ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 329, 1 February 1902, Page 3

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Over eighty members assembled on Thursday night to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Court William Gladstone, A.0.F., Bro. Wm. Edwards presiding.

The secretary read a statement he had compiled from the Court books for the 25 years to date, showing the position of the Court. The sick fund and funeral fund had amounted to the sum of £4894. The amount paid away 1 for sickness and death during that period was £2570, leaving £2414 standing to credit. The members had contributed £4280 to management expenses, of which £B2 iiad been saved for contingencies. They had a benevolent fund of £26, and furniture and regalia of £SO, making a grand total of £2570. The Lodge had initiated and accepted by clearance from other Courts 360 members, 10 of whom had died, about 25 had obtained their clearances to other places, and 190 had seceded, leaving 135 members. Eight wives of members had also died. He" congratulated the members upon the sound result of the 25 years’ operations. The capital had accumulated to the amount of £2570, being a little over £l9 per member. There was ample scope to extend operations, for members had a solid basis to work upon, and he hoped the next 25th anniversary would see the membership doubled or trebled.

Feeling reference was paid to departed members, and high hopes expressed for the future of this flourishing branch of the A.O.F. Business being over, ( he members

went in for sociability. With Bro. G. Stephenson, a newcomer to the Bay, at the piano, songs, interspersed with recitations, were given by Messrs C. F. Lewis, E. Lewis, Henderson, Vin-

cent, Ellery, Robinson, Perceval, W. Fraser, G. Goldsworthy, and Roland. Several visiting brethren attended. Bro. Fear gave a pianoforte selection, The National Anthem closed the Court at U o'clock* . ...