DRUIDISM IN LEVIN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1910, Page 3

DRUIDISM IN LEVIN.

A SrCCtfSSrTL SMOKER. Tin-: M.vvcn ox thi<; proIV.. vl) v ... nAXAGK. The annual Smoke Concert in I- niiuction with the Horowheniia Lodge, No. 12, of the A.0.1)., wa.s held last evening at the Druids' Hall, Levin, A.]). Bro. Gallieham presided over some (iO quests, and the affair proved an iiii(|iiali(ie-dsuc-cess. At the outset the chairman proposed tlie toast of " The King," which wa.s musically honoured. Mr Hugh Hall followed with an excellent selection from the phonograph, which was greatly appreciated. Hro. Thompson gave ''The Grand Lodge," and in doing so .spoke of I the progress that the Order ha'd made in New Zealand from the time it had claimed "home rule" from the Victi;ri:i;n jurisdiction ol Druids. Mo also alluded in warm terms to the work of the late Hro. McKay and the members of the then executive committee. Hro. Allan. P.D.P. (Grand Lodge Trustee) responding for the Grand Lodge, said that looking back on the work it had performed, he thought they could very reasonably congratulate themselves on results. He could not help at that juncture incidentally referring to the late Hro. McKay, who wa.s a person who always did his lest to further the cause of Driiidisui. He had given both money and time to the cane ,, , and they deeply regretted his demise. Continuing. Ji'ro. Allan commented innii the nregress of Druidism in Xew Zealand, especially in the North Island. .viiere it was <irowiny by leaps and bounds. The extent of the Gracid Lodire funds was sonii'tliinir like f:!'JJ)OO or C 13.000. and he thought Hie way in which things conducted " reflected the' jrreate.st credit 'i|)'.u them. The Mayor, in propositi 2 " Kindred Societies." <>x|)iessed his pleasure at bcinjf present tliat ■ind said that he wa.s sarry there wa.s not a larger number of me/u----bers of other societies in the hall. There should not be, and he wa.s •rlsul to think in Levin there was '•ot, any jealousy existing between the various friendly societies. They iniiflit show friendly rivalry, but they should all work on 4:he same platform, namely, that of doiny; all they could for humanity. He was sorry the question of the erectimn •if ii Kriendlv Societies' Orphanage !:ad been neglected. Some years igo a big demonstration took placein "Wellington to inaugurate a fund for the purpose, but the money w>a. r > Tied up, although to-dav it wa.s worth about £!)()(). It'seemed to •iiin that the Friendly Societies in Wi Ilington were taking mo inter--st in the matter at all. He was f old in the city that there was no hope of getting the scheme so far •s the city was concerned. Ft was said the .societies in Wellington were indifferent to the subject, but he did not believe it, and he also lid not believe any lmMiiher of .n Friendly Society would neglect the little children. ' It was a standing disgrace that the orphanage had tint hcem erected. Personally he .vs going to try to get the Friendly Societies to take the matter up. There were 00.000 members of Friendly Societies in New Zealand, ■t.ud with Is subscription per head m-r vear a large sum of money -mild bo obtained and enough collected to build the institution. Tn conlension, the Mayor paid a. warm tribute to the late Bro. McKay, vivo through good report and ill report had done so much to foster a fraternal spirit among the members of the Ordor. CM. Rro. Stevens (Foresters), in replying, thanked the Mayor for bis kind speech, and said it was a pleasure to see the Druids making the rapid strides they were. In responding to the toast " The Horowheniia Lodge," proposed bv Hro. Allan, Bro. Gardenier alluded t:> the presence of Otnki represon-t-t-'e<\ '-V w»re the great propori'--\ of the visitors present. He was very glnd to see tliom, and wished their lodge every suoeps. Other tonsts included "The Visitrig Druids," ably proposed hy the chairman and responded to by •I.P.A. Bro. Gilrnore; "The Visitors," given bv Rro. Han nan and replied "to by Bro. G. Carruthers, L.0.L., who." as W.M. of his lodge, expressed the hope thai the Orangemen would he able to return that evening's compliment ere long to the Druids; and "The Press," proposed by .T.P.A. Bro. Gilmore, and rrsponded to by the " Chronicle," representative. An excellent programme of songs .and recitations was gone tlirougli during the evening, those contrih'lting inclnding Bros. H. Hall, Cnrrnthers, the' chairman, Meredith, Lancaster, Butterfield H. 'Mmsso, Marsh and S. Morgan. The accompjinimo7Tts were excellently played hy Messrs J. Kearsley (.oiano) and Rayfieki (violin). Tlio successful proceedings coneludctl with the singing of the Nationa' Anthem.