ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4380, 20 February 1922, Page 3

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

FORMING A NEW LODGE. MEETING AT NGATEA. In an endeavour .to form, a lodge under the Auckland District ofl the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfeh lows, Friendly Society, at Ngatea, a meeting was held in the Ngatea Hall, several members of the Paeroa (Jubilee) Lodge attending tp .address the number of local residents who were present. Past Grand Brp, Vincent, convener of .the meeting, occupied the chair. P.G. Bro. W. D. Nicholas, of Paeroa, in outlining the history and purposes of the Manchester Unity, said that the Order was formed over a century ago, and was now to be found in the flour quarters, of the globe ; in fact there were few places where the Order . was not to be found.. The. accumulated funds were pver £13,000,000. The Order had the largest sickness medical, hospital, and funeral benefits at lowest rates of contribution of any friendly society. It w;as also the wealthiest friendly society in the British Empire. The Auckland District had in 1920 paid put over £lo,n 000 in' benefits .to its members. The Manchester Unity was the only friendly society which had paid out full benefits during the war. The Order therefore was a very sound and strong one. The wealth of the Auckland district in 1920 was £83,04:2. There was associated the Order an insurance department, under which policies were payable from date of initiation. Policies were accepted up to £250. There was a funeral allowance of £3O, which could be increased to £lOO if desired by the member on paying an extra contribution.. The sum of £1 per week sick pay was paid for a period of twelve months; after H2 months 10s would be paid as. long as the member was sick. An in- 1 stance was given of a member who had received benefits amounting tp £1304, while a member in another district had received £1282. Other large amounts had also been paid out. Hospital benefits were paid to the member, wife, and children. A ternity allowance of £6 was also paid. OddfeHowsihip, if lived up to, tended to make better husbands, better fathers, and better .members of the community. The motto of the Order was “Friendship, Love, and Truth.’’ The speaker concluded his remarks by saying that he was sure that'nobody present would ever, regret join-, ing the Order. LADY MEMBER!.

P.G. Bro. W. North spoke at some length on the social side ofl the Order, and instanced the pleasant visits (hathad been made by the Jubilee Lodge members to sister lodges in the neighbourhood. An application could be made for the admission of female members. This had recently been done in Paerqa, and the Jubilee Lodge at its last meeting had initiated its' first female member. “If yon get the womenfolk into it,” said the speaker, “they won’t ask sp many questions why you are out late at night.” Dealing with the historical side, P.G. North said the Manchester Unity had not always been prosperous as it» is at present, as at one time there Iliad been a deficiency. The Lodge had been formed around Manchester by five or six men ,who had decided to help each other and Jove one another, which meant sacrifice. P.G. Bro. Ellis said that though the £1 per week paid to sick members did not seem very much, the amount was very useful. On the social side one cou'ld always find somebody he knew. An Oddfellow could always get work from another. Members in need were always helped.. He gave 'instances of how the lodge had helped numbers of members.

P.G. Brp. Byrne, of Paeroa, giving one or two practical illustrations of benefits derived from the lodge, said that a sick member not only was helped from the Lodge funds, but also by fellow-members. He had often received payments for sickness and accident. Payments had always been given promptly. If members did not require payments they were helping others who do. He would advise all to join at once, as the fee was smaller when the member, had entered the lodge at an early age.. The lodge was a tremendous advantage wherever ono went. . P.G. Bro. Readpathi, of Thames, said that Oddfellowship was an insurance, against sickness and acci-,, dent. As a member’s service in the lodge lengthened his payments bescame smaller. When one ,learned what the emblems on the sashes and aprons meant, the work grew very interesting. He gave instances of benefits derived from the lodge. A strong secretary was a necessity for a branch -of the. lodge. Other statements he made confirmed the stateof previous speakers. The total oddfellows funds were nearly as much as a'l,l tjie other* friendly societies’ funds in the world put together. He strongly urged ( all to become members. ■ Bro. Medhursit upheld the remarks of the previous speakers, urging all to join. P.G. Bro. Vincent maintained that the lodge work spoke for itself. In going through the various chairs at) thie lodge was a benefit to anyone, and gave him confidence in himself. The ffact that members had stuck to the lodge for 30 and 40 years evidenced that there was something in' Gddr fellowship.

THE FIRST STEPS. A number present indicated their intentions to join. P.G. Bro. Vincent said that, several who were not present had /also promised to join. The initiation fee was only 2s 6d. Mr G. Gulbransen proposed that a lodge be formed at Ngatea. Mr G. Satchel! seconded, and the motim was carried unanimously. Mr H. Rowntree was elected secretary pro tern. It was decided to hold another meeting next Wednesday. Mr Vincent hoped that the lodge would be carried on with friendship, love and truth. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded tp the members of the Paeroa lodge for, attending, and also to the chair.