DRUIDS' GRAND LODGE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1935, Page 5

DRUIDS' GRAND LODGE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONCLUDES. SOUND POSITION OF THE ORDER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The biennial conference of the grand lodge of the United Ancient Order of Druids (N.1.N.Z.), which has been presided over by Bro. George Lethaby, concluded to-day. The grand president for the ensuing two years is Bro. W. J. Gregory (Grey Lynn Lodge, Auckland), the grand vicepresident Bro. A. L. Williams (Poneke Lodge, Petone), the grand guardian Bro. H. S. Abel (Pacific Lodge, Wellington), the grand treasurer Bro. F. W. Mawhinney (Pacific Lodge, Wellington), and the grand lodge trustees Bros. H. S. Abel, A. Ogden and.G. Sadd (Wellington). A jewel was presented to the past grand president, Bro. Fred Jackson (Palmerston North) as an acknowledgement of his services. The reports showed that the order during the last three years had made good progress, the total of grand lodge funds, including over £600,000 invested A in mortgages, being £741,529. In connection with unemployment the grand lodge executive reported that owing to the satisfactory position of the society it had been possible to transfer £5OOO of surplus funds to an unemployment relief fund. This had enabled 996 members to be assisted to the extent of £33,088. Despite the difficult.. times the membership totalled nearly 13,000, and the net increase in the funds during the past year was £34,174. The benefits paid by the society last year totalled £36,082, of which nearly £21,000 was in sick pay.