ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 8

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

REIIREMENTOFBRO. J. KERSHAW., On Wednesday evening a notable event "■' in., local Oddfellowship took place at the Oddfellows' ..Hall, Lambt&i Quay.' The. occasion ■was'the.retirement,, after twenty years'- of office, of Bro.' Jolin Kershaw, from the position of. District Provincial Secretary, ; and thb installation of "his successor, Bro. Gi. E: Godfer. l?rb. C, D. Robertson, G:M. of the Wellington District, ■presided, Mvith Bro. G. Hall in the vice-chair. The installation was performed by,Bro. D. P/.Loasby.'l'.P.G.M;, of, ■■ ■■.:■ '''•■"'.: ''■ ■,■"■-'"..■.''■'..". ' : 'In the'course of-the installation ceremony Bro. Loasby• expressed extreme' regret at. the ■' loss- that would' be. sustained in- the retirement: of. Bro. , who was -in every sense of the'-word: a true Oddfellow. He had ovcrcomo many difficulties, and Oddfellows' generally were greatly indebted to him for ; the excellent, work which ho had done .in the good :cause.. The , choice, of ■' a successor, had' fallen, iupon .worthy ;shoulders., -. ' •;. -"'. ■■"'. Greetings suitable.to the occasion were received tfr.om Bro. T. Wi M'Kerizio,. P.C.S. end' P.P.G.M; (the: Nestor of Oddfellowship in.this-district), and from tho '. Ma'sterton •Lodge/', ' \ : '\ '-' .'■'■ '.""''.-. ..- . . ■;,- .■: '■:'■ .'.A very: handsome illuminated address was handed to Bro. Kershaw by, Bro. John Smith, P.P.G.M:, this being; accompanied by, a valu,ablo gold watch. >In doing, so he stated that Bro, Kershaw. had- probably done more for Oddfellowship; than any other man in the district,- particularly .in. connection with the formation- of the- New Zealand, branch of the Manchester Unity. were also made by a number' of other.distinguished Oddfellows. ■ : : ■•■'■.•■'; Greeted with full lodgo honours, Bro; :,Kcrshawsaid that he was elected to the office; of corresponding secretary, in 1889, and ho'was pleased to see present so. many past officers with whom , he had been associated,: these including , representatives from Grey town, Martinborough,' Ekota:huna, and Cartorton. That day he bad paid a.visit to Bro. T. W. M'Konzie, (who was corresponding secretary in ■1858),. now.over 80 : years of ,age, and' who still 'manifested a lively interest m tho Order. (Applause.) He was pnwd ;to say that the finances; of-the Order were sound. During the 20 years he had held office the membership had-risen from 1054 to 2126, and tho valuation returns of 1906 gave the district funds as over £7000. with only three, lodges showing a deficit,' which-he believed had by this time been wiped out. Although. retiring, he would still continue to.do all in his power to forward the interests of Oddfellowship. He was sure that they would find his successor (Bro. Godber) one who, would servo them well. 'There remained much to be done iirreprard to tho New Zealand branch,.and ho hoped to be.,of ■ 'further assistance. . -Ho thanked them most heartily for their gifts. -.'