THE NEW ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1937, 10 May 1880, Page 3

THE NEW ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

The ceremony of laying tho foundationstone of the now hall, about to be erected by tho City of Christchurch Lodge in Lichfield street, was performed on Saturday afternoon by his Worship the Mayor. Notwithstanding the fact that Saturday afternoon is a somewhat inconvenient time, there was a goodly attendance both of the brethren of the lodge and spectators. His Worship the Mayor having been invited by the chairman and members of tho building committee to proceed with the work of laying the corner-stone of the new hall, said—Gentlemen : The building committee of the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge have done me the honor to ask me to lay the foundation-stone of their now hall. It is to me a great privilege to take part in this important ceremony—important as being an evidence of the progress and growing prosperity of Oddfellowship in this city. It must be gratifying to every right-thinking mind to know that such large numbers of our fellow-colonists range themselves under the banners of Oddfellowship. I know of no institution which should commend itself more to the support and sympathy of men than that which has for its motto, Friendship, Love, and Truth. I am only an honorary member myself, but if I had to commence life afresh I should certainly join the ranks as a regular member, and tho best advice I can give to young men is to join this or some other kindred society as soon as possible. If any one should become sick and never need tho assistance of the Lodge, so much the better for him. Ho will then have the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing that ho has been helping his less fortunate brethren. It is not for me to dwell upon tho advantages of Oddfellowship, no doubt that will bo done by others at the proper time, but it may perhaps be interesting to some to hear a few particulars as to the starting of this especial Lodge. The application for opening the City of Christchurch Lodge was made by P. Pro. G.M. Kent of the City of Norwich Lodge, Lyttelton, who, with other active members, opened the Lodge at the White Hart Hotel, the then proprietor being the late Bro. M. B. Hart. The dispensation was duly granted, and is dated June, 27ch, 1853. The lodge in its infancy, like all other societies, had many difficulties to struggle through, bat surmounted them all till at length prosperity smiled upon it, and the small section of land upon which we now stand was purchased for £SO. In a comparatively short space of time a hall was erected, the money being raised by shares taken up the members. From underneath the corner pile of that building which was recently romoved, Past Prov. G. M. Kent dug out a small bottle containing, in an excellent state of preservation, a small piece of parchment with this inscription —“ This foundation stone of an Oddfellows’ Hall was laid on the Ist day of April, in the year of our Lord 1859, by Thos. Kent, Prov. G.M., in the presence of G. Kerridge, D.G.M., Thos. Barnard, P.G., Geo. Cliff, N.G, Joseph Ashby, P G., Edwd. Bossiter, and other members of the Order.” From tho date of opening that hall, with few exceptions, an uninterrupted period of prosperity fell to the lot of the lodge. A considerable income was derived from tho lotting of the hall. After destruction by fire of tho town hall, and when the City Lodge had become so strong that considerable inconvenience was felt in the old hall, it occurred to some of the members that a larger hall would not only be an advantage for holding their meetings, but that it would supply a public want, and at the same tim) be a source of revenue to the sick and funeral fund of the lodge.' Accordingly, a section of land was purchased on tho other side of the street in 1871, and on Easter Monday of the following year the new hall was opened for public entertainments. How far tho most sanguine expectations of the promoters have been realised can best be seen by a glance at tho last year’s balance-sheet, and that a public want has been supplied the citizsns of Christchurch themselves can testify. Today we inaugurate anew undertaking in many respects of more importance than the building of a hall on the opposite side of the street, for in this building, and in no other, the members of the City of Christchurch Lodge intend to meet, and while holding their meeting i here members may be comforted with tho thought that, while meeting here undisturbed, the larger building will still be paying in funds to meet the demands of tho sick and distressed of the order. [Cheers.) The fallowing parchment, together with tho newspapers of the day, was then inserted in a cavity left for that purpose : Loyal City of < ibriatchureh Lodco. M.U. 1.0 O.F. 4602.—This stone, beimr the foundation stone of an Oddfoil ma’ Kail, was laid by C. T. lek, Sfsq.. Mayor of Christchurch, on the eighth day of May, A.D. -830, in tho presence of the North Canterbury District Officers, Andrew Liddle, Prov. G.M., Chaa. J. Wilkins, Deputy Prov. G.M. , John Kichardson, Prov. Corresponding Secretary; also, Officers of tho • oyal City of Christchncrh Lodge Presiding Officers R J- D. Borland. G M., Henry Cowpor, N.G- Alex. Webster, V.G. ; Trustees Thomas J. Yennall, Past P.G.M., William Rodger, Past Grand. John Gnntrip, Past Grand ; Medical Officers — William Deamer, M.D., Donald Campbell, M.D., C. J. Wilkins, Treasurer, B. J. Leahy, Past Grand Secretary; and the following members of Building Committee (representing 380 members) —„lYm. T. Jane, Past P.G.M., William Kodger, P.G., Edward Jones, P.G., Alex. Clophar.e, P G., "William Thin, P.G., Alex Wilson, P.G., Geo. W. Pratt, P.G , John Gnntrip, P.G., 18. J D. Borland, G.M., David Scott. Geo. W. Jones, PetT Schmidt, C. J. Wilkins (chairman) ; Architect —J. C. Maddison; Builder, Peter Hyndman.

The architect, Mr J. 0. Maddioon,then presented the Mayor, on behalf of the contractor, with a very handsome silver trowel, manufactured by Messrs Coates and Co ,a spirit level, and mallet. The inscription on the trowel was ns follows:—“Presented to O. T. Ick, Esq,, Mayor of Christchurch, upon his laying the foundation stone of the Oddfellows’ Hall, M.U., by the Contractor, May, 1880.” The level bore the same inscription. His Worship having declared the stone to be well and truly laid, the proceedings terminated.

The company then adjourned to the large hall, where refreshments were served.

The chair was occupied by Hie Worsh p the Mayor, supported |on the right by Hr. Campbell, Messrs E. C. J. Stevens and S. P. Andrews, and on the left by Dr. Deamer and Mr J. O. Maddison. After ample justice had been done to the collation, the Mayor gave the usual loyal toasts, which were drunk with enthusiasm.

The Mayor then gave tho “Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” which was drunk with enthusiasm.

Dr. Campbell responded on behalf of tho “Army, Navy, and Volunteers.” Dr. Deamer next proposed the toast of tho “ General Assembly,” coupled with the names of Messrs. E. O. J. Stevens nnd S. P. Andrews. He desired to call attention to tho fact that the members for Christchurch had always been ready to do all that could benefit Canterbury, as well as the colony of New Zealand generally. Tho toast was drunk with enthusiasm and musical honors.

Song—“ Death of Nelson”—Bro. C. J. Wilkins. Mr E. C. J. Stevens said that it became the pleasurable task of his honorable friend and himself to respond, in the absence of any member of the Legislative Council, for that Chamber as well as the one in which Mr Andrews and himself sat. He could only say that he trusted the country would support them in tho work of endeavoring to make both ends meet. He hoped also that the Assembly would recognise tho great work which tho society they had met that day to congratulate on their progress, was doing throughout the lengthand breadth of the land, in inculcating the principles of self-reliance, so as to prevent cost to the State. He congratulated the members of the order and their kindred societies upon the success they had achieved. [Cheers.] Mr S. P. Andrews said that ho had become an Oddfellow because he had when solici'ed to become a member, taken part in public affairs, and ho would not place himself in the position of being accused of having joined the society to help him to something higher. [Cheers ] When necessity called upon them, the societies, of which the Oddfellows was the highest type, were to the front. He trusted that tho principles of Oddfellowship would spread throughout the length and breadth of the land, for ho felt that they would be for the benefit of humanity in general. [Cheers ] Ho felt sure that the principles of the Order were such as would ensure their acceptance by all who had the true interests of their fellow men at heart. The other toasts proposed were “ Tho Grand Master and Board of Directors,” “ The North Canterbury District Officers,” “The City of Christchurch Ladge,” “ The Medical Officers,” “ The Mayor of Christchurch,” “The Architect, Mr J. O. Madison,” “The Contractor, Mr P. Hyndman,” “The Building Committee,” “Kindred Societies,” and “Tho Press.”