DRUIDISM.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12913, 2 March 1906, Page 6

DRUIDISM.

«-T)TSTKIGT GRANDTJODGE,

1 Tlie sixteenth annual' .g&ffitWt strict Grand d^. Commenced yesterday m the Timaru loresterA Hall, "Bro. R W. Snnpson, District Grand President, Timaru. Lodge, chair, and there were present: Sm X Jowsey, P-D.G.R ; St Bio. J. Fisher, ;Dgnct and Actmg (Oak JSydenham Lod-e);' Bro. T, Walker, Distnct Grano (Hope of St, Albans Lodge) ; ; Ifco Kennedy, District- . Grand GiiaxJ&Jioneer Lofo ; Bro. T ;j: P>l Senior Trustee (Pioneer Lodge) J Swinnerton, P.D.G.P., Auditor (Pioneer Lodge). Representatives.—Bro. H Smith, P.D.G.P., Trustee, Brow. J- W. P.D.P-, Auditor, and Tiro. J, i>y3iess. P:D.P: (Tioneer Lodge, No. 1); 3 Hunter^P.D.G.P.,: and Bro. P.B;P: (Hope of St. Albans Locge G. T. Batley, P.D.P,, and P.A. 3te Bro. A. C. Baitram, P.D.P, Ittnei4); Bro. • Furneaux, F'D P "(LytteltonHearts of Uak.visage, y Bro. W. tor' (Star of Anglesea- Lodge, -6) ;= Brp. •R/='Wa ; tts-PB.P. (Perseverance. -Lodge, Brc J. McLean, P.D.P. (Hope-oi michael. P:D;P:, asd Bro. J. * *..PP V 3P.A. (Anchor Lodge, No 9); Lro. l. Pearce, P-A. (Okoka Lodge No. i.O), Bro. E. Muchmore, E.D.P., L. Sard, P.A., and Bro F. O W» J.P.A. (Timaru Lodge, No. 11); /">•>■ Horniblow,-:P-D.P. (Trafalgar Lodge, 'No 12)- Bro. A. Palmer, Secretary (Ivy ot Linwood Lodge, No. 13); Bro. J Dobbin, and 8r0..J- D. Gobble (Star of Ashburton No. 14); Bro. J. Hadfield, Secretary, and Bro. A. Hulbert, P.D.P. (Oak.of Sydenham Lodge, No. 15); Bro. A. Werner, PD P (Ellesmere Lodge, No. 17); -BroEL Manhire, P-A. (Olive Branch .Xodge, No. 18); Bro. G. Hinds (Cable-Lodge, No; 19) - Bro. C. Carpenter, Secretary (Lily of Burwood Lodge, No. 20); Bro. S. Clarke; P.A:* flv£ Lodge, No. 21); Gobble (Success of Ashburton Lodge, No. 22'. The following visitors were also present:—Bro. Menzies, P.D.G.P. (representing Otago and Southland District Grand Lodge); Bro. W. Bailey, P.D:G.P-, D.GLLv of Canterbury; Bro. G. S. Simpson (Old Oak Lodge), was granted leave of absence,for the session.

Bro. Hadfield was appointed minute secjretary. ._ : : ; The District Grand President delivered n. lengthy address to the following effect:—He welcomed the delegates to Timaru, and thanked them heartily for electing him president twelve months ago. He was present, and was kindly received at the annual meeting of the D. G-. -Lodge of Otago and Southland, which evidently had a. kindly, feeling towards this lodge. That this" was no insignificant Order to which S*ey belonged was evident when it was known that its membership throughout the world: .was, 121,428, and the total funds £711,525 at. the end of 1904. It was interesting to know that the Englishand Germaa Empire Grand Lodges had come . to an agreement whereby members could be transferred from one to the other. This, a small thing perhaps, might be the means of helping the two countries to a better miderstanding of each other. He still considered a Grand Lodge in New Zealand «honldi be formed, and the longer its forma-tion-was -delayed the more difficult it ■would be to unite the three Grand. Lodges onf Account of the fresh amendments made -every year in the laws. Each Grand Lodge could control its own funds and arrange its ..own, rates, but any further changes could be made by the New Zealand Lodge at/biennial meetings. He regretted a ten--dency, among members to increase the liabilities, of the. Lodge without providing for meeting them. This was through ignorance of -the ! fundamental principles that each membershall contribute such an amount as,' iyri&i interest on overplus contributions during the: earlier years of life, shall equal he will, on an average, receive. He advised the study of David Williams' "Friendly Socities," a pamphlet full of interesting: and valuable information. Sub9 f"gjfa-t importance were dealt with a& a conference m Wellington in May, and the meeting must decide whether or not it would be represented thereat. At tihis - m eejjng. j D,G.. officers might speak to. or 1 move any resolution, according to his read-! iog of the rules; but in order to remove future doubts;, an amendment of -the rule involved would be submitted. ' So many amendments had been passed that it was tune all the rules were amended and collated During the last month- of his term ef office, the D.G. Secretary, Bro. N D Kayner, had absconded, and embezzled considerable funds. He was suspended at the January meeting of the Board of Managers, being absent, and D.G. Vice-Pru-dent Bro. Fisher acted in l:i s place pro tem. r -A : -icommittee' r consivti:;rr of Br~s - TSarcliy ° were appointed to put thirds in order for this meeting., Invest! giifioris .showed 'that .the, etabezzlement '•- -of-'-" --?';:!:*' T,rii7(jeV amounted to £497. ,:;;■] of t],-e Lndge, £l2O. The J,n--Ve woufd "decide whether the warranted fur]her inquiry as to hc--~ ■■■(> mvcl\ rocnsv coi-F disappear without b?i;ijr Tnisse.-i sooner. He. r-ohsidered should not- bs m--.; I .* tr. the Secreta.rv.~i>future.'- The 'tires*-??!?'- V,-r-? r^ : -hi>sH:.?e fo' all moneys vested _.ir.. .ih&si.. -Mid should :r_-

sisfe that ever?-payment be made to> eitlier directly-or through their ' sohcitcr. j&is ideas, based-, on many - years* experience as;/u.:. Trustee - that (1) Trustees should keep an account buoK containing" full particulars of all moneys received for investment, and how they a-ie invested, with separate, loan and interest accounts for each 1 -'mortgage ;.;(2) ail interest and, repayments should be' made to \ the trustees,'the interest being handed by them to the secretary at tlie first-'lodge inseting after receipt of same,- and the repayments banked, tie Post Office..Savings Bank offering a ready means of profit-ably investing surplus . funds uptil they are required for other mortgages; (3) all mortgages should be drawn up by. the lodge's, solicitors, and be registered;.. (4) trustees' should"becareful to give: and receive receipts for all moneys • passing through their hands, and make entries of same in their books; (5) although the Friendly Societies Act- does not provide for this, it- is advisable thatone should act- as senior trustee, and carry cut the; duties as above mentioned; (6) at the end of the lodge's half year, the senior trustee should viurnish the secretary with a statement showing how the: funds are invested, with the, amount owing on each mortgage; the secretary shall then acquaint each mortgagor with the amount he is shown to be owing, with a request that thesecretary Be informed of any discrepancy." . This latter precaution would hi the means of preventing any irregularities pn. the part .-of the trustees remaining undiscovered during' a longer period than six months. 'The necessity of some of these suggestions was obvious, but- from information he received' from 'various quarters he knew that some .trustees did not fully recognise the position of responsibility in which they are.placed.

The thanks of this District Grand Lodge wex-e due to Bro.?. Fisher, Walker, and Batley, for the manner in which thev have worked during the past few weeks, and he asked forbearance for any shortcomings that may be apparent; they had cniy had four weeks in which to make ;:n investigation, prepare balauce-sheet- for audit, and get everything in readiness for this nieetisg. .The most satisfactory i:.-_-rc:;se of members for many years' was tr. be noted, the membership now beings 1880, an increase of over 100: a large . proportion of this was due to the Ivy Lodge, Wainate. He thanked his colleagues for the assistance given him during- his terra-of ofriee, and trusted our discussions would be carried on as usual in a truly fraternal spirit, sc that this session would result in lastintr benefit to the Order « Canterbury. _ The Wellington United Friendly Socletie* Council wrote asking for co-opsr:;iion at a conference to", be 'held .at Wellington in May to deal with certain matter* cf vital importance. It was .resolved'-thai the District Grand Lodge bej representeJ at the Conference. ' _ '

Bro. H. K. Smith tendered Lis resignation as a Trustee, as he was leaving°tLe colony.—The resignation was accepted" with regret.

The election of officers for the ensuingyear then proceeded, with the following results:—Grand District President, Bro Fisher; Vice-President, Bro. Kennedv; Guardian, Bro. Furneaux; Secretary. Bro. Walker (at the usual 'salary of £SO per annum); Treasurer, Bro. Jowsey; Board of Management, Bros. Lyness, Batlev Manhire, Hunter, Walls, Hulbert,W. Bartram; Judicial Committee, Bros, izzard, B. Hulbert, Papps, Batley, and Gledhill; Trustee to replace Bro. Smith, Bro. Yincent; Eepresentative to go to the Wellington Conference, Bro. Simpson. The balance sheets and auditors' report were next dealt with, and taken as read. They showed that at the end of the vear the receipts were, for the second "half year, funeral expenses, £7609 4s 2d; incicidental, £223 12s Id; gjoods. £l7 Os 3dtotal, £7750 6s 6d. ' TJre credit balances m each instances were, 14s 2d for funeral account; £174 19s £d in incidentals ; £7604 13s 6d being the fotal balance. The cash account showed a iieficiencv of £495 17s 2d, due to the defalcations of the late secretary. The Board of Management reported that the year commenced with a membership of 1757 and ended with 1880, an increase of 123 as against one of 57 in the previous year; 252 members were initiated, 92 made good; 19 joined by clearance; 208 were returned unfinancial; 14 left by clearance; 4 'resigned-; and there .were 14~ deaths. Owing to the absence of the D.G. Secretary from the Board meeting on January 13th and to rumours abroad, the Committee enquired into the Lodge's position financially, and found a serious deficiency. Most "of the Lodges in the district had been visited during the year by the District officers and members of the Board, who had been well received and reported favourably on the Lodges. , ~..". . The auditors report .'referred to the serious loss the late D.G. Secretary had inflicted on the : Lodge,; and to. the 'necessity for effectually preventing further occurrences of the kind. They had been at. much inconvenience in straightening matters up in time for this'meeting, and expressed their thanks to the.'-Trustees and others who had assisted them. The balance sheet for ..the first, half yem was approved and adopted: and that* f<>i the second: half year wr.s discussed ;r length, A fine imposed en ore-lodec ;*<- remissness in forwarding cash and letm--was remitted on .explanations be-ng fjivc: A. discussion +ook place or the priii,'-"-brought about by the ~ate Secretary, and this w;-s taken in s'>' committee. It was not '• evening.

Tbe meeting, which .commenced, at 2 p.nL, adjourned at 4.45 p.m.. resumed at j 5-30, and again adjourned at 7 p.m. COMPLIMENTARY BAXQUKT. Last night the officers and visiting delegates were entertained by the Tiniuru Lodge at a complimentary banquet in the Assembly Rooms. There were about seventy-live present. Bro. Halford. Arch Druid, presided, and the Hon. Win. HallJones, as a guest, sat o:i his right, with Bro. R. W. Simpson, D.G.P. An excellent dinner was served by Bro. J. H. Rodgers. When the meal was finished, a, toast list was gone through. " The King and the Druids" was drunk with musical honours.

Bro. Boulden proposed "The District Grand Lodge .of Canterbury." It wiis 16 years since this Lodge separated from the Victorian Grand Lodge; since then they had held, first half-yearly and then annual meetings, as well as monthly Board meetings, ne referred to the faithfulness of its officers with one recent exception. It was a notable thing that Bro. R. W. Simpson, a Timaru officer, was elected to the Grand Presidency. Bro. Walker, whose name he coupled to the toast with that, of Bro. Simpson, had been an officer of the Lodge since its inception. He called for a true Druidic welcome for the delegates. " - ■ The toast Jwas drunk with the accustomed Druidic "'"ceremony of hand-clapping, and with musical honours.

Bro. Simpson, in replying, motioned that this was the first time, their banquet: had : ever been honoured with the presence of ladies. His term of office had been most pleasant" up to the last month, when the funds weie robbed of £490. Things were not so bad as they might have been. It was ; a most pleasing thing that during the year only two brothers, and the wives of two members had died, the claims on the funeral fund being ouiusually .small. In this 16<ii anniversary: only three of the original brethren were present- Bros." "Walker. Simmerton and Swinnerton. He spoke of the increase in membership and iunds during the past few years; but thought it: was not as large, as it might be. They were not putting as much energy into thenwork as they should. There was still a lodge in Canterbury that should be included in the Grand Lodge to make a, "United Canterbury." He thanked those who had assisted him by taking his place in visitations, when distance prevented his going himself. Referring again to the defalcations ofs the secretary, he said that the Lodge had that day decided that the Board of Management take steps to prevent asimilar occurrence in future. Considering again the progress of this Lodge, he said that other Lodges gave greater inducements than this one; and this Lodge had now the opportunity to consider taking steps to- offer such inducements; it would increase the membership, and put the Lodge in « better position that iti now occupied.

Bro. Walker replied very briefly. He mentioned that he had been connected with Druidism for 26 years, and had hardly missed_a meeting. P.D.G.P. Bro. W. Baitram proposed "District Grand Lodges of the North Island, Otago, and Southland," and s-poke of them as most progressive bodies. He urged the desirability of bringing these Lodges together into a New Zealand Grand Lodge as early as possible. Bro. Menzies, D.G.P., Otago and .Southland, responded. He congratulated the Lodge on the tone of their meeting of the afternoon, and hoped it would" continue throughout the occasion. He pointed oat that the North Island Grand Li>dgf had a very large and scattered territory, "and had to work hard accordingly to be -o sutcessful as they were. Speaking of his own Grand Lodge, he said it started with ten Lodges, to which nine had been added in its ten years of existence. It had ou:y about 900 members for a start, and had now over 1800. A sixpenny levy was struck by tbem on the occasion of the deaths of members and produced £SO each time. Last year eich member contribute:! only 4s 6d, and this was a great help to the families of -.. • nine who bad died, and was a valuab!? addition to tlie tuner::' donation. He pail a complirue-.ii to D.G.I'. Bro. Simpson, whose term of office to;, eludes to-day, and who .had carried out hiduties in a most exemplary manner. P.D.G.P. Jowsey proposed -Tlie Hou>.of Representatives." coupled with the name of the Hon. Win. Hall-Jones. He rcferre : to the proposed alteration of the Friend v Societies' Act. and asked the Minister ;*..- help the societies by considcrin«- favumvl.: - their side of the question at issue. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones thanked t".ipresident for his invitation to attend the banquet He was verv glad tlie conference was coming on at "Wellington iu May. and hoped it would not be the onlv nm» of the kind. He said much uood was"like!v to result from it. He thought the Friendly Societies had been a little lax in repaid to conferences, Tvhich all sorts of ot :t: bodies frequently held. Now a start w> being made, they should arrange for per iodical conferences. He suggested that tl.< coming conferences should consider bavinLodge accounts audited by a Government auditor. He paid a high compliment t ■ the nobDity of the aim of the FriendK -Societies to help distressed brothers, ar<: said that the legislature was working always to secure the benefit of the wholtcountry. As for the attitude of the Legi.lature, he knew they would favourably consider any suggestions that the Society could make; for he knew they were surV to be reasonable requests. It" was ho]>ed to have a consolidated law for. Friendly Societies, with some suggested amend ments. The colony was just now enjoying a prosperity such as had never before iieeu equalled in its history. It was the single aim of <the Government to further that prosperity. While it was impossible to please everyone, they aimed at finding out the course that promised the best for all concerned, and to go on fearlessly in that

course. It was sufficient evidence of the correctness of this course that other countries -were adopting New Zealand's legislative, methods.

Bro. Hawkey proposed, ' The Town of Timani," and quoted figures indicating the prosperity of Timaru. He complimented the Mayor on his furtherance' of the town's prosperity, and called on him to respond. Mr Craigie thanked them all for their hearty reception of the toast, and extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegates. He hoped they would see a good xleal of Timaru, and go away with a good impression. According to legend, Rome was; founded by Romulus and Remus; but the founder of Timaru was unknown to fame. It was probably some old whaler who brought a whale into the harbour as a go>d place to land. Since that imaginary i-vynt, Timaru had grown thrmiirli the *r.eepstation stage into a very p;osper«u:s ro-.t-n. He reviewed the hisi:ry of tlio '■'•.vrxi very briefly,'speaking f.f ;he •)■■■<] of" the seventies. The ii.-.m '<■.. ' : ■' ' many ups and downs, hv.i <i;ite<l i's , -c-oi:d prosperity from 1900. li nw ( .i '«" -h to the extension of the l;;.sl>!i-.n'. ;u-.i ''■'.■ brenking up and settlement of biir V.--'- 1 -!* of the adjacent land. mi im-reaM*. :•' ; ! s productiveness. Though Tim;::u vr.y :•'■• small horongii. a very large number r biddings- had been erected, and at least. -'■' AC-GO had- been spent on them in the '■'• four years; and another £50,000 or

£40,000 had been «p«at in the saburbt. He quoted The mcreaae in 'tbe Bortrogn valuations,'the shipping revenue, and other figures indicating the growth of the town in the last four years. Brother Watson proposed "Kindred Societies." which was responded to by! Bros. A. Jones 1A.0.F.), Roibwetl (M-U. j 1.0.0. F.). Ftooacah (H.A.C.B.Js.), a«« j T. Fvfe 1A.0.0.F0 "Our Lawyers and Bankers." proposed be Bro. .Sinipmi, was responded to by Messrs W. Raymond and G. A. U. Tapper: j "District Grand Lodge Representatives. aud Officers elect." proposed by Bro. Moriartv. was responded to bv Bros. Ffchcr, D.G"P-. and Batlev. D.G.V.P. At this stage. Bro. Robinson was presented bV Bro. Simpson, on behalf of the Timaru Lodee. with a P.vt District sident's collar, in a case, in recognition o! his services to the Xo. 5 district. He re_ sponded. thanking the reprcsntatives of the lodnes with which he had come in contact during his term of office, for their kindness to him. _ Bro. Swinnerton proposed " -So. ° u,s * trict.-' and this was responded to by Bros. Gobie and Robinson. .. Other toasts were, " The Timaru Lodge (Bro. Jowsev), "The Ladies" (Bro. Halford). "The Press," and "The Caterer. Songs were rendered during the evening- by Bros. A. Budd, Boulden, Hole, Horniblow. Strachan. and Watson, and recitations were given by Messrs Moriarty and Hunter. These helped much to make a very pleasant evening. _