ORPHANS' CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4909, 30 November 1925, Page 2

ORPHANS' CLUB.

MIEMORIABLE FINAL SESSION. VISIT OF MOTHER CLUB. The final session for this season of the Paeroa Orphans’ Club was brought to a conclusion on Saturday evening, when anothe'r ■ thoroughly enjoyable, and indeed profitable, evening was spent by the one hundred odd brethren who attended. During the season the local club lias, been honoured by visits of members from s.ipter clubs, and also on' occasions distinguished Orphans have been entertained by the members, but this final session will long be remembered with pleasure and very happy recollections by the local members., not so much on account of the delightful. harmony that was dispensed by way of entertainment, but because toe mother club, Auckland, comprising the vice-president and thirty member’s, attended in response to an invitation and conducted the evening’s proceedings. The Pareoa Orphans’ president, Bro. Percy Williams, presided, assisted by the vice-president, Bro. W. Marshall. After forinally opening the session the brethren were upstanding to receive the vice-president of the Auckland club, Bro. Max well-Walker, and brethren. After fraternal greetings had been exchanged and the ancient charge delivered, Bro. Williams invested Bro. Maxwell-Walker with’ the insignia of office, and, handing him the. gavel, requested him to assume control, of the gathering. ’

Bro. Maxwell-Walker, on taking the chair, was also handed a huge pencil, for the- purpose of “taking copious notes’’ and as a memento of his presiding ( at the session. ’ In acknowledging the hearty welcome and greetings extended to the visitors Bro. Maxwell-Walker said it had given the mother club considerable pleasure to be invited to Paeroa for the purpose of visiting one of its, youngest off-springs. He wished to apologise for the unavoidable absence of their president, Bro. .James Drummond,“.and said that he (the speaker) felt it an honour that it had fallen to his lot to preside that evening. The real object of the visit of the mother club to Paeroa was to extend fraternal, greetings to* the local members., and to join together in common harmony.Orphans stood for comradeship, and were always desirous of offering the spirit of true goodfellowship, and he hoped that spirit would prevail, and that the two clubs Would be drawn closer together and as the members became better acquainted in the atmosphere of orphandom an enjoyable and memorable sessjon would result. The locaLclub’s orchestra, witii the assistance of Mr F. C. Cater (Auckland) at the piano, then contributed a couple of inspiriting selections, and through the haze of .tobacco smoke the large gathering settled down in an atmosphere of peace, friendship, and harmony. Bro. Maxwell-Walker, who came not as a stranger to the Paeroa brethren made t §n ideal chairman, and frequently had the brethren in paroxyms of mirth over his storyettes and incidents of the life of a traveller. A lengthy programme, comprising elocutionary and musical, items,' was contributed by the Auckland brethren, all of whom were gonged twice, and some three times. Among those contributing were Bros. D. Clark, song; E. H. Greenhough, sketches at the pi,ano ; Duncan Black, song ; J. Smithson, songs, and whistling solo; L. Keven, song; C. E. Andrews, anecdotes. A feature of the programme was the accompanying on. the piano by Bro. Cyril Towpey. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS.

It is customary, after the supper adjournment, for an address to be dec livered by the president or officer chosen .to preside over the session.

In the course of a very fine oration Bro. Maxwell-Walker referred to the part played by the local brethren in assisting the fire brigade to raise funds to purchase a motor-reel, and pointed, out tliat the object of orphandom was not selfishness, or the provision of enjoyment for its members, but that it stood for the mutual help and benefit to others. Many (audable objects required help, and the Orphans in the land could do ai power of good in such matters as endowing children’s hospital cots, assisting a radium fund, and such He congratulated the Paero ( a club on its honesty of purpose and assistance rendered to toe fire brigade. The chairman referred to his observations during the Hickson Mission at Auckland, and said that the mission had clearly showed that there* was a certain amount of penury in the land. He had seen a little crippled boy, the son of parents who were in indigent circumstances, and he had often thought that it Would be a laudable action if the combined orphans’ clubs could adopt such'a lad, educate and bring him up, and give him his chance in life. There were over 5000 orphan club membeils in New Zealand, and if each one subscribed 2>s 6d and was prepared to shoulder the responsibility for a crippled child the organisation would be blessed in the land. (Applause.) He had made .the suggestion for the club’s earnest consideration. We were Living in an age of materialism, said tne speaker, and although one’s ideals might be spiritual, in times of danger one’s sense of duty and responsibility was often s.adly lacking. We' were continually inclined to forget that the business of life was the living of it. To-day women appeared to be diffident about carrying out their natural functions, and he considered that preachers should try and; preach the. gospel of the middle past. One should try and be tolerably inclined # to the other man’s point of view, and if possible ascertain and analyse hip hidden motive. We each expected the other man to be perfect, but it would be more charitable and manly to analyse oneself first. The other man’s ideals might be better than one’s own, but no man was perfect; but each would be the better for a thorough selfexamination. Orphans should make an honest endeavour to be natural t

and sincere in word, action, and deed/ and never countenance anything meam * or contemptible, as by so doing tn^ - . true saving > principles of life . could never be. fulfilled. (Applause.) PRESENTATION BY COMMITTEE. > - At the erquest of the president W. Marshall; was, called on to address' • the brethren. opening remarks Bro. Marshall read an apology for absence from the club’s guardian, BrOy H. Poland. Continuing, the speaker . ; paid tribute to the president (Bro. Williams), and said that; anything he' undertook was done enthusiastically ’ - and thoroughly. On behalf j>f the first committee of the Paeroa Orphans Club Bro. Marshall presented a large framed photograph of the committee to .the members, and expressed the hope that it would be highly valued , and as the seasons wore on it would become more prized. The club was now firmly established, and he trusted it would continue to prosper and-de-velop along the right lisies. Referring to the club’s presentation to the fire brigade, Bro. Marsha]l<said he considered that the club had rendered signal service to the whole com- , munity. The Borough Council had erected a new fire station, and had . done what it could to assist the bri- ; gade, but there were many calls on . the slender funds of the council and it had not been able to do’ all it would like to do. The work of the collectors and the response met with from ■ the public had been an inspiration, and he was truly grateful. ; ; Bro. Mare hall said he found it dif- . ficult to find words to. express the adequate thanks, of the club to tl’.e members of the mother club for having visited them, and he wished to , ; add his quota of welcome to the Auckland brethren. The memory of Paeroa’s final session in 1925 would never. ■ be forgotten. The local brethren would value highly .the compliment that had been paid them, and he : wished to thank them all sincerely for the enjoyable entertainment provided. / It was the spirit of fraternity and ■service' that made life worth while. Help and encouragement was necessary for the welfare of all* because “men could not live by bread alone?’ “We Paeroa brother,n have received ■ a decided uplift to-night, and we. are j very grateful,” He concluded. ’ .In acknowledging the last speaker’s * .remarks Bro. Maxwell-Walker assured the gathering that it had given the mother club considerable pleasure ? to visit its baby, and would look for-; . ~ ward with keen anticipation to paying a further visit to Paeroa next season. He paid tribute to the-work of the local committee, * which h,ad been- .. so ably led by its president, Bros. Williams, and said that the brethren all were to be congratulated on the sue- / cess attained and honesty of purpose? < The foundations had been laid for a prosperous institution, and he trusted ' that the high standard of orphandom would never be relaxed. In. a tone of warning Bro. Maxwell-Walker counselled the committee not' to rush its membership, - but to proceed slowly and make men feel that it Was a privilege to belong to an orphan’s club. The speaker then introduced ; Bro. “Jim” Crawford, secretary of the Auckland, Club, and one of the found- ■ ers of orphandom in New. Zealand. (Applause.) After wishing the local club every success and prosperity BroMax well-Walker called on the visitors ; to be upstanding and cheer the “baby.” ’ Cheers were also called and lustily given for the visitors,, the chairman, and the president. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and .the National Anthem brought to a close the 1925 and first season of the Paeroa Orphan’s Club.