ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LI, Issue 21, 4 November 1929, Page 3

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

JUVENILE LODGE MOVEMENT. There was quite a large attendance at the Loyal Abbotsford Lodge on Friday night. X.G. Bro. J. Waldrom presided. After the routine business had been done the Lodge was closed down as a Lodge for the purpose of receiving the officers and members of the juvenile branch of the Loyal Hastings Lodge. They were accompanied in their journey to Waipawa by Bro. C. Cunnold, P.G. of the Loyal Hastings, and other members of the lodge, and also by P.G. Bro. P. S. George, secretary of the lodge and secretary of the branch. After the youthful officers had taken their stations, they were welcomed by the X.G. of Loyal Abbotsford, Bro. J. Waldrom. Bro. George acknowledged the greeting, after which he gave an address on the aims and objects of the juvenile lodge movement. Bro. George enjoys more than local fame for his enthusiasm and success in fostering the movement in Hawke’s Bay, a start having been made by him with a branch in connection with the Loyal Hastings Lodge some three years ago. He showed that the movement has already attained importance in the Dominion. Going further afield to the Old Country, he gave instances of the growth of juvenile lodges and spoke of the strength and aid the movement has been to the adult lodges. Briefly, the junior movement was a “kindergarten” where pupils from eight years to 16 years had the principles and precepts of all that i* best in the friendly society movement brought to bear on the younglives brought so closely into its sphere. The ideal is that each child shall reach the joining age to an adult lodge with considerable knowledge and practice in the forms of the business of public meetings; that there will he on the part of the young lodge members an eagerness to assume full duties as an Oddfellow. The accretion to Oddfellowship, through the junior lodge*, is some thousands of member* annually. Those who had the junior lodges at heart are rejoicing that the movement is proving very helpful to the children who join and a source of strength to the parent Order. P.G. Bro. C. Cunnold also had something worth while to say of the junior lodges. Parents could entrust their young to the lodges and feel the children would and could get nothing hut good out of them. The young officers then gave a demonstration of their ritual, the workbeing surprisinglv well done, and roundlv applauded. D.B.G.M. Bro. N. J. McKay eon gratulated the officers on their work as a lodge, and spoke of the enjoy ment their visit had given the mem bn* of Abobtsford. Looking into tin future the Deputy District Gram 1 Master visualised the formation of v juvenile branch at Abbotsford as om* tangible result of the visit paid to Ah botsford that night. Before the party returned to Hast imrs they were entertained at supper. whiV the adult members of Loyal Hastings Lodge were entertained to supper and dancing.