PRIMITIVE ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS [From the "Hobart Town Guardian," Aug. 30.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 566, 17 September 1851, Page 4

PRIMITIVE ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS [From the " Hobart Town Guardian," Aug. 30.]

On Tuesday tlio 26th instant, n deputation from the district officers of the Ilobart Town Lodges of the Honourable and Independent Order of Odd I'cllows, ■Brothers Provincial Grand Master, 11. Mills, Deputy I'rov. Grand Master, C. Jones, Corresponding Secretary, T. Jones, Dist. Grund Warden, Peter Oldham, Dist. Grand Sword-bearer, F. Brady, Past Grand, C. 13. Brewer, Past Grand, 11. Palmer, Worshipful Grand, S, Moriarty, "Waited on his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, being appointed with a view of soliciting his Excellency's vice-patronage of the Order in Van Diemon's Land. The deputation was headed by Biother P. G. Biewer, %vho prefaced the following address by observing, that their reason for soliciting his vice-pationage, resulted not merely from his Excellency's exalted position, and the advantages to be derived to the Order in that sense, so much as from the opinion entertained by them of his practice of all those virtues on which the Society was based, and pointed out the parallel of Sir Chas. Fitzroy, •who was p.itron of their honourable Order, and also a brother in New South Wales, and mentioned the names of Sir 11. F. Young, nnd Sir C. Latrobo, as similarly placed in the neighbouring colonies ; he trusted that his Excellency would become their \ ice-Patron in Van Diamen'ii Land. Brother Brewer went fully into his subject, and was liappy and eloquent in his arguments throughout; he then proceeded to read tlio

ADDIIESS. To His Excellency Sir William Thomas Djtnison, Knioh'i, LietUenanl'Goi ernor oj the Colovy of Van Diemen'i Land, and ili, Dependencies. S m> — We, the undersigned, Officers of the Van Diemon's Land District Lodge of Odd Fellows, on hehalf of ourselves and the Urethrcn of the Tasmaninn J'limitive aud Loyal United J3rothors Lodges of Odd Fellows, working under dispensation from the Australian Supreme Grand Lodge of New South Wales, beg respectfully 1o solicit your Excellency becoming the VicePatron of the Order in this Colony. Sir Charles Fitzroy, Governor of New South Wales, is the Patron of the Older in the Australian Colonies, ■whilst Sir 11. F. Young is Vice- Patron of the Colony of South Australia. The Order of Odd Fellowship, although principally instituted for the benefit of the industrious classes, numbers in Van Dieineu's Land amongst its members, men of all ranks in society, who feel a pride in acknowledging their membership. The principles of the Order aro founded upon, and inculcate, Charity, Morality, and Mutual Assistance. As a JJenefit Society, there aro few institutions of the iind which can be placed in comparison. It brings together men of all classes, and engenders kindly feelings amongst those who otherwise might be altogether aeparatfdl>y the conventional barriers of Society ; thus affording to the rich an opportunity of contributing to the assistance, and relieving the necessities nnd distresses of his less fortunate brethren, whilst the latter receive assistance and relief as a right, which tlioir honest prido might otherwise prevent thorn from aohCIt Within the walls of its lodges, men of all nations, creeds, and every grade of politics, are seen mingling together in friendly intercourse; that such meetings tend to soften and obliterate those bitter sectarian and political heart-burnings which are apt to prevail amongst zealous partizans, cannot be doubted. We need only add, that our Society nftords medical and pecuniary relief to its members in sickness and distress, a respectable funeral at their decease, w.tb pecuniary and other assistance to their widows and orpnns ; that loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, and obodicn- to tho laws, are amongst the most prominent features of /our proceedings.

The Ta«maniau Primitive Lodge, o^t.iblishpcl September, lU'li", lias now ninety-three, contnliuling niembeis; the disbursement? from its foi motion amount to £81 y 16s. H Jd., the present slate of the funds The Loyal United Brothers Lodge, estnblshed in June, 18-16, has now sixty-five contributing membeib, the disbursements fiom its formation £317, the piosent state of the funds, £86 ss. To convince your Excellency that thp Order of Odd Fellowship is eminently calculated to he of benefit to society, and worthy of thepationagc of the lieptesentative in this Colony of our Giacious Sovereign, we hero with beg to present your Excellency with a copy of our Getioial Laws. Brother Brewer then hnnded the addrpß.s to his Excellency, accompanied with a book of laws, which lie stated would place him in possession, of iho mo.si minute information on the subject of the Order. His Excellency received the deputation and thoir address with the greatest courtesy, and nssuied them how much ho lelt gratified by their request, and nlso, that he was extremely flattered by Mr. Brewer's allusions to himself, and announced his pleasure in acceding to becomo their Vico-I'ation, and would only obserro, if (hair oddity consisted meioly in the practice of morality and vutuo, be wished then: were more lodges of them. With regnid to becoming a candidate for the honour of Initiation into the Order, ho would not then make any promise, hut would coiibider the matter, and finally ho would assure them that his best wishes was enlisted in behalf of their society. His Excellency then entered into Rome conversation with the deputation, after which they withdrew, exiremely flattoied wiih tho kind and gentlemanly reception with wlwch his Excellency had honoured them.