UNITED ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 3, 12 June 1930, Page 3

UNITED ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS.

Star of N. 2. Lodge No. 46.

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

There was an attendance of over 200 at the Lyceum Hail on Saturday evening when the 50th. anniversary of the Star of itsT.Z. Lodge of- the United Ancient Order of Druids was cel&brated by a social gathering. Bro. Newry, A.D. presided. Among those.: present wc.ro a number of visitors from, other lodges and Miv Walter Nash. M.P. A lengthy toast list was honoured, including "Grand Lodge, by P'.D.P. Bro. Pitcher. Bro. Lock, Grand Secretary, responded and in. a neat speech, appealed •for the co-operation', of the various dodges in. the "Order. He spoke of the ■remarkable g-ro^rth of the lodge during the. last 30 years. The Star of' jST.Z. Lodge was '. officially * opened on 26th June .1880. and^ th,e present nienvbersliij) was 15,000 with 95 Lodges and the whole of the fands were invested in New Zealand. He .also oxitilincd what was being done to provide benefits for old age members. • . .

Bro. E. J. SeageT pxoposed .the toast of .''Parliairient, ;r Mr. W, Nas3x M,P. replied and congratulated the Lodge upon having attained1 its 50fcli anniversary. Ho said that Parliaaneiit recognisod the splendid . services of . all Lodges, for the country ?s Exchequer •was relieved in- praportion to the .amount of assisitanee -which the various Lodges and Friendly Societies distributed, to the sick. He.assured ib.ishearei-s of his gi-eat interest in the'woTk of the' various Orders and promised to ;do, what he could in Parilianaent to remove anovaiolies if they should require his assistance. Speaking of the various foi"ms of Government-. in tiie world to-day, Mr. Nash said that there was /no form so aiMe and so complete as the British Moharehy system of Parliament.

, Bro. Mawhinnie, who proposed "Star of-New Zealand Lodge^' made reference to the work of the pioneers of JDruidism and said that it was impossible to measure the extent of the benefits dispensed by the Lodge since its iiiiception. He: complimented Bro. A. iSoager who had acted as secretary of the Ladge for, 26 years. Bro. Seager replied and gave an interesting outline of the early history of the Star of 3ST.Z Lodge: Quoting extracts from, theMihuite Book of 50 years ago. Tiiere were three Charter members present — Bros. Jansen, Hooper end First Arch Druid Bates. : : :

Musical and eloeutionery items were supplied by Bros. Batty, Davfey, Blandsifoxd, Black, Ly'nes, Gille&pie^and Kit-

chener.