HONORARY VISIT TO COURT STAR OF HELENSVILLE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 6 September 1911, Page 3

HONORARY VISIT TO COURT STAR OF HELENSVILLE.

THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ENTERTAINED.

The visit of the District Executive Committee and about 20 members of the Courts of Auckland to the Court Star of Helensvills, No. 6693, on Saturday last will be long remembered, by those participating in the entertaining of^the visitors, as one of the greatest events in the annals of Fiiendly Societies yet held in Helensville.

At 7 p.m., the " Foresters 1 meeting took place when the District Executive Committee consisting of Bros. Darlow, D;C.R., Worrell D.S.C.R.. Piess,e D.J.W., Strude D.8., and Osborne D.S., weie present, and amongst the visitors were Bros Bractdiley, PiD.C.R. and Reid S. representing No, 3978; Broa. Barnes, S.C.R., Axom J.W., and Leslie, 6495, Bro. Rowland P.D.0.R., 6497; Bro. McCartney, 6172; Bro. Smith, 5261 ; Bros. Hoverd 8., Strude J.N., Olsen (2) and Jarman, 6699; Bros Wallace S, and Donnelly, 8886; Bro. Brady, C.R. 6170 ; Bro. Beale, 6693 ; Sisters Garratt and Smith, 7596; Sisters Duncan and Parsons, 9276 ; Sisters Rawliuson (2) 2277 ; Sisier Leslie, 7596,

After the business of the meeting had been transacted the members ad~ jurred to the suppei room.

THE BANQUET

The supper room of the Forresters' Hall could not have been used to better advantage than the manner in which the caterer, Mr Becroft, and his assistants, had arranged the tables, which were in the form cf a square. one side being left for the Chairman's table, the centre of the square leaving ample space for the piano; the seating capacity was for about 80 persons and proved hardly sufficent, a small table on the stage being requisitioned to seat all, about 100 being present which included members representing almost all the Kindred Societies in the district, besides the visitors who numbered 20 without counting the District Officers in honour of whose visit tho Banquet was held. The tables, which were prettily decorated, were literally laden with all the light refreshment suitable for such a function, and wh en a)l were seated, wearing their different coloured regalias, the whole scone presented a picturesque appearance. The chair was occupied by the Dis*. trict Chief Ranger, Bro. Darlow, M James Stewart (Chairman of the Towur Board) being on his right, and Bro. Piesse, D.J.W.. on his left, while Dr. Meinhold, Bro. Osborne, D.S., Bro. Strude. D.8., and Bro, Worrell, D.S.C.R , also occupied seats at the Chairman's table.

When seats were turned, which signified that all were fortified for further proceedings, the Chairman opened the toast list with " The King and the A.0.F., " which was given with musical honomrs.

Song: " When the moon and the Stars are shining, " — Bro. LesUe, was well rendered and enthusiastically tgceived.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Court Star of Helensville, expressed great pleasuie m seeing so many visitors present, and hoped they would all spend a pleasant evening. Ho was pleased to occupy the position of Chairman, and he understood the following three things were the Chairman's duties, i,e , " get up " " speak up " and " shat np. " (Laughter). The A.0.F., us you are aware, (continued the chairman) is wide spread all cvor the world. The sick pay last year in the Auckland District was £3000, while the funeral benefits were £720; the total membership of the Auckland district is 3000, and for the Dominion 16,000, The accumulated funds in the Dominion amount to £335,000 and the sick benefits paid sinco the establishment of the Order in the Dominion, totals £750,000. While we in the Dominion are not tied to the Old Land, yei we must not forget the fiist Court was started there, and that Court is now about 1,500,000 strong, and has control of £10,000,000. The successful position the Court held to-day was due to the unselfish exertions of the officials in the Old Land. He would ask them to rise and honour the toast of the " High Court "

Bro. Braddiley, PD C.E., on lising to respond to the toast, said he felt rather diffident in replying on b«half of the High Court. He thought, with Bro. Darlow, that the position of the High Court w Tas due to tho unselfishness of the officials as were the Courts in the Dominion. He was sure that the High Court held those in the Dominion in high esteem. He thanked them on behalf of the Old Land for the manner m which the toast was honoured. He had heard that when the District Chief Ranger of the Auckland District went to Wellington on the occasion of the Governor, Lord Islington, being made a Forrester, he had quite excelled himself to the honour of his district. It was not his (Mr Braddiley) first visit to Helensvilla, as he was present at the opening of the Cuurt Star of Helensville in 1883, and was sorry lie could only see tJb.ree besides himself who were present on that occasion.

Song : " Annie Laurie " Bro. Allen

Bro. Rowland proposed " The District Executive Committee " the leading officers of the Auckland District, who were present. He congratulated the .District ou having such a good committee of hard workers. Last year the total membership had reached 3000 and the Benefits paid out was £3720. He thought the District Funds should be centralised, the only objections he had heard were by those who. did not know why they objected. All Auckland members were satisfied with the good work being done by the Executive Committee which was composed of hard workers, and jolly food fellows.

The District Chief Ranger, thanked the proposer for the kind words. He thought when the matter came up for consolidating the sick fund not one would be against it. Those in the minority would join the majority and put their shoulders to the wheel to help them. He drew attention to the financial ability of the Order, which compared favourably with any other Order, and ho felt sure that before the present Executive committee went out of office it would be bettor than any other Order, and,• that was their working object.

Song: " I sing a song of loving kindness, "-—Sister Leslie.

Bro. Wallace (Court Birkenhead) in proposing the toast of the " Helensville Town Board," said he did not know when the next election of that Board came on, but he did know that the Foresters would hold a considerable vote in Helensville, and he thought it was worth consideration. Foresters had stuck to him. and if anyone was against Wallace in Birkenhead Council, they would say it was no good, the Foresters would put him in. He could see the Town Board had done a good deal for the town, but they could do more. He referred to the Hot Springs where shelter sheds were much needed. In referring to the initiation of the Govornor of New Zealand as being considered a great honour to the A,0,F., they were glad to have him as a brother, but every man was a man and they were all one. (Applause) Mr Jas. Stewart (Chairman ' of the Town Board) on rising to reply to the toast said it flashed across his mind as he stood up, of a person once standing for Parliament, who was a butcher. He proceeded in great style to relate the price he had at stake, when someone called out ''beefsteak". That finished the butcher and he sat down. The Foresters Order, as far as lie knew, was a sick benefit Society, Unfortunately that would be done away with in some" future time as the Governments, both in the Dominion and in England, were seeing to that; although the Foresters were doing good work in that direction at present. The present Helensville Town Board stood for progress, and just now was at an important stage bringing in a proposal for drainage and a water supply. The next time Mr Wallace visited the Hot Springs he would notice what a lot of work had been done, and they were spending £600 on more improvments on the Grounds. They had to dopond on Government Grants, and if the Government did not give the money, no work could be done, as .it took all the revenue at present to run the place. One of the drawbacks to the district was the slow train service between Helenaville and the city. He remembered that before the railway came they could ride or drive to Kiverhead and thon take a boat and be in Auckland in three hours, which is the time taken by the tiain now, so you see that the railway has not, as run at present, shortened the time at all; time and again the Government have been approached to give us a faster train service, but ao far our requests have been in vain. Helentville was now a different place place to what it was a iew years ago; last year it increased 100 per cent., and it was on the upgrade. All the progress was duo to the farmers. Last year we received lO^d for our butter, while this year we get ll£d which means a lot more money for the colony. Ho thanked them for the toast of " the Helensville Town Board, " and hoped they would all have a pleasant time. Songs with banjo accompaniments: " Lv Lv " and " 1 can no longer stay with you, " —Eev, Forrester, were well rendered.

Bro. Prisso, D.J.E., in proposing the health of the " Court Star of HeX ensville, " said he was sure that all the visiting Brothers and Sisters would remember their pleasant visit to Helensville. The Court would shortly receive a mass of proposals from the Executive and he hoped they would study them and come pie pared to help the Committee carry them through. He hoped the Court would reach tae 100 mark before the end of the year. The toast was carried by a good old " Forresters' Fire " by the visitors, Bro. Sandin, S., Court Star of Hj3i.

ensville, thanked the visitors for the hearty manner in which the toast had been given, and hoped they would all enjoy their visit.

Bro. Eea, also replied on behalf of the local Court, and stated that a Court like theirs always derived great benefit from a visit from members of other Courts. He was sure that the affairs of the town "were on the move, and it was the same with the Court Star of H elensville, both were being carried out on the right line's.

Song : " The Ghosts "

I—Mr1—Mr Eea

Bro, Osborne, D.S., was pleased to have the honour of toasting the '' Medical Officer." His opinion of medical officers was that thoy did their best to serve the Courts to the best of thenability, and he was sure that Court had a good officer in Dr Meinnold,

Dr. Meinliold in replyiug said that he had always done his duty by the Court. There were~often difficulties arising between members and the medical officer, but he had so far escaped that.

Duet, " My Eainbow," Sis. and Bro Leslie, was encored.

Bro Becroft proposed " The Visitors." Ihis was the largest gathering of its kind yet held in Helensville. The presence oi lady members tended to give more pleasure to the gathering.

firo. Reid, on behalf of the visitors, said they had had a right royal time. He thought the Executive should pay some attention to the opposition to the amalgamation of the funds, there was, suro to be some. Tie asked the visitors to give three cheers for the hearty welcome tendered them. The Chairman Vaid all enjoyable functions had an tnd, and several ioftst^HtmW have to be 'omitted as.it

was nearing Sunday. He asked them to join hands in " Auld Lang Syne." so ended one of the most enthusiastic and enjoyable Foresters' meetings yet held in Helensville.

CHURCH PARADE. The Chmch Parade on Sunday morning was attended by about 60 members of the different Courfs, led by Bros. J. Russell and H, Thompson in full dress of the Order, marching up Garfield Road from the Hall to St. Matthews's Church, where an impressive service was conducted by the Rev. Forrester, who delivered an excellent sermon apposite to the occasion. The Vicar preaching from the text : *' There is one Body," Kph 4. 4,, said that we had sadly departed from this ideal of Jesus Christ for his Church— the One Body. In the first place, with regard to our unhappy divisions in religious beliefs, Our* Lord had prayed that His Church might be one but instead of this Christendom was split up into various sects and denomination. The remedy did not lie in giving up our convictions which must be clung to with a passionate clinging, but inprajer—prayer mingled with penitence—penitence for the sins, that caused divisions, and prayer that the Holy Spirit might guide us into all the truth ; and in God's good time, if we prayed, we should once more realize the ideal of the One Body in Faith and Doctrine. Secondly, with regard to the state of Society in the world today, could it be said ; that it was regulated as if we believed in the One Body ? The social conditions, under which it happened that great riots and abject poverty existed side by side, whil9 many had never Lhad a chance to make the rmst of their lives, was unchristian. No talk, no theories of Social reform could eliminate the "LazarUs that lies at the rich man's gate " and win Society, till both the masses and the classes had learned the lesson of the One Body—the supreme lesson of Christianity—Love. Then again, taking the common lot of considerateness, did we believe in every day life in our dealings with men and women, as if we believed we were brothers in a great Family, members of One Body. The Ancient Order of Foresters and Kindred Societies taught in their own way just this lesson to the world—that we are brothers—in the provision made out of a common fund to minister to the needy and suffering among their members. Would they extend their vision to take in the whole world of Christians, and to real ise in all their dealings, the ideal of the One Body ? All members of the Body had a work'to fulfil, and "if one member suffers the whole Body suffers with it. " If a man sinned he not only endangered his own soul's salvation but was a hindrance to the whole Body, Only by a living dependence on and trust in the great Head of the Body, Josus Christ, could each membei get the power to fulfil his office in tho Body."

After the service the procession proceeded up Garfield Road into 6th Avenue, thense to Commercial Road and to the Hall.

VlSir TO HOT SPRINGS.

In the afternoon the visitors and a large number of local brethren and residents proceeded to the Springs in motor and vehicles supplied for the occasion. On arrival at the Springs thoso wishiug indulged in the free use of the baths, »in 1 -were afterwards shown over the grounds by Mr Jaa, Stewart (Chairman of the Town Board) who spared no pains to point out tho improvements underway, and explaining more to fallow, and then invited (hem to afternoon tea. which he had thoughtfully provided. Bro, Darbw. D.C.R., on behalf of those present thanked Mr Stewart, as Chairman of the Town Bnnrd, for the untiring manner in which they had b^en entertained that nftevnocn, and the privileges givon them in using the baths, which they hnd all thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. Threo hearty cheers were then given for Mr Stewart and the Town Board. Mr. Stewart acknowledging the thanks for tho Board, hoped that by their noxt visit the grounds would have a more up-to-date appearance. He expected that the bowling green and tennis court a would bo in use h\ Christmas, also a cricket pitch, and next winter a football ground would be ready. Shelter sheds would be erected as soon as tho grounds were sufficiently in order to see where they would be of most benefit. He was pleased that they were satisfied with the Springs and hoped it would not be long bofore they aizain visited them.

The entertaining concluded on Sunday evening by a quiot social aftor the Church services were concluded. The visitors leaving by Monday mornings train well pleased with their week-end excursion to Heleusville and tho Hot

Springs,