THE ODDFELLOW'S BANQUET.

Southland Times, Issue 1049, 2 November 1868, Page 5

THE ODDFELLOW'S BANQUET.

The Loyal Shamrock, Kose, and Thistle Lodge, of the Independent Order of Oddfellows' Manchester Unity, held ; its eighth annual anniversary banquet at the Shamrock and Thistle Concert Hall, on Friday, 23rd October. The fine hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens, flags, &c, the initials of the Lodge and the Order of which it forms part, being gracefully represented by an exceedingly choice device of ferns, which reflected great credit on the d€corator, Mr Eoss, Tay-street. The dinner was all that could have been desired — the best viands of the season were produced in abundance. Upwards of seventy gentlemen were present. # The chair was occupied by Mr W. Wilkinson, N.Gh, supported by P.G-. Webster, and KG-. Bowles, Messrs Scandrett and Hall aciing as croupiers. The usual loyal toast of the " Queen and Eoyal Family" having been given and suitably acknowledged, Mr Hall proposed the next toast, " the Manchester Unity of Oddfellow." He must frankly acknowledge that he was unable to do it the justice it deserved. This fraternity, which looks upon Manchester as its birth place, is now acknowledged to be among the chief of provident institutions. Its branches are firmly planted in the East, and in the West, in the North and South. It numbers its districts by hundreds, and its lodges by thousands, and possesses a capital oL.millions of money. In fact, it has no limit, for wherever the English tongue is spoken, you will find thepleasing manifestations of the working of the principles of the Order, F.L.T., viz., Friendship for the hand of a brother extended in sympathy and good will, Love for the expression of a deep and earnest regard for the sick and distressed, the widow and fatheiless in their affliction ; and Truth for a pure and undented religion, as laid down by the Great Teacher, is the creed of the unity, and it is to achieve this object that we are organised as fellow workers in a noble cause. Mr Webster, P.G\, in responding to the toast, said— As it is my place to respond to this toast, I comply although reluctantly, as I profess to be a practical worker of the order rather than one given to speech making; therefore I shall confine myself as far as possible to stern facts. It is one of the customs of the society to celebrate the anniversary of the Lodge to which we belong, and it is for this purpose we have assembled this evening, with the desire to inform each other what has been done during the past year, particularly in connection with the Lodge to which we belong. Oddfellowship is not yet well understood. It is supposed by many to be a secret society of a doubtful character ; all its secrecy is simply a check upon imposition in the operations of the benevolent objects for which the institution was founded. Oddfellowship, according to some authorities, was founded some centuries ago, but the Order may be said to have been fairly launched about the beginning of the present century. There are several branches of the Order, but the Manchester Unity stands first on the list. At the end of 1867 our numbers were nearly five hundred thousand, and our accumulated capital amounted to nearly £3,000,000, and as showing the growth of Oddfellowship I may state that we have added to our capital last year upwards of £200,000, with an increase of 12,000 members," the interest on the above amounted to £60,000. We are governed by an annual moveable committee, which answers the purpose of a parliament for the Order. The members who compose this committee are chosen from all parts of England, and meet once a year; the humblest member may obtain the highest position. It haa cost the Order many thousands of pounds to place it on the firm basis it now occupies. When I quote the name of Mr Tidd Pratt, almost a household word amongst the brethren, you may believe it is pretty correct when I state that the calculations of the amount of benefit to be received for the amount paid is almost perfect. Its objects are to secure a certain sum weekly for sickness and- distress, and in the end to secure decent burial. We are also enabled to give to other charities ; as an illustration we presented a boat to the National Life Boat Institution, which cost over £700, and which has been christened the " Manchester Unity." Indeed in every way I can commend the Society as one inculcating benevolence and charity. Mr Gk>odwillie proposed "the Otago Districts " in an appropriate speech. Mr Borne responded. Mr Scandrett, N.Gk proposed, "The Shamrock Eose and Thistle Lodge." Mr Wilkinson, N.GK, said— l have much pleasure in responding to the toast of "Shamrock Kose and Thistle Lodge," and have to thank you for the hearty manner in which it was received, this Lodge is in a very prosperous condition ; we have been very, fortunate in the able manner in which past officers have conducted the business heretofore ; at the present time we have something like 130 members, and £800 in sick and funeral 1 fund, but there is no heed for my going into figures as our P.S., Brother Ferguson is prepared with them. I Mr Ferguson said — I can |hardly do

Justice to the toast, inasmuch as I have had but little time to prepare a statement of the affairs of the Lodge. On all occasions such as we are celeb r iting the dflty which I now undertake has alwaya fallen to our worthy Treasurer (Mr Eingsland) who is, I am sorry to nay, unavoidably absent,, and who, law/'fifdre, would have' given jou a more/satisfactory statement. In lntf absence, however; 1 will endeavor to give i..you? an epitomised account of the progress" of tfe Jiddgje from its origin, which \ I trust' vril' ; be inatrtictive to the new members 1 , as- it will serve to show them how the shillings which they contribute are (disposed o£ There are two separate funds, called— Ist. The Sick and Funeral Fund—otherwise Insurance at Death ..-?&*?• The Management Fund. Tfrer' one ] s^xiFling a week, which each member pay** is divided equally between the two funds, but the sixpence which goes to theiljrst named fund cannot be appropriated tcr any other use tha,n that for which the fund was started, viz.--Ta. pay members in case of sickness, or their representatives in case of death, and to ensore * decent burial. The remaining^sixpence goes to pay for the maflageinent of Lodge generally, via., to pay for Medical Officer's salary, Secretary*^ ; . sfbwy, Eegalia, Stationery, Eent, aud other incidental expenses. I find that the Shamrock, Eose, and Thistle liodgo .was first founded in 1860, but uj> to JTani^ry, 18§2,it had an existence olilyin name. From that date the various funds shows a credit of as follows:— , .

At the present date the Lodge Jfund amounts in round figures (including furniture and library) to £1000. - The amount paid for funeral expenses is £80 ; and since July 1864, for medical attendance alone £325 2s sd. There was also paid to various Brothers for sick allowance (from last named date) £135 3s 9d ; and for donations for meritorious conduct £15. ' ' : ■.•■•'.:'■■■"■. "'■•£■'' Mr Pay next proposed " the Past Officers." ' r . • Mr Goodwillie responded in a suitable manner. :• ' r ! Webster, P.G., gave the "Sons of Perseverance Lodge, Biverton." and the "Loyal St. George Lodge,-" '-, Mr Bowles, N.Gk, on behalf of the EivertonOddfellows,thanted thecompany for the kind manner in which the toast had been received, and trusted that the same success which had attended the Invercargill body would also attend' the ' Riverton Lodge. They had hitherto done Mr Scandrett, the N.G. "of the Loyal St. George Lodge, in responding, said it was probably known to most of those present that it was thought advisable some time since to institute sr second Lodge in this town ; this was done,T and I the St George had been in existence just four months; it numbered thirty-nine members good on the books, . and the funds in hand were £76 105. (Applause). No mean sum for a Lodge only so short a time in existence. A very great deal of its prosperity was due to 'his worthy colleague, the V.G of the Lodge, Brother Hall. He concluded by thanking the m for their reception of the toast. , Mr Webster, P.G., proposed the health of "the Chairman" in a .very neat and appropriate speech, in which the speaker took occasion to compliment the Chairman during his connection with the Order, and for the hearty manner in which he entered into the spirit of the evening's entertainment. The Chairman (Mr Wilkinson, N.C^). gaid — i have to thankyou for the hearty manner in which you have responded to I the toast of "the Chairman:" It was my ! duty to fill the chair to-iiight from the position I occupy in the Lodge, but; I - can assure you that the duty' wks a pleasnre ; if all the duties I have to. perform hereafter should be equally pleasureable they will indeed be a work of love — though I never shirk ajduty. v Various other toasts were given; aiid suitably acknowledged, including *^the Visiting Brethren," "Kindred Societies," "Strangers," " the Ladies/ " the Press," and "the Host.'V ' During the evening the toasts were interspersed with songs and repitatipns, and the greatest harmony* prevailed. . The company separated about midnight. *In this case, there was a deficiencj.-

Sick and .Management i • Funeral Fund Fund. Jaa. 18R2 ~~T £25 0 0 £2 6 0* „ 18S3 ... 69 8 9 10 2 I■'•■■1 ■'•■■ ' 186 i ... 100 18 10 44 18 -11 „ 1865 ... 232 18 11 20 %V.X , 1866 ... 348 16 5 3 5 10» 1867 ... 542 2 8 64 19 3 " 186S ... 741 16 4 43 17 6 July 1868 ... 850 9 2 25 2 6