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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2169, 20 April 1870, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP AND THE LATE MR JOHN TIDD PRATT. At the last half-yearly meeting of the North Canterbury District Independent Order of Oddfellows, M.U., held in the Lodgeroom of the Loyal Kaiapoi Lodge on thesthinst. V.G. Br M. B. H art delivered the following address on the decease of the above gentleman, for which we are indebted to The, Press : '' Worthy G. M., D. G. M.,' and Brother Delegates, — "Before we proceed to the business of this meeting, I wish to "make a few remarks on the irreparable loss which our order in common with other Friendly Societies, has sustained by the death of Mr John Tidd Pratt, late Registrar of Friendly Societies in England, the tidings of whose decease reached us by the last English mail. To those who are acquainted with the history of the rise and progress of our Order, I need scarcely dilate upon the most important services rendered by the deceased gentleman to the workingclasses of England. Before his appointment to the office of Registrar, which he has so ably filled for upwards of thirty years, the door was open to the speculative and dishonest, who, by specious promises aud inducements, obtained the hard-earned contributions of the working classes, and in return guaranteed them benefits and relief in the time of sickness ; promises which were ' never fulfilled. When the time of need really arrived, the contributors found that, after paying into one of these societies for perhaps the greater portion of a life time, no funds were available, and that the hardearned savings of years had been swept away. So much did this evil increase that the attention of the Legislature was directed to it, and on the passing of the Friendly Societies' Act in England, Mr John Tidd Pratt was appointed Registrar, with extensive powers to see that its provisions were duly observed, and in a manner to act aa custodian of the savings of those who desired to participate in the benefits to be derived from societies properly constituted under that Act. A more judicious appointment was never made by her Majesty's Government, and indeed it may safely be said that the present satisfactory position of our Order, and other Friendly Societies, is chiefly due to the untiring exertions of Mr Pratt. Mr Pratt, throughout his long and useful career, never refrained from denouncing the attempts of the fraudulent and exposing their ulterior designs, but refused to sanction by his certicate rules of proposed societies which he could forsee would'never be carried out, or accomplish the object for which they were projected. Himself a lawyer (having been called to the bar in 1524) lie chose rather to accept an office which at that time few men would have cared to fill, and to enter upon the difficult task of instructing the uneducated working classes of England how to cooperate and associate together, for the mutual benefit and advantage than to follow up his profession ; in which, had he continued to practice, there is no doubt he would have taken a [high rank. For more than thirty years he has been unobtrusively doing a great work, and in the exercise of the large powers from time to time conferred on him by statute, he never swerved from the line of conduct he laid down on first taking office, aud has conferred great and lasting benefits on the working classes, not only of England, but of the whole civilised world, wherever the banner of Oddfellowship or kindred societies has been raised. Mr Pratt's endeavors were also directed to obtaining the sanction of the Legislature to a measure enabling Friendly Societies to govern themselves, and to settle their di?putes without the intervention of a court of law, and in this he was successful, and it is mainly owing to his exertions that we, in common with other Friendly Socities, possess this privilege. He was, indeed, a man who made his mark in the world, and his death has left a void which the Home Government will have great difficulty in filling up. In conclusion, I venture to express a hope that some steps will be taken to perpetuate the name of a man who not only so ably served his country, but conferred such estimable benefits upon thousands of his fellow-countrymen."

Aii auctioneer was selling a lot of land for agricultural purposes. "Gentlemen," .said he, " this is the most delightful land. It is the easiest land to cultivate in the country—it is light, so very light. Mr Parker here will corroborate my statement; he owns the next patch, and will tell you how easy it is worked." "Yes, gentlemen," said Mr Parker, "it is very easy to work it, but it's a great deal easier to gather the crops."— American PaperA youngster who had been detected by his father iu the act of stealing some fruit stored for winter consumption, was angrily bidden to go into the next room and prepare himself for a severe flogging. Having finished the work which he had in hand, the inexorable parent armed himself with a stout horsewhip, and went in quest of the culprit, whom he found ornamented with a hump at which Quasimodo himself would have shuddered. " What on earth have you got on your back," asked the wondering sire. "A leather apron," replied John, "three double. You told me to prepare myself for a severe flogging, and I guess I've done the best I could !"j