DRUIDS' CONFERENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1579, 6 March 1919, Page 8

DRUIDS' CONFERENCE.

GRAND LODGE OF CANTERBURY. The annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury, of the Ancient Order of Druids was opened this morning at the Caledonian Society’s rooms, Worcester Street.

Following is the list of those present and the lodges which they represent:—

Officers: Bros. F. George IG.P.), F, E. Talbot (G.V.P.), T. Walker (G.S.), .T. Jowsey (G.T.), H. B. Luxton (G.G.), J. W. Baty (P.P.), T. J. Gledhill (senior trustee). Representatives: Pioneer Lodge, Bros. H. E. Smith (P.G.P.), W. .T. \V. Neate (P.G.P.), T. Marriott (P.D.P.); Hope of St. Albans, J. W. H. Francis (P.A.), W. G. McKenzle (P.D.P.); Mistletoe, J. Mel.ny (P.A.), C. Ives (P.G.P.), F. L. Booth (P.A.); Ethclbert, P. V. Bailey (P.A.); Lyttelton Hearts of Oak, J.Furnenux (P.G.P.); Star of Anglcsea, J. If. Rcstall (P.D.P.); Perseverance, J. W. Thornton (P.A.), F. ,1. Hooker (P.A.); Hope of Amberley. A. Bailey (P.D.P.): Anchor, D. Lingard (P.A.), R. S. Dickie (P.A.), .Too. Rhodes (P.S.); Ohoka, F. Pearce (P.D.P.); Tiniaru, B. W. Simpson (P.G.P.), C. E. Rawlings (P.A.), J. T. Collins (P.A.); Trafalgar, H. \V. Forrest (P.D.P.); Ivy of Lhvwood, J. Burgess (P.G.P.), Geo. Dickinson (P.A.); Star of Ashburton, B. Marsden (P.D.P.). P. O'Connor (P.A.); Oak or Sydenham, A. Hulbert U'.D.P.). K. J. V. Bearne (P.A.), E. Cameron (P.S.); Old Oak, .las. Simpson (P.S.); Ellcsmerc, A. Werner (P.D.P.); Olive Branch, W. H. Manhire (P.G.P.); Ivy, R. W. Hutt (P.D.P.); Lily of Richmond, .las. Jackson (P.S.); Bud of Hope, W. J. Rouse (P.A.); Queen of the Oak, Sister Furneaux (P.A-)-

Bro. F. George, Grand president, presided. lie reviewed the work of the past year, extended a welcome to the delegates, and invited all to be present at a banquet to be held this evening.

Past Grand President Bio. S. Kennedy was appointed minute secretary of the conference.

Correspondence was read from the Otago and Southland Grand Lodge, conveying fraternal greetings to the Canterbury Grand Lodge. The letter was received.

The report of the Board of Management for the year ended December, 1918, which embodied a resume of the annual balance-sheet and report, stated that the financial membership showed a decline of nine, the statement being as follows:

Number of members at commencement of the year 2f>!3

Number of members initiated during the year 88 Number of members made good .. 87 Number of members joined by clearance 0

Members returned unflnnncial .. 112 Members left by clearance .. .. (1 Members resigned 2 Members died TO Total financial at end of year .. 2634 A total of 495 members —one-sixth of the membership—enrolled for active service in the great war. Of this number 59 had made the supreme sacrifice, 153 had beeu discharged, leaving 283 still on active service. The board extended to the relatives and friends of the deceased members its most sincere sympathy. Lodge funds hail increased by £1827 13/4 during the year, the figures at the commencement being £47,700 0/0, and at the end £49,527 13/10.

Lodges had disbursed in doctors' and chemists' fees £2893 9/8, and in sick allowances £3050 11/5, this being "an increase of £772 over the previous year. No doubt this increase was in a large measure due to the epidemic that passed through the Dominion in the latter part of the year. The grand lodge funeral fund had decreased by £lB9 0/6, the first time in the history of the order that such a fact had to bo recorded. Funeral allowances totalled £1985, being £695 more than the previous record of £1290 last year. Included in the amount paid out was £660 on account of 22 deceased soldiers. The total funds of the order had increased from £63,446 18/4 to £05.174 3/10.

The superannuation fund had increased by £45 8/3, and now had a credit of £491 15/1. The debit on the active service fund had increased to £327 7/11, but with the prospect of increased receipts and decreasing expenditure the deficiency should soon be extinguished. Maternity allowances totalling £624 were paid out on account of the National Provident Fund.

Resignations from the board men tioned in the report of March last had been dealt with and appointments made as follow: —Bro. G. Dickinson, P.A., of the Ivy of Linwood Lodge, and E. Cameron, 'P.S., of the Oak of Sydenham Lodge. Since the last meeting of the lodge three very old and enthusiastic workers in the early days of druidisin in Canterbury had been removed from their midst, namely Bros. W. E. Samuels, P.D.P., who died after a long illness; Jos. Swinnerton, P.G.P. died during the epidemic after a brief illness;'and W. S. Willstead P.D.P. succumbed suddenly to heart failure. There also passed away an old and hardworking member of the North Island Grand Lodge, Bro. P. Fletcher, Grand Treasurer of that body. The board expressed in the name of the order the deepest sympathy with the sorrowing families of the deceased members. The annual report and balance-sheet, also the report of the Board of Management was adopted. (Proceeding.")