MANCHESTER UNITY OF ODDFELLOWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 569, 9 September 1869, Page 4

MANCHESTER UNITY OF ODDFELLOWS.

The annual moveable committee, or governing body of this large confederacy of friendly societies has been sitting in session this week in Snnderland. Mr Edwin Smith, the Grand Master, ia the President, and that gentlemen, in the course of an opening address, gave an account of the organisation. On the Ist January, 1868, there weie 417,422 members in the Order, and during the year 28,484 were admitted, making a total of 445,906. In the same period 11 lodges have closed, with 224 members; five have seceded, with 239 members ; and six lnwo suspended, with 821 members. The los 3by death was 5508, and by non-pay-ment of contributions, 14,019 —a total of 20,811, which, when deducted, leaves the numerical strength of the Unity 425,095 — being a clear gain on tne year of 7673. No fewer than 20,006 of those initiated during the year were under 25 years of age, 5215 /under 30, 2623 under 35, and only 969 above thaf age. To the representatives of deceased brethren L50,85l 15s 6|d was paid. The Order also lost by death 3094 members' wives, upon which a further sum of L 18,216 4s was paid, making a total in donations alone of L 69,066 19s 6jd) to this may be added L 545 10s lid paid to 15,892 travellers while in search of employment. The returns for the year ending 31st December, 3868, showing the amounts received and paid on account of sickness, have not been completed, consequently no correct idea can be formed as to the society's operations in that particular branch since December, 1867 ; but the contributions received in that ye;r amounted to L 388,650 18a 5d ; interest, L85,35014s sd, and amissionsto L 15,768 2s 6d, making the receipts L 499,669 15s 4d ; paid in sick benefits, L 251,385 17s ; funeral benefits, L 75,412 4s 2d ; together L 326,798 Is Id, leaving a clear gain of L172,87l 14s 2d, and making the accumulated capital of the Unity L 2,525,864,525,864 7s. Assuming that the success of the society in 1868 has been equal to that of 1867, and there' is no reason t;o doubt it, they had a reserved fund of L 2,729,736 Is 2>l. A good deal of legislation has been done this week by the annual moveable committee in the interests of the Order while they have been in session. —Times.