ODDVELLOWS' DEMONSTRATION.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1845, 1 December 1874, Page 2

ODDVEL LOWS' DEMONSTRATION.

ANNIVERSAKY BOIERK.

The members of the Oddfellows' Lodges on the Thames finished the celebration of their anniversary yesterday by holding a soiree and dance in the evening. The attendance at the soiree was very large, the fair sex especially being very numerous, and the Academy of Musis presented a rare picture of summer finery. A capital spread was provided for those who indulged in this part of the entertainment.

The tables having been removeJ, tlie second part of the programme commenced in the delivery of addresses interspersed with excellent vocal and musical selections by some talented amateurs. The Chair was occupied by His Worship' tho Mayor.

There were present upon tlie platform ths following :—Oddfellows : Manchester Unit} 7', Loyal Fountain of Friendship Lodge, P.P.G.M , C. Eobinson, and <->ood Loyal Intent Lodi'e, Auckland, P.P.G.M., T. "Colo ; Loj'al Charles Bruce Lodge, Thames, P.G.Jenkins, W.G. Whitaker, V.G. Cramptcn, G.M. Carthew, Treasurer Sandes, P.G. Thackiay; Loyal Waikato Lodge, W.G. Davev, K. Sec. McCowatt, (- .M. Taylor, P.G.s Grant, Bagnall. and Vowlcs ; Permanent Secretary, Ahior; Loyal Hunter Lodge, G.U.0.0.F., P.M. G. Wooderson, W.G. Moore. Mr T. L. Murray, of the Ancient Order of Foresters, was also present.

In opening the proceedings, the Mayor delivered ' a very excellent address, in which he said that he had had much pleasure in acceding to the reque-t that he should preside. He believed that Od'dfellowship should be sympathised with by all—those outside the Ledges as well as those who were members. It was being extended all over the giobi\ and did a great deal to relieve distress. Many of his hearers were aware of what Oddfellowship professed to be. It professed to better the position and insure greater happiness to brothers, husbands and men generally. It incuhateci the principles of frugality and thrift, and provided for the time when the evil hour of death should come. Many there had experienced the benefits which the Order conferred upon its members. But of all other moments it was in the hour of sickness that they blessed the day when they had the foresight and wisdom to join an institution which provided for them when they unfortunately arrived at a time in which they were incapable of providing for themselves. It assuaged the pangs of death, as men passed away from this life, when they remembered that the Society provided for those who were left behind—that they would not be dependent for support upon the charity of the cold world. Its principles were greatly to be inculcated and encouraged. He had frequently been struck with the beautiful emblems of the order— the open hand and heart before the allseeing eye ; and could not help thinking that they would be preserved from evil by knowing that they were in the sight of Him who sees all things. , He became an Oddfellow in the year 1850 in Auckland, belonging to the Loyal • Goed Intent Lodge; but regretted that, through uuforseea circumstances, he was not one now. . Since then the Society had advanced in a manner which it was scarcely thought possible it could. He then addressed a few words to the ladies. To mothers, he would say—encourage your sons to bti Oddfellows; to those who wei'3 wives he would say, persuade your husbands to become members, and the sisters and young ladies generally us would exhort to persuade their brothers and sweethearts to enter the ranks of the Society. And to Odd Fellows, old and young, he would say, persevere in the duties you have undertaken faithfully, and by so doing make the Society all it deserves to be. By so doing they would be honored among men. He hoped the Society would flourish, (md that it would spread day by day, brave in strength, and a blessing to coming Rations. If they did, they would have the satisfaction of knowr ing that they had dqne their duties, and tb.e outside world would say, " Success to the Order of Oddfellows"

Song—" Down by the Deep Sad ?ea," rendered by Mr irewhella ia a very excellent style. The Mayor then called upon Mr Sandes, who represented the L.oyal Charles Bruce Ijodge. iVr Sandes gave a short address, pot wishing to extend the hour into, that which was to be devoted to the dancing portion of the programme. He confined himself to giving some particulars regarding the position and progress of the Lodge of which he was a member. He poujcl not say they bad had a large adjiitipn to the Lpdge. Twelve had, been initiated members, and the numbers of losses had been twelve also. But though the Lodge had not had accession of members, the funds were in a substantial condition and had materially increased. On the 31st of December they had £295 invested aad bearing interest, while the total assets were £290; whereas up to the end of the last quarter, the invested capital was £350, the total assets having increased to £477. As the chief aim of Oddfellowship was the relief of sickness, ithe best proof of its usefulness would appear in the amount paid away for that purpose. With this View, he' might' say that for relief of sick members during the preceding three quarters of the year '£32 5s d<d had been paid; during the last

quarter £20 lls Id ; in addition £52 5s paid for medicine and medical attendance.

A duet, wag then performed by Mr Vowlea and Mr Creamer, in a manner ■which, elicited an enthusiastic encore, which was responded to. Mr/Wooden-on, of the Lo^al Hunter Lodge, thanked the attendants sincere!^ on behalf of the Hunter Lodge. The Soeuiy ?£ Oddfellows was not confined to one : there were many hundreds of them. Kt> .vrculcl. wish.to earnestly impress upon nil man not only the advantage but the necessity of being connected with a society which had for its. object the distribution of benefits. He read an extract from opinions expressed by Mr Tidd Pratfc. late Registrar of Friendly Societies upon the subject of benefit societies. The Oddfellows Society was in a position to offer more relief to its members than any other society in existence. Oddfellowship did not interfere witli religious scruples, neither did it interfere wi h politics. A man could be guided by his onu conscience, and do as he chose in carrying out the object which he hail in view. The speaker then dilated upon the advantages of the Society as being confined to no particular time cf life m man, but holding out inducements tn all. He referred *o the Miners' Accident Relief Fund*%s being ?n institution which claimed their approbation and support, but it was nob so advantageous as that of which he was a member since its. sphere 'was confined tv the district in whicli it was established, whereas the benefits of Oddfellowshp were extended over the earth.

.Song —Mr Mills ; merited applause greeted its conclusion.

The Chairman then called upon Mr L. J. Bagnall to address the meeting. Mr J3agnall, Secretary to the Loyal Wai'-.ato .Lodge, spice at some length as to the working of the Society. He considered it a weakness of Friendly Societies that they did not provide for payment of a sufficient sum in ease of death. There were few cases where more than £20 was paid in the event of a nieniherXdeath, and £12 was the highest he had known in case of a member's wife's death — these suras were small, l^eing only sufficient to pay funeral expenses, which was in. fact the ostensible object in the payment,. When people talked of providing for wives and families in joining friendly societies, they talked wide of the mark. He thought, how. ever, the time had come when Friendly j Societies might make better arrangements in this respect. Eecently the Government had prepared a means through which, by paying small weekly payments, they might secure payments at death of sums not under £5, and not exceeding £200. He thought when the advantages of this system became known that many Friendly Societies would avail themselves of it,andmembers,bypayinga small sum to the Government would be in a much better position than when dependent entirely upon the Friendly Societies. Government had also taken another step in respect to the rates of contribution paid by members of Friendly Societies. The Friendly Societies Act provided that it should be certified by a competent actuary that the scale of contributions was sufficient to pay the benefits promised. The Government had only moved in the matter this year, and now he considered they had gone beyond the mark considerably. From the tables which had been prepared by the Government they would ask that member* of Friendly Societies iv New Zealand should pay higher rates than those in England. From this it would appear that people here were more liable to sickness than they were in Fngland; and the Governwere not justified in setting abroad such an idea. Another anomaly was that while asking the higher rates from Friendly Societies they would take assurances'at nvfich lower rates than in England. He said it was time the Societies should take the matter in hand, and try co-operation with the Government, and come to arrangements for placing the contributions on a scale that would be satisfactory. Mr lieed gave one of hia excessively humorous local songs, entitled A. B. C, being appropriate to the occasion, and an alphabetical enumeration of the excellences of the Oddfellows as a body. He was encored, and in responding rendered another comic piece telling of Bazaar experiences.

Mr T. L. Murray, of the Court Pride of Pa.rnell, Ancient Order of Forresters, next addressed the meeting, aud exhorted the members of the OddfeJloyrs' and other Friendly Societies to make themselves, thoroughly acquainted with the regular tions of the scheme which had been proiflulgated by the Government. Unlike some of those speakers who had gone before, he could not congratulate ■; th» Oddfellcws on their turn out during the day. he considered, despite the fact of many being engaged in the urine*, that out of three lodges, numbering some 400 members, there ought to have been a hetter turn out than some 120. * He thanked them for inriting him to bepresent, on behalf of the Ancient Order of Foresters, and expressed a hope fop the Oddfellow* prosperity. He hoped the time would not be far distant instead of there being an atterwmce of 160 or 200 members, all the Friendly Societies at tho Thames would unite, and make a processional demonstration which should number something like a thousand men. (Cheers.)

Mr Creamer here rendered a song in good style, and received marked applause.

Mr Eobinson, of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge, being called upon by the Chairman,- snid the Fountain' of FriendshiJ) Lpcjge was the fir§t Started; in Auckland, 1 and! being^in'ttip early days', for want of otlier accommodation was inaugurated in a public-house. He alluded to the Manchester Unity g,s being

one of the best and most flourishing in Auckland. Mr Cole, of the Loyal Gooi Intent Lodge, followed with a short address. He had been connected with the Society

I for over 20 years, and was at the opening of both Lodges on the Thames. He expressed great pleasure at seeing so many present, and assured them that the satisfaction would be general among the Oddfeliows in Auckland when he should tell them on his return of the grand assemblage which had gathered there that sight. Mr Bagnall proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was seconded by Mr Cole and carried by acclamation. The ladies then adjourned to the cloak rooms and on to the stage, while the hall was being cleared, the which having been performed in a .marvellously short space of time, part three and last on the programme, namely, a pleasant dance, was commenced, with great spirit, the more s* as—though they would not acknowledge it if asked —most of the gentleman and all the ladies had been, in a painful condition of anticipation during the more lober part of speechifying. Capital dance music was provided and most of those present tripped on the light fantastic toe t|Nrhe hour of dispersion—2 «'clock Ihis