LODGE NEWS & NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5431, 31 May 1929, Page 4

LODGE NEWS & NOTES.

In commencing this feature the “Hauraki Plains Gazette” does so realising how great a part Friendly Societies play in public life, and that the matter will be of great interest to a large number of our readers who may be members of one lodge or another. ODDFELLOWSHIP. Loyal Jubilee Lodge. The quarterly meeting of Loyal Jubilee Lodge, No. 7446, M.U.1.0.0.F., Paeroa, was held in the Returned Soldiers’ Club on Tuesday, May 28. The Noble Grand, Sister Bertelsen, presided over a good attendance of . members. A motion of sympathy with Mr and Mrs Roberts and family in then’ bereavement was passed in silence. A committee comprising Bros. Kerr, Verran, and Slyfield was appointed to control Lodge football teams, matches, and challenges. The best wishes for a speedy recovery was extended to P.G. Bro. J. Glasgow, of Kerepeehi, who is an inmate of the Auckland Hospital. The election of officers resulted: N.G., Bro. D. S. Kerr ; 1.P.N.G., Sister M. Bertelsen; V.G., Bro. F. McQuillan; E. S., Sister V. Heappey. Several matters of importance were left to the incoming officers, who will be duly installed on June 11. Loyal Karangahake Lodge. ' The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Karangahake Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., was held on Tuesday, May 21, and was presided over by the Noble Grand, Sister F. Robinson. The arrangements in connection with the handbook programme of lodge events and social activity were left in the hands of a committee. The election of officers resulted : N. Bro. A. S. Massey; 1.P.N.G., Sistbr E. Robinson ; V.G., Bro. C. McNamara ; E.S., Bro. W. M. Rackham ; Warden, Bro. E. Patten ; F.S., Bro. W. Bramble, P.G. Loyal Netherton Lodge. The quarterly meeting of the. Loyal Netherton Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., No. 9525, was held in the Netherton Hall on Tuesday evening, May 21. The Noble Grand, Bro. H. Wright, presided over a good attendance of members. The election of officers for the halfyear resulted as follows : — N.G., Bro. C. Fraser ; 1.P.N.G., Bro. H. Wright; V.G., Bro. T. G. Johnson ; F. Bro. L. T. Johnson. The lodge received a challenge from the Loyal Waitekauri and Golden Cross Lodge, Waikino, for the Rugby Challenge Shield. Arrangements were held over - until a suitable date could be mutually agreed upon. The installation ceremony of officers will be held on June 4 in the Public Hall. Loyal Kerepeehi Lodge. The quarterly meeting of the Loyal Kerepeehi Lodge, No. 9560, M.U.1.0.0.F. (Hauraki Plains), was .held in the Kerepeehi Hall on Wednesday, May 22. The Noble Grand, Bro. A- E. Ludlow, presided over a good attendance of members. In the absence of the 1.P.N.G., Bro. M. B. Glasgow, who is an inmate of the Auckland Hospital with a fractured leg, P.G. Bro. C. Stembridge, of Netherton, filled the office. Two candidates were presented for membership, and following acceptance were duly initiated as members of the Order and the honours accorded. The following officers were installed by P.G. Bro. Stembridge, assisted by Bro. Johnson : N.G., Bro. G. Garrett; I. Bro. A. E. Ludlow; V.G., Bro. S. Cook ; F.S., Sister M. Kidd ; Warden, Sister Hine ; Guardian, Sister Nicholson; Treasurer, Sister Hands; Conductor, Bro. G. Barnbrook. The programme of social events for the half-year was presented and approved, and arrangemens for the “Sing, Say, and Pay” evening on June 5 were finalised. The lodge-room was brightened by the fact hat officers wore the new r»galia for the first time. It was decided to ascertain if the lodge was eligible to challenge for the Jesney Rugby Football Challenge Shield, held by the Loyal Netherton Lodge. The report of the lodge shows that Loyal Kerepeehi was opened in December, 1927, and to date has a financial membership of 67 and an honorary membership of 18. Thames Valley P.G. Lodge. The Thames Valley Past Grands Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., was established in 1928. Meetings are held quai’terly in Paeroa, at which P.G.’s from Waihi, Te Aroha, Kerepeehi, Netherton, Karangahake, Waikino, and Paeroa attend. The membership of the lodge stands at 30, and the executive officers are : President, Bro. D. Currie, Waikino ; past president, Bro. P. Harold, Netherton ; vice-president, Bro. C. Stembridge, Netherton ; treasurer, Bro. C. Townshend, Paeroa; secretary, Bro. K. Slyfield, Paeroa. The next meeting of the lodge will be held in Paeroa on Wednesday, July 24. GENERAL. At a Norwich function of the M.U.1.0.0.F. the Grand Master of the Order’ said that he wondered whether their founders in their wildest imagination ever dreamed the Order would reach the present huge proportions. He stated that to-day they had 1,500,000 members, with a capital of £24,000,000, and with sickness and death benefits of £2,000,000 —-£400,000 more than they received in contributions.

The membership of the Auckland District Manchester Unity Oddfellows has increased from 2979 in 1918 to 7131 in 1928, an increase of 4152 in ten years.

It is computed that there are over 500 friendly society members in or within a comparatively short distance of Paeroa. The official returns as at November, 1928, show the figures as follows : Druids (Paeroa), 143 ; M.U. Oddfellows (Paeroa), 129, Netherton

76, Kerepeehi 49, Karangahake 45. These figures do not include honorary members or members of friendly society lodges other than the Druids or M.U. Oddfellows, of which there are a number in Paeroa. SPORT AND THE M.U.1.0.0.F. The Rugby football Manchester Unity Lodge Challenge Shield for competition between M.U. lodges of the Thames Valley is held by the Loyal Netherton Lodge. Keen competition is anticipated this season, with probable challenges from Waikino, Paeroa, and Kerepeehi lodges. During the last three seasons the Loyal Jubilee Lodge footballers have visited Cambridge, Tuakau, and Waikino. Last season, in a benefit sports day, Tuakau and Cambridge lodge teams visited Paeroa and played Netherton and Paeroa lodges, respectively. Tuakau also fielded a ladies’ hockey team and Cambridge a basketball team. Netherton and Paeroa Oddfellows will this season visit Cambridge and Tuakau. DRUIDISM. Star of Paeroa Lodge. The half-yearly meeting for the nomination and election of officers of the Star of Paeroa Druids Lodge, No. 18, was held in the lodge-room on Monday, May 27. The principal chairs will be filled during the ensuing six months as follows : 1.P.A., Bro. H. Wilton ; A.D., Bro. F. Wood ; V. A., Bro G. Tresidder ; I. G„ Bro. W. Scott; 0.G., Bro. J. G. Wright; Secretary, Bro. J. T. Brown ; Treasurer, Bro. E. V. Slyfield. Bro. Ball, P.A. of Victoria Lodge, a candidate for the office of D.P. in 1930, was a welcome visitor and suitably addressed the brethren. A healthy and interesed tone pervaded the business of the evening and bids fair to assure the future progress of the U.A.O.D. in general and this lodge in particular. The benefits available, and which are daily being distributed through the Order, are a great source of help to thousands of families, and should be inquired into by every thrifty breadwinner. The District President, Bro. E. Harvey, is expected to visit the lodge on June 10 for the purpose of installing the officers elect.