representatives of an institution which •was seeking to carry out the apostolical precept —“ Bear ye one another-s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.” The preacher went on to point out that this was one of the things that accompanied salvation, and emphasised the fact that religion should influence every relation of life. We could not separate it from any section of it—our lives were not like so many water-tight compartments, with one for religion and another for secular affairs. If a man were saved, he sought in his turn to help others —if he did not do so, if he selfishly failed to look beyond his own little personal circle, he was in danger of becoming a narrow-minded pietist. On Tuesday evening the “ Pioneers and their friends celebrated the 25th anniversary of the lodge by a conversazione in the Zealandia Hall. A numerous company gathered and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The N.G., Bro. W. Donaldson, presided and delivered a short opening address, in the course of which he read a letter from Miss Amy Murphy, regretting her inability to be present. He mentioned that on 30th June last the lodge had a membership of 212—165 benefit and 47 honorary members. The funds stood as under : —To credit of sick fund, £214119s 9d ; management fund, £B6 17s; benevolent fund, £4O 11s 3d ; benefit members’ dues reduction fund £472 13s ; making a total of £2742 Is. All these funds were profitably invested. During the half-year ended June the sick pay disbursed totalled £llO, or equal to £4 per week, while if they took the six lodges of friendly societies in town, with a membership of 1246, they would have an expenditure of about £1622 in sick pay for the half-year —figures that spoke volumes for the good work done by such societies, and as to the desirableness of membership with one or other of them. In connection with the last two deaths of members of the lodge the sums of £45 8s 4d and £39 17s lid bad been paid out, being the funeral allowance of £3O each, plus the grant from members’ dues reduction fund. He had said enough to show that the Pioneer had been very successful, and this success still attended it, for during the last five months they had initiated 36 new members, which was, he thought, a record. Bro. J. Aitken, P.P.G.M., apologised for the absence of the Grand lodge secretary, Bro. Reid, and quoted a number of figures showing the progress of the Order. The membership stood at a million and a quarter, and they claimed to be the largest friendly society in the world. They disbursed over £2OOO a day in sick pay, and as they were only one of a number of such societies, some idea could be formed of the magnitude of their beneficent work. He also referred to the good work done by Bro. T. Crawley as superintendent of the juvenile lodge. The programme submitted by the Pioneers for the entertainment of their guests was one of the best ever given in Invercargill, and encores were so numerous that it was not exhausted till 11 p.m. The singers included Mrs Ross (who was enthusiastically welcomed), Mrs Blue, Miss McCloskey, Mrs McCurdy, and Misses Richards, Dryden, and bumsden, and Messrs J. E. Taylor, J. L. Kingsland, C. R. Andrews, A. R. Thompson, and Mr Hensley. Recitations were given by Mr J. R. Webb

and Mr James McGregor, and some feats of legerdemain by Mr A. McLean. An' orchestra under R. A. Edwards contributed materially to the pleasure of the gathering. Mrs Blue and Mr L. Cnsworth were the accompanists. Refreshments were dispensed during an interval, and altogether the Pioneers saw to it that one and all had full value for their money and something over.