ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 146, 16 March 1921, Page 8

ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS

CONFERENCE OPENED SUGGESTED INCREASE OF BENEFITS The Dominion Conference of Grand Lodge officers and representatives of the Independent. Order of Oddfellows, American Constitution, was opened yesterday morning in the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, Bro. R. Robb (Gisborne), Grand Master, ptesiding. The representatives comprise delegates from the whole of New Zealand, nnd the Grand Dodge officers present were: .Bros. William Hunter (Christchurch), J.P.G.M.; C. J. Talbot (Fairlie), D.G.M.; M J. Hooper (Auckland), G.W.; William Reid (Dunedin), G.S.; L. Deans Ritchie (Dunedin), G.T. P.G. Master Bro. Valentine is acting as assistant secretary. After the usual opening ceremonies and the welcoming of delegates by the presiding officer, the Grand Lodgo went into committee to consider the various reports. Secretary’s Statement. The Grand Secretary’s statement included the following references The term which Itos just passed has been, characterised by an activity unexampled in our history and which if continued will soon enable us to realise our aspiration to reach the 10,000 mark of membership. The visit of a Grand Sire of the Sovereign Grand Lodge is an event which has been long looked for, and has at last materialised' in the visit of Grand Sire Bro. Henry V. Borst who, accompanied by Mrs. Borst, made a tour of Australasia. The impression made by their charming personality and their interesting and educative addresses has raised a spirit of loyalty to the Sovereign Grand Lodge which cannot fail to cement the relations which have always existed between the Sovereign Grand Lodge end the Jurisdiction of New Zealand. The visit of the Grand Ixxige of Australasia—the only one in the 43 years of its existence—was another event widen helped to stimulate our membership, and which has left an impression fn the Order in New Zealand which will not soon ba effaced, and the whole-hearted welcome and hospitality they received was acknowledged by them to l>o beyond nil precedent. The question of increased benefits _ is one that has been before our jurisdiction in years gone by, but lias never met with acceptance. Conditions have altered, tho purchasing power of the sovereign lias decreased, and it may be desirable to increase the benefits, to make them in some degree proportionate to their lessened purchasing power. Hie tendency is in tho direction of making Friendly Societies mere insurance societies. This is to be strongly deprecated and would 'be strongly opposed by those who enter our ranks more for the iiaternal side than the practical. At no period in its history has the 1.0.0. F. of New Zealand displayed more activity 'than now. Two new lodges were opened since last report, making the number of lodges on the Toll 97. The membership at Iflst report was 7261, and! it now stands at 7965, an increase of 704 during the war. The sickness experienced during the past year cost practically .£7OOO. The tota! assets of the Grand Lodge are .£146,414, increase of £lO,OOO. ~, Dealing with the female branch of the Order, the grand secretary reported that the membership totalled approximately 1000, an addition of 120 for the past year. Juvenile lodges in the jurisdiction are still maintaining their position. It was interesting to note that the total me bership of the Order throughout the world P was 2,371,733, while the total relief paid in 1919 was .£1,407,471. and the total invested funds £16,<.>6,349. Treasurer's Report. The Grand Treasurer’s report mentions thrbS the payment of £3003 from.the tional Provident Fund shows that thanks are duo to the Government for P I ' 0V1(1 - ing a benefit thatjs distinctly valuable to those members that are in a to apply for it. Funeral claims for the last year amount to £l4BO, while the payment of old members dues H'vohes quite a large sum The vaHous fluids are in credit as follows:—Sick, £91,-11 , funeral, £39,475; while the actiianal valuation showed a surplus of £27,460 as increase bf £14,782 during the quinquennial period, a state of affairs .probably not equalled by any other Friendly Society in the Dominion.

A CIVIC RECEPTION

Before tho business session was opened the Grand Master and other representatives of the Order were tendered a civic reception in the Town Hall ’ Concert Chamber. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) welcomed t'he Grand Master and delegates In so doing he commended tho work of the 1.0.0. F. and kindred societies. Councillor 0. J. Norwood 'also extended a welcome to the visitors. Ihe Grand Master and other speakers replied, after which the proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem and cheers for the Mayor.

LODGE RECEPTION

SPEECH BY GRAND MASTER-ELECT. Under the auspices of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, A.C., a reception was tendered last evening to Grand Lodge officers and district representatives in the Dominion Farmers' Institute, Bro. C. T. Sullivan, D.D.G.M., presiding over a large attendance of brethren and sisters of the Order. ■ln welcoming the delegates, the president said he was greatly gratified to sea so many well-known faces. In proposing the toast of “The Grand Lodge," ho spoke briefly of the aims of the society. Replying to the toast, Bro. R. Robb. Grand* Master, said that ho was shortly to retire from that position, which would be filled by Bro. Talbot. Since tlm speaker first held office, the Order had made great progress. as many lodges helped to make up the leeway that had Ixien lost. From the Bluff to the North Cape favourable reports had come to the Grand Lodge. Very soon, it was hoped, the 10,000 mark in membership would be reached. The finances, notwithstanding the great drain on them that had been experienced, were flourishing. This was due very largely to the splendid work done by Bro. Reed, who had guided the destinies of the Order for fortythree years. The Order still held a reputation ns one of the world’s greatest friendly societies, and already it had spent There was a reserve fund of some .81G,500,000, and each year much money was being spent in the amelioration of suffering. “Young people should learn," he eaid. “that it is a good thing to join a friendly society. It is a good thing to provide against the ills and troubles of life; and I would ask the good brethren of Wellington to see that Wellington is again the greatest Order centre in the Dominion. " If Wellington puts 'ginger' into tho work there should be a great report of progress when the lodge meets here in two veal's’ time.” Bro. C. J. Talbot, 1 the Grand MasterElect, said ho felt he was following a constellation of brilliant stars, but he would try to emulate them. He referred to the doctrine of love, as against the doctrine of might. ■ The friendly societies’ movement was an outcome of a doctrine of love being put into operation. “Wo believe that, the friendly society will become a. dominant factor in tho peace of the world,” he said, "iieeauvo of our demonstration of the doctrine of love." While tho financial side was not all-important, still it was certainly necessary, and it was giatifying to learn of tho healthy financial state of the Order. He paid a tribute

to'Mr. ,T. A. Young, M.P., a member of the Order, who was present at tho gathering. ' . Bro. .1. A. Young, speaking at the request of the president, said he had taken a great interest in the Order in the Waikato, and conveyed tho greetings of the "Star of the Waikato" Lodge to tho central body. ... He said that the man who was a good Oddfellow was a good citizen in every other walk of life. The great benefits wore fraternal friendships between members. New Zealand had more branches for its size than any other place in the world. Ho thanked the assemblage on behalf of hik own lodge for their welcome, and expressed his best wishes to all incoming officers. In proposing tho toast. “Grand Lodge Representatives,” Bro. H. J. Williams, P.G.S., said that almost forty years ago the first meeting of the Grand Lodge was held in Wellington, he having been there made Grand Warden. After many years he was elected Grand Sire of Australia. . . . The keynote of the day was progress, and the Order was advancing every day. Several other toasts were honoured.