ANNIVERSARY DINNER AND BALL OF THE BRITANNIA LODGE OF ODD FELLOWS, M.U.

Wellington Independent, Volume VI, Issue 558, 15 February 1851, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY DINNER AND BALL OF THE BRITANNIA LODGE OF ODD FELLOWS, M.U.

"The Britannia Lodge of Odd Fellows, M. U., celebrated the anniversary of the foundation of their Lodge, on Monday last. A. considerable number of the bretherii attended Divine Service in the forenoon, at the YVesleyan Chapel, Man ners-stt-eet, where a yery appropriate and impressive ' was delivered tp

them by Mr. JouasS Woodward. From the Chapel thay went, preo.eeded by their band, along the Beach, round Thorndoh Flat, and then returned to their Lodge Room, at the Aurora Tavern,. At five o'clock, a large party,, consisting of the Brethren and friends to the number of nearly 100, sat down to'an excellent dinner, which had been provided for the occasion by Host Firth in first rate style. 'Ihe chair <vas taken by P. G. M'Kenzie, P. C. S.; P. P. G. M. Mills very ably discharging the duties of Vice. Upon the removal of the cloth the Chairman rose and gave the health of the Queen. In proposing this toast the Chairman said he had been most unexpectedly placed, in the Chair, the person who was originally intended to occupy that seat (Mr. Pox) having sailed for I England—he trusted, however, to <lis-! charge his duties to their satisfaction.' The health of the. Queen was theu drank with every demonstration -of' loyally; and the "National Anthem" was ' .sung.bythe whole of-the.cbtnpany; • J The, Chairman then gave the follow- j ing toasts,, which were severally arid; enthusiastically responded to. Prince Albert and the Royal Family. The Govertior-in-Chief und Lieutenant Governor of th«. Province. The Army and Navy, In. giving the health of the Grand Master and Board of Directors the chairman said, that he well kntw the toast would meet with a hearty response from the whule of the Brethren; and he must say, that those gentlemen who had the conducting of the affairs of this mighty institution were richly deserving of all the praise they might choose to bestow upon them. ' They had the arduous duty of superintending.and manageing one the largest charitable institutions in the world, the members of the Man Chester Unity alone numbering nearly 300,000, and there were several other branches of the same Society. In England, during die past year, the amount subscribed to the Funds was £365,000, out of which some £200,000 had been given towards thegrelief of tho sick and distressed, thus relieving the country to that amount. The American Union bad also joined the Manchester Unity, which had made an addition of 100,000 to its members, and had augmented the funds to a considerable amount. OJd Fellowship was now being appreciated in almost every part of the habitable globe, language or' climate being- no bar to its introduction. ■ ' Soiig_« The Old- Oak Tiee," The Vice Chairman gave "Thei Officers of the Wellington , District.",-. .„".'•'.-. • . P. G. M. Chappel acknowledged the Toast for himself and Brother Officers— and/trusted there was no caiise to regret their choice. There was uot much diffipulty in carrying out the priucipies of Odd Fellowship, svhich had done so much good over the whole world—it relieved the sick and comforted the dying—it benefitted the widow- and assisted the or- > phan—it ha;l widely sown the seeds of brotherly love and benevolence, and uprooted those.of discord and enmity. He \yns indeed glad to see so large a company present, and hoped next, year it would be doubled. Song—" Sad Sea wave," by Brother Benton. P. G. Muir, gave " Prosperity to the Widow and Orphau's Fuud/'.and said that to sooth.the harrassed feelings of the dying father, pour balm into the broken heart of the bereaved widow, and to guide the steps of the helpless orphan in the: paths of virtue, was at all times a most pleasant duty, and such was the object of this fund Although the fund was yet in its infancy, he had no hesitation in saying that at no distant day it would prove itself to be one of the noblest Institutions New Zealand could boast ofa-homefor the widow, and an asylum for the orphan. Their numbers were rapidly increasing, and he trusted they would continue to do so. .•• The Chairman briefly responded to it. Gentle mother dear," by Brother Goldfinch. Mr. R. Davis said, he had been pectedly called upon to give the'next feltf much'pleasure in doing so I —the oi-der of Odd Fellows,in New Zealand, was first brought forward , in this house, he (Mr. D.) having originated it. Since then many had benefitted by it; and Ihe hoped it'would continue to'extend that benevolence it had hitherto , done. He begged to propose "Prosperity to Odd Fellowship in the Southern Hemisphere." ; -.-.... The Chairman in acknowleging the toast, alluded to the amicable' arrange* I ments that had been made with the Nelson District, —to the vast increase of Odd Fellowship in the Southern Hemisphere,—and said that he was confident that the principles of Odd Fellowship only required to be thoroughly understood to be universally appreciated. Cheers were then severally given for the success of the Auckland, Nelson, Otago, Sydney, Adelaide/ Port Phillip, and the Van Diemen's Land Districts. ■ Song—" Kind Relations," by P G. Politer. ' - ; ' :r, ' .'.'"". , ; ; , P. G. D, uck, proposed the .healths qf the Rev. Messrs. Watkius , and Woodward, .Wfth:tttan]ss for their jcind offices,

; V. G., R. Bannister, gavo " Tlie Commercial iiitereste - . - Mr. J. ttKmh'respondad.to the toast. Song—" Tbe Sea, the Sen," by P. G. Duck. Mr. Brandon said, tbat tbe next toast hud been entrusted to him—he might enlarge upon it, but .'would not trespass— what a contrast was there between this settlement now and when they first arrived here, then there was nothing but dense and almost impenetrable bush — now there were roads and smiling fields—it was astonishing what had been done by indomitable courage and perseverance in the course of a few years. New Zealand ho thought pre-eminently adapted for agricultural pursuits, and,would e'er long, he had no doubt, become an agricultural, country, he would now give " Prosperity to the Agricultural Interests." Song—"The Farmer's Boy," by Brother Remington. / Brother Levy gave " The Liberty of the Press."- .... ~ ; .;;' Song— •: I remember, I remember," by Mr. Mjuifie. ;,;;-; ■■- - Brother Carter, after a long-<and able speach, which we regret that our limited spuce will : not;allow us to publish, concluded by proposing. " The Land of our Adoption." )''■'". • - • ■. P. G.Lelghfon prefaced , the next toast with a very .neat speech, in-which the days of our childhood, and the thoughts of home and absent friends and relations were forcibly failed to memory. There was always a" tendency in the human mind to cling with fond associations to the memory of boyhood days, and in what ever part of the world they might chance to bo thrown into, however far distant from their native home, the fondest sympathies would always be enlisted when reverting to the scenes of infancy and childhood. He felt niucli pleasure in proposing "The Land of our birth and absent friends." Song—"The Old House at Home," by P. G. Duck..". Brother Benton gave "The Health of our visiting friends." Which Mr. Brandon responded to, expressing great satisfaction at the admirable arrangements, and the manner in which the dinner had proceeded. He bore testimony to the excellency of the Institution they were then celebrating; and wished it every success. Dr. Monteith, and Mr. It. Davis also responded to the toast. Mr. Taunton gave "The Ladies of Wellington." . .' . , Song—" Charming Womeu," by. Brother Goldfinch. The Chairman proposed " The Health of the Landlord and Landlady. , ' Mr. J. Smith gave " The Health of the Chairman." The party now dispersed in order to allow the room to be cleared and prepared for the dancing. At 1(T o'clock, the Bull Room was thrown open but was so crowded that it was almost impossible to go through the dancing figures.- The progarame of the Ball, and dancing every variety of dance, was most'judiciously arranged, and the dancing was kept up with' great spirit until day light, when all seperated highly delighted-'and satisfied at the admirable manner in which both the ball and dinner passed off, and the exceeding good humour that prevailed.