SPIRIT OF ODDFELLOWSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 9

SPIRIT OF ODDFELLOWSHIP

GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS

“According to established custom,’’ said Pro. G.M. W. J. Johnston, in his retiring address at tlie annual meeting ot : the M.U.1.0.0.F., commenced in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart street, this morning, “ it is now my privilege to address you on matters appertaining to the good and welfare of our great order, more particularly to the outstanding events in our own beloved distruct, during my Grand Mastership. .’lt affords mo a distinct pleasure and privilege to welcome you this morning to this our annual district meeting, and £ trust that, as a result of your deliberations to-day, further advance will be made in the cause of Oddfellowship in tho Otago district. “Let us so think, speak, and act that our district may maintain 'its high reputation, and that its wonderfully steady progress will continue. At tho outset .1. desire to make reference to the long illness of His Most Gracious Majesty the King. In common with citizens throughout our great Empire, every member of our loyal institution must have learned with deep regret the seriousness of his sickness, while many offered prayers and solicitations for his complete recovery. Happy are we to-day in the knowledge that, as the result of loving care and the best attention medical science could give, he has been spared to continue to rule over us. ‘ God save our gracious King.’ “Wo mourn the loss and cherish the memory of fifty-four brothers in Oddfellowship who have passed to tho Grand Lodge above. Some are well known, and others unknown to this assembly, but we extend to the_ relatives our sincere condolences. We are not unmindful of tho fact that we owe a debt of gratitude to many of them for their good work, their brotherly helpfulness in times of affliction, sorrow, and distress, and their memory will inspire ns to go forward, spreading the principles of friendship, love, and truth. These will carry Oddfelfowship much further than our material assets. To ensure the success which should be ours, we require tho sympathetic interest of our members. We must impress upon them that we are nob only members of a highly successful business concern, but associated with an institution based on the highest principles, symbolised in our lodges by faith, hope, and charity. If we could but persuade our members to divert their thoughts and activities to this higher aspect of Oddfellowship our order would soon become a greater rallying ground for good works than we ever dreamed of. Wo are thankful for so many who are members not for the monetary value of the society, but because they love the work, and know a little of the distress which it relieves, anxiety it dispels, and comfort it affords to many a stricken heart. Therein lies the soul of tiie friendly society movement. “ We can look with pride upon the financial position as disclosed in our annual report. Our aggregate capital at the end of December last was £321,765, which returned £15,136 in interest, an average .rate throughout the district, of £5 16s 9d per cent. Our pride in the accumulated wealth is based upon the fact that practically the whole amount will he used to sustain our sisters and brothers when incapacitated by sickness or disablement, and pay to their relatives death benefits. The extent to which we are accomplishing this is shown in the amount paid in sickness benefits for the year, amounting to £8,979, and the funeral claims, £I,BOO, which amount to more than the total paid in contributions to the sick and funeral fund. Without our accumulated capital this would not, of course, be possible. To enable us to continue to do this, trustees must invest the funds available on the very best securities.

“There is much to encourage us in the numerical returns for the past year. They afford the most remarkable returns this district has provided in its long history. To have initiated 746 members into our lodges during the year is a record of which we must all feel proud, for it provides solid ground for satisfaction that our members have been so active. Undoubtedly the year 1928 will ever bo remembered as the 1,000-member campaign year. When inaugurated only the most sanguine saw the possibility of the goal being reached, but with such an enthusiast as P.P.G.M. Bro. Lawry as originator and organiser, the prospects of success wore practically assured. To his undaunted courage and ability to organise, his faith in the membership, his power to enthuse, and his sacrifices is due much of the success of the campaign. “ Having seen the class of candidate initiated into nearly all the lodges, I feel confident that members have been true to the wishes of the committee, and, although the ambitious total was not reached, the fact that we have received the most desirable young men and women must compensate for the shortage. The whole-hearted response throughout our lodges has indeed been inspiring and gratifying to your executive and Campaign Committee. Not alone from the membership phase of our work has the effort been successful. Where previously we saw poorly-attended meetings, with little enthusiasm among the members we were heartened by new activity and new life in all phases of lodge work Splendid attendances at ordinary meetings, (keenness to improve the social side, and the desire of twenty-six lodges to participate in the efficiency competition is proof of the immense value of the campaign and the great revival it created. To have the honour of initiating the largest number has fallen to the lot of our Onmaru brethren with 56, while our Balchitha worthies followed with 51. Their mighty efforts will ever be remembered by those associated with the campaign. The result reveals the effective service given so willingly by many comparatively unknown sisters am;! brothers who have heard and answered the clarion (-all to service. Do not relax your individual efforts. Remember this is' a sphere of work open to the whole membership. Neglect not the opportunity of being missionaries of Oddfellowship among your fellows.’ In bringing them into onr ranks yon will be doing good service to them, to our order, and to the'eomraunity in which they live. “ Realising the great importance of inculcating at an early age, the great principles of our order, the juvenile movement has been given more consideration and prominanco than hithertofore. Under tho guidance of a' separate controlling body (the District Juvenile Council) distinct strides have been noted in our juvenile lodges. Believing that our juvenile society can attract large numbers only by increasing its social facilities and being something more than a sick benefit society, the council during the past year inaugurated a series of competitions, winch very practically assisted the movement. I would ask brethren to

realise that, to get the best out of tho movement, service, even if it means sacrifice, must be rendered b;v a larger number of our adult memberships. It is essential to encourage and tench tho rising generation habits of thrift and self-reliance, and to bo of useful service to the community. “ It is but seven years since the first female lodge was established in our district. Their formation was not looked upon with much favour, b.v many of our members, and it is not surprising that this was the case. When wc realise that for over seventy years our district built up a great organisation without their assistance, that reports of their value in otlun friendly societies varied, it was perhaps to bo expected that their introduction into onr membership and offices was looked upon with a certain amount of misgiving by those who hod the future of onr society at heart. As one who has seen something of thenworkings and given some thought to their future, I believe much of our success from the social, ritualistic, and numerical standpoints will depend on the wisdom and enthusiasm of _ our lady members. Our early experience has been most gratifying, for wc have, in onr female lodges, a splendid typo of young women, who arc striving by their devotion and interest, to maintain the high reputation of tho Otago District. The various competitions under onr jurisdiction have never been more enthusiastically contested. The initia-

tion competition, botli in the central and southern areas, saw record entries | and elicited the fact that onr standard 1 of ritual work is very high and leaves little to he desired. This has been effected by the keenness of the officers, the ability of the various coaches, and the helpful criticisms of the judges, P.P.G.M. Brn. Russell and P.G. Bro. Hutton. The effect of ritual memorised and well delivered must have a definite influence on many candidates. Our congratulations are offered to Albion Lodge on their wellmerited win in the central competition an.d to Queen of Otago upon’their fifth consecutive win in the southern area. “ Since the inauguration of membership medals, about thirty members have been responsible for the initiation of from twenty-five to over 100 members each. We are proud to have a band of enthusiasts so desirous and able to induce others to become partners in our fraternity. May I bo permitted to mention one outstanding case among the medalists. I refer to P.G. Bro. Jones, of the Valley Lodge. Last year I had the privilege of presenting him with a fifty-membership medal, and learned that the whole of them bad retained their membership showing that the brother was either very wise in his selection of candidates or paid them such attention that they had no desire to succeed. “ On December 5 last our order in Otago attained its eightieth birthday, the Hand and Heart Lodge having been opened in 1848, tho year of the establishment of the province. Tho honour of celebrating this important milestone in our history was entrusted to the Campaign Committee, and it is pleasing to record that, realising the great debt of gratitude clue to the pioneers, it was decided to make celebration by calling together all those whose membership was forty years and upwards. About 100 of our worthies responded, and those younger members who were privileged to attend must have been inspired by the stories of the battles of the past, difficulties overcome, and of friendships which have lasted through the years. Our-proud position as the leading friendly society in Otago to-day is largely due to the solid Foundation upon which these pioneers built. Truly we have been handed .clown a glorious heritage, and to-day it is our privilege to continue the work so well established and extend the noble edifice. With the close of this meeting, I hand over the reigns of

office to my successor. Having occupied the position of Grand Master of a i district which has suck an outstand- ' ing record in friendly society activities in the dominion, has trained within the portals of its lodges brothers who have and are taking leading parts in commercial, municipal, and political life, and one that has reached such an enviable financial position is, indeed, a distinct honour. It brought with it great responsibilities. Following, as I have done, two of the most outstanding Grand Masters that this'' generation of Oddfellows has served under, associated on tho x executive body under tho Grand Master of P. P.G. M’s. Clark and Stabb, two brothers endowed with wisdom, with the gift of leadership, and with the high purpose and spirit necessary' to a thorough discharge of their duties. I quite realised the high standard set. Such measure of • success as I may have attained in the Grand Master’s chair is, in a large measure, due to the valuable assistance and hearty co-operation of my executive colleagues.”

formed a .sub-association known «-,s Norik Otago, and it is indeed an enthusiastic member, as is shown by it entering a team in the New Zealand tournament. Though North Otago won one game only, it bad the distinction of being the only team to. score against Canterbury, the Iv C'np winners. The experience gained will ho beneficial to many players. South Otago also entered a team in tlie New .Zealand tournament. It is pleasing to sec such enthusiasm amongst country associations. as hoili North and sjuth Otago bad to boar the whole expense of the tour, the ri’.ising of the money being no small job, and reflects groat credit on those in charge of affairs in the country districts. The New Zealand tournament was played in Timani. and: Otago entered one team, which was drawn in A .section, The play of (he team this year was good, but. a little more practice would have improved the combined play, .However, the team gave a- good account of itself, and was beaten only once in the section, when it lost to Southland by '■! to nil. Otago- were nmuers-up in A section, and in tile play off for the Gordon Cup drew with Kuahino (l-iill), thus holding, the enp tor six months. Our team scored the greatest number of goals, the goals for being ‘2(i and against 1)., The behaviour of Uto team both off and on the field was very good, and Iho association’s I hanks are due to Air J. Martyn (coach and manager) and to Miss Taylor (chaperone) for their' untiring in-