HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 5, 31 May 1873, Page 10

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

(Oamaru Times.) The St. John's Branch, being No. 76 of this Society, was opened in the Volunteer Hall on Tuesday evening last, by Mr M. C. Joice, the delegate from the Chief Branch, Victoria. At 8 p.m. the members to be initiated, forty-three in number, took their places at the head of the table, and Mr Joice, wearing the gold-fringed collar and scarf of the office, addressed them, explaining the objects of the Society, and urging Upon all the necessity of making provision for the future. None could count on a day, and all were exposed to many accidents. Such a Society offered great advantages to its members, and had an influence for good on the outside public. He urged upon the members the necessity of guarding against anything that would cause scandal, and to see to it that the promises which they had made, in public, were fulfilled. They had no secret signs or passwords, all their proceedir gs were open to the light of day, as in the light of day their conduct would be judged. He wished to mention that at all their meetings — whatever business they had to transact, there was always a chair for a reporter for the Press. This was the> 76th Lodge which was now open, and lie could say with pleasure that it had as fair a prospect before it as any Lodge which he had had the pleasure of opening. He wished them every success. The collective strength of the Society now amounted to about 4000. None but practical members of the Roman Catholic Church were admitted to membership. He then called the President (Mr M. Graut) to stand forward, and having given him the necessary instructions for the conduct of his dduties as head of the Lodge, invested him with the collar of hie ©rdir. The Vice-Preeident, Mr Jeremiah Marltham ; the Secretary, Mr J. Joice; the Treasurer, Mr James Markham; the Guardian, Mr James Hannan j and the Warden, Mr J. Cahill, were also invested in due form, and three cheers having been given for the delegate, this part of the proceedings terminated.