HAND OF FRIENDSHIP.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2027, 13 August 1920, Page 11

HAND OF FRIENDSHIP.

AMERICAN ODDFELLOWS. CIVIC WELCOME TO GRAND SIRE. .A civic welcome was offered this morning to Judge IF. V. Borst, of New York, Grand Sire of the Sovereign Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, who is visiting New Zealand in the interests of his Order. The function was held in the City Council Chamber. With Judge Borst were Mrs Borst, Mr B. Robb (Grand Master ef the 1.0. F. in New Zealand), and Mr C. J. Talbot (Deputy Grand Master). A number of local officers of the Order were present. The Mayor (Dr H. T. J. Thac.ker, M.P.,) in welcoming the visitors to Christchureh, expressed regret that the weather was not more favourable. He referred to his own visits to America, and remarked that New Zealand had still a long way to go before it'could offer to American visitors the comfortable travel that they enjoyed at home. The great friendly societies, he said, were helping to cement international relations by setting up a community of interest between different peoples. Visitors from America were welcome in New Zealand because it was recognised that sooner or later the Angk)-Saxons in the Pacific must combine to protect themselves against possible aggression.

America and Britain. Judge Borst, in reply, said-that he and his wife very much appreciated the welcome that had been offered them. He had come, not only in the interests of" the Order to which he belonged, but also to observe people and things in the countries he visited. He had ridden about Christchurc.h, and what he had seen convinced him that here might be made one of the great cities of Australasia, populated by active, enlightened and progressive citizens. Touching upon a reference by the Mayor to American culture, the Judge said that his countrymen had long owed a great debt, in this respect, to the great British nation. When the Great War broke out, gw>at numbers of Americans were anxious to see their country enter the fight, but/owing to old political traditions and the slowness-of a democracy in deciding such matters, there was a considerable, delay. In the War Great Britain and America were closely allied, and the friendship between them had been deepened thereby. Mosi of the 130,000,000 people of " the United States believed that this friendship would never be broken, but that the two nations would go forward hand in hand to the task of bettering the world —a task to which the Anglo-Saxon race was committed. He hoped that more Australians and New Zealanders would visit America. He felt that Australasia understood too little the art of advertisement, especially since he had seen the great resources of these lands. America wanted trade with Australasia, and closer relations in every respect. The great fraternity to which* he belonged was doing much to promote international relations, for its lodges were scattered all' over the world.

An Unbreakable Tie. "I will call you 'fellow-citizens,' V said Judge Borst, in (conclusion, "because 1 feel that we are all citizens of a great democracy." He regretted that the United States Senate had not yet ratified the Peace Treaty or made terms of peace, so that the Allies and the smaller nations might know how the United States stood. "The people of the United States are luund to, the7"rest of the English-speaking peoples by' the strongest ties of friendship,''he i tinued. '' Anyone who tells Ijou a different story is mightily mistaken. The judgment of the greater part .of the 130,000,000 Americans is that the. Eng-lish-speaking peoples, whether living under the Union Jaek or the Stars and Stripes, are going to march together to secure the peace of the world." (Applause.) Mrs Borst, who was introduced by her husband as a member of the New York State Bar (but one who had never appeared before him in court), acknowledged the welcome in a short speech. She was glad to find that women in New Zealand took their share in public affairs, as in America. What her husband had said about Anglo-American friendship was entirely correct, and she also would urge New Zealand people to disbelieve anyone who might say otherwise, no matter how eloquently he might express his ideas. The best testimouy to the good relationship of the two peoples was to bo found in the fact that along the 3000 miles of Canadian border there had never been a single post or sentry. The British and American peoples might have different ideas of government, but they were united in a desire to see the will of the people expressed and enforced by constitutional means.

Messrs Bobb and Talbot also replied briefly, the former stating that .Fudge Borst 's visit would bo of great benefit to the Order,.which had not Jiad such-a visitation for 40 years, lie hoped that the Judge's successors would follow his example. Jujlge and Mrs Borst leave to-morrow for Dunediu, and afterwards proceed to Auckland, where they will join the Niagara for Vancouver.