Manchester Unity of Oddfellows.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 24, 28 July 1894, Page 2

Manchester Unity of Oddfellows.

DISTBIUT MEETING. The half-yearly meeting of the Wanganui District of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, was held in the Foresters' Hall, Feilding, yesterday afternoon, at 2 p.m. Officers present — C.S. Bro. Hood, D.G.M. Bro. Relf ; Delegates present — Wanganui Lodge : P.P.G.M. Bro. Bamber, P.P.G.M. Brp. J. Wright, P.P.G.M. Bro. Copeland, P.P.G.M. Bro. Moverman; Manawatu Lodge : P.P.G.M. Bro. T. Wood, P.G. Bro. Blake ; Manchester Lodge : P.G. Bro. Parker ; Ruahine Lodge : N.G. Bro. Reeve ; Awarua Lodge : P.G. Bro. Howard. In the absence of G.M. Bro. Paul, P.P.G.M. Wood was voted to the chair. After the roll wa3 called of the various delegates an apology was received from G.M. Bro. Paul for his absence through sickness, which was accepted. The balance-sheets of the Wanganui Lodge, the Manawatu Lodge, Awarua Lodge, Ruahine Lodge, and the Loyal Manchester Lodge were read and adopted. In adopting the latter P.P.G.M. Bro. Bamber spoke in laudable terms of the progress it has made during this last six months. At one time it was thought that the Lodge was getting below the ebb in numbers but he was pleased to see that the Lodge has made such great strides, that it is on the way to become one of tfie largest Lodges in the district. Several other delegates present spoke in the same strain. An application from a number of persons in Apiti was presented to the District Lodge, through Delegate Parker, to open a Lodge there to be called " The Loyal Apiti Lodge," which was accepted, the time to be fixed by the District Lodge. Great praise is due to the Apiti residents for the energy they are making in wishing to form a Lodge under the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, i P.P.G.M. Bro. Nix being the prime mover in the matter. P.G. Bro. I. Salex, of Wanganui, was elected C.S. of the District, P.P.G.M. Bro. Hood retiring after serving that position for 5 years past. Various officers from the different Lodges were nominated for the G.M. Chair and D G M Chair to be elected at the next District meeiin&r in Wanganni, after which a most successful meeting closed at 6 p.m MEETING OF MANCHESTER LODGE. At 7.30 the Lodge was opened by the N.G., Bro. G. H. Saywell, when the delegates attending the district meeting and a number of visiting brethren were present. After the minutes had been read and confirmed, four new members were initiated. Before the initiation, Bro. Bamber gave a short address on the splendid initiation charge that has been adopted by the Manchester Unity, how it differed from the one when Oddfellows were first initiated years ago. The present initiation charge was one in which everyone could be proud of and if carried out by Oddfellows would make them fit mem hers for any society, and when their labors are ended they would be fit members to be with our Creator above. During the meeting the visiting brethren again congratulated the Lodge on its progress, also for the reception they had received from the members. A vote of thanks was passed to the visiting officers and brethren for their visit. Several new members having been proposed, the Lodge was closed by the N.G. The smokeconcert was another great success. Bro. Saywel!, N.G., proposed the toast of " Visiting Brothers," which was responded to by Bros. Hood and Howard ; " The Manchester Lodge " was proposed by Bro. Howard, coupled with the names of Bros. Nix and Parker; "The Newly Initiated Candidates" was proposed by Bro. Saywell, coupled with the names of Bros. Bastings and Reade. Bro Bastings gave a very eloquent address on the Order and urged those present to do their utmost to further its principles and carry out the ends to which tho Manchester Unity aims at. He did not regret being an Oddfellow. He joined when quite young, and had travelled Australia, England, and America, and he found that of all societies he had experienced more pleasure, more benefits, and more friends, in the Manchester Unity than iv any society. Bro. Reade also niado a few appropriate remarks. Songs and recitations were given by different brothers during, and at the close Bro. Bastings i proposed the toast of " The Ladies." i The singing of " Auld Lang Sync " brought the meeting to a close.