THE ODDFELLOWS PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 190, 11 August 1880, Page 4

THE ODDFELLOWS PARLIAMENT.

The following is published at the request of a number of the members of the Oddfellows' Sooi6fy in this district : — The annual meeting of (he Parliament of the Manchester Unit?, which took place in the month of May last, wes one of the most numerously attended meetings yet held by the Unity, there being 406 delegates ; from the various districts present. The , Town of Kings Lynn in Norfolk bay- j ing been selected as the place of meeting the members of the Lynn district made suitable arrangements for the meeting, the sudden influx of so raany , visitors to the quaint old town causing a severe test to be applied to the lodging capabilities of the town, but owing to the exertions of the Committee everything worked smoothly. On Saturday evening, May 15th, the Oddfellows having assembled at the Town Hall, were accorded a hearty welcome by the Mayor, who expressed the great pleasure he felt at the honor conferred upon the town by the visit of the Annual Moveable Committee of such an influential and useful Society. Speaking of the position held by the Society he said : " I assure you that we regard your movement as . the premier benefit Society in our Kingdom. It is one of those Societies which in every way you look upon it is found to present a bold front. It is like one of those solid squares which the military of England always display in cases of extreme necessity. In this Society we have a solid equare, not for repelling attack, but- for Bffording a vast amount of benefit. Like the sunbeams it castß a halo of light on all around. It teachoß people the principles af self-discipline and; those benefits which can be rendered by one roan towards another. It teaches a man to serve the interests of the whole community by a system of combination irrespective of politics. The Manchester Unity of {he Independent Order of Oddfellows is, I think, second to none of its claes, and we cordially welcome it to our town." It having been arranged to attend Church on the Sunday evening the delegates and many members of the Lynn District Lodges, numbering in all about 1000. assembled at the Corn Exchange, and headed by o detachment of the police and by the Mayor and the mecabers of the Town Council with (be sword and mnce-bearers, marched three abreast in the presence of throngs of spectators to Bf. Margaret's Cbuicb, which wae prettily decorated for the occasion, the Church being crowded to excess, there being about 2500 persons present, The service was lull choral. At the close of the service the organist, Mr J. Readif, performed a march which had been expreß6ly composed by

his son, Mr F. Readie, in commemoration of the visit of the Oddfellows A.M.C. to Lyun. Oo Monday, 17th May, the meeting opened for business. The Grnnd Master, in bio opening addrees, referring to the position of the society, said : When by your consent, I took (he highest position you have at your disposal, every industry in the country was paralyzed, poverty and stagnation of.. trade were the prevailing powers, «nd therefore the first half of my Term of office was marked, I am sorry to say, by a decrease in the number of members in some of the most important of cur manufacturing disiriets,* But I am happy to say that there baa eince been a rent in the dark cloud that spread like a pall over the land, there is a loosening of theatrioga that bound the world of commerce, greater activity prevails in our manufactories, and the working portion of the population are as a consequence feeling an improvement in their finonckl couditiou. As a proof that the Order has not loss its hold on the working classes, I am happy to say that no lees than 27,730 were initiated during the year 1879, being only 402 less than in the previous year. The Order therefore numbered on the lßt January, 1880, 533,520 members. To turn from the numerical to the fiuancial position, appears but natural, and upon this subject I can most heartily coograiulate you ; for aa the years roll on we find a most marked improvement consequent upon the more equitable adjustment between payments and benefits. The following are the receipts and payments for the year 1879 :— RECEIPTS. £ 8. d. Per Contributioua 551,058 13 4 „ Interest 166,025 14 7 „ Admissions ... ... 14,429 0 2 Toial £731,513 8 1 PAYMENTS. £ 8. d. For Sick Receipts 378,307 9 6 „ Funerals... 112.284 8 5 Total ... ... £490,591 17 11 a nett gain upon the yearV transactions of £240,921 10s 2d, and tha capital of the Unity, as it now stands is— Sick and Funeral Funds of Lodges, four million four hundred aud thirty-eight thousand pounds two shillings and sixpence, and the District Funeral Funds cne hundred and four thousand and seventy-sight ponnds one shilling- end fivepence. I think therefore, we may. congratulate ourselves that if we are nos auaierically the largest friendly society, we are by far the richest in the world. The GraDd Master, in concluding his address, spoke with feelings of gratitude of the enthusiastic reception accorded to him by the members of the Order in Canada and Nova Fcptia during his recent visit to those parts, and. said, "It gives me great pleasure to

be able to state that wherever I went I found the members loyal to the parent institution, and manifesting a degree of earnestness to spread its principles amongst l!;eif fellovr-coumrymen that would be very gratifying to see at Home. There are five subjects upon which they pride themselves — firet, an earnest desire to make every Lodge perfectly solvent ; second, beautifully furnished large rooms, altogelhcr away from public-houses ; third, good regalia, some portion of which every member is expected to wear on entering the Lodge ; fourth, a close attention to the lectures ; and fifth, an extended ritual or initiation charge, ond 1 may Bay I took part in an initiation in Lowell, Mnesacbußsets, which occupied more than an hour." The meeting broke up on Saturday, 22nd May, ftfter passing numerous votes of thanks for the reception accorded them, and voting a donation of £20 to Lynn Hospital.