FIRST BIRTHDAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 40, 13 June 1947, Page 2

FIRST BIRTHDAY

WHAKATANE DRUIDS LODGE GRAND LODGE VISITORS The remarkable progress of Whakatane Lodge, United Ancient Order of Druids, which was formed only a year ago with the minimum number of 23 members and now has a membership of 71 was the subject of numerous congratulatory speeches at a social evening following the half-yearly installation of officers on Saturday. Visitors present included the Grand President, Bro H. E. Wells, of Auckland, and Past Grand President Bro H. S. Abel, of Wellington, who is the senior trustee of the order. j There were 25 visitors from Rotorua Lodge, four from Albion Lodge, Napier, five from Te Puke Lodge, and nineteen from the parent Edgecumbe Lodge. Officers installed for the half year were as follows:—J.P.A. Bro J. D. Rivett; A.D., Bro M. Gillard; V.A.D., Bro L. Henderson; A.D.B.’s, Sisters H. Pickles and N. Rivett; V.AD.B.’s, Sister Wallace and Bro A. Cruse; I. Bro R. Schou; 0.G., Sister W. Rivett; M.C., P.D.P. Bro H. Carter; pianist, Sister D. Sykes; minutes secretary, Sister P. Rivett. During the evening, P.G.P. Bro Abel made the presentation of a P.D.P. collar and diploma to the retiring District President, Bro J. J. H. Gattsche. Further presentations of emblems to P.D.P. Bro Gattsche and P.A. Bro J. D. Rivett, for introducing over 15 new members to the Whakatane Lodge, were made by the Grand President, Bro Wells. Lodge’s Birthday Cake After dancing, for which music was provided by Sister D. Sykes and Mr J Henry, the. “first birthday” of the lodge was celebrated with supper in the form of a banquet. The supper room of the Winter Show building was only just large enough to hold those who were present. A feature of the occasion was a large birthday cake, which had been made for the occasion by Sister Rivett Senr. Its solitary candle was lit and blown out hy Sister Phyllis Rivett, the youngest member of the lodge. Proposing the toast of “Grand Lodge,” the secretary of the Whakatane Lodge, Bro R. Morgan, expressed the pleasure of members at having with them the Grand Lodge officers. It had been his privilege to represent Whakatane Lodge at the last Grand Lodge conference at Auckland, and this had given him an insight into the work being carried on by the leaders of the order for the benefit of members.

“I do not know of any lodge which has progressed as quickly as Whakatane Lodge,” declared the Grand President in t his reply. There was no reason why the lodge should not continue to increase its membership during the next twelve months. Briefly reviewing the work of. the Grand Lodge officers, Bro Wells said that whereas members had paid £12,000 in contributions last ' year Grand Lodge had been able to pay out £29,000 to members in ordinary benefits, and an additional £SOOO in special benefits to older members. This was due to the prudent investments made by the trustees in past years, investments which had brought in £50,000 for the year. He also outlined the life assurance benefits which the order had to offer its members. Keen Young Members “Officers and members of Whakatane Lodge,” was the toast proposed by Bro J. Mullins, P.D.P., of Edgecumbe Lodge. He congratulated them not only on the numerical strength attained in the first year but also on the manner in which new members had carried out their duties at the installation ceremony. They were to be commended for zeal in studying the lodge ritual. The formation of a sister lodge at Whakatane had been to the advantage of other lodges, and he was sure that its progress would assist Edgecumbe and not detract from its strength. Bro M. Gillard, A.D., suitably replied. “Founders of the Lodge” Recalling that he had been present when Whakatane Lodge was formed, Past Grand President Bro Abel proposed the toast of “The Founders of the Lodge.” Quoting the old saying that from little acorns there grew mighty oaks, Bro Abel said the oak had always been a symbol of Druidism, and the. growth of Whakatane Lodge was an example of this proverb.

In the work of founding Whakatane Lodge valuable work had been done by Bros J. Mullins, J. Gattsche, 11., Neal and J. D. Rivett. He specially mentioned Bro Rivett, four members of whose family now filled offices in the lodge. That was an inspiration to other members and a tribute to the influence of the lodge in promoting the welfare of the community.

Bros Neal, Rivett and Gattsche spoke of the help received from Edgecumbe Lodge, which had held some of its meetings in Whakatane in order to stimulate interest in Druidism. They hoped Whakatane lodge would soon have a hall of its own and that the membership would be doubled by next birthday. Congratulations from Visitors

“Sister Societies and Visitors” was proposed by Bro H. Carter (Edgecumbe).

Those responding were Sister J. Williams A.D. (Edgecumbe), P.D.P. Bro Gleeson (Rotorua), Bro Magee A.D. (Rotorua), Bro D. Cosson P.S. (Te Puke), Bro J, Gattsche P.D.P. (Albion Lodge, Napier) and Mr J. Henry. It was gratifying to the older Druids to see so many young members present, said Bro Gleeson. Most of' the 25 visitors from Rotorua were young people. He stressed the good results of introducing bashful young people into lodges and assisting them to acquire confidence in pub-lic-speaking. Five juvenile lodges for young people not old enough to join a senior lodge had recently been formed in other parts of New Zealand, said Bro Abel. He urged Whakatane Lodge to consider forming a juvenile lodge as a means of increasing its total of young members. Opportunity was taken to express special birthday greetings to Sister Neal, who lit the candles on a cake for her own birthday and returned thanks.

Other toasts honoured were those of “The Stewards,” proposed by the District President Bro Phillips (Edgecumbe) and responded to -by Bro R. Schou; “The Chairman” proposed by the Grand President; and “The Press” proposed by Bro H. Neal.