MAYORAL WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2173, 11 June 1914, Page 7

MAYORAL WELCOME

TO OHItISTOHintOH ODDFELLOWS

Tlie occasion of tho inauguration in Wellington of the Victoria Lodge of Oddfellows drew to this city yesterday a band of Christchurch women who have been Oddfellows for some time, and who camo as an "initiation team" to assist, at tho ccrcmony. The visitors from Christchurch wero welcomed by tho Mayor, oil behalf of tho citizens, yesterday afternoon.

Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), addressing the gathering, expressed his ap_ pruciation of the good work the visitors wore doing in Ghristchurch. ' The Oddfellows' movement, ho said, had tho respect and goodwill of tho community, and there was nothing which tended more to scouring stability among tho people than this kind of co-operation of kindred spirits—co-operation for ! the promotion of thrift and the general social welfare. Tho Oddfellows had been particularly strong in this conn-' try, and some of the best men in civic and national-politics had come from their ranks. He was particularly pleased to see that Dr. Platts Mills bodv t0 b ° th ° Cb ' Cf ° f tlm Wclli "S ton

Brothers Hunter (Grand Secretary) Htntou (Grand Treasurer), and Mrs. Smart (District Deputy in Christchurch), who arc just returning south from the conference in Australia, responded, .thanking the Mavor. Bro Hunter said that the Order' throughout the world now totalled well over two mil»ons_of members. Tho soeietv had ?- considerable hold in Australia' and hew Zealand. Dr. Platts-Mills also spoke.