To the Editor of the Wellington Independent. Wellington, 10th October, 1849.
Sib, — Understanding you to be a strict philanthropist, and a decided enemy to all monopoly, I take the liberty of asking (through the medium of your columns) a few questions in explanation of an article which appeared in the Independent of Oct. Cth, headed Prospectus Odd Fellows, &c, in which it ?s stated that the members of the Britannia Lodge contemplate erecting a large building as a Hall for their meetings. The promoters of this undertaking rely upon their fellow colonists for support; they intend, with the assistance of intelligent settlers, founding a Public school. Annual Subscribers of £l to form a Committed of management for the school, &c. Now, Sir, it is far from my intention to quarrel with the object of erecting the Hall or founding 4he School, they are both praiseworthy ; but I wish for the sake of information for many Odd Fellows, as well as myself, (and this will not reach you unlesssanctioned by a good number) to ask the promoters of thisundertaking, First — Whether the members of the Britannia Lodge as a body, or a few individuals only, contemplate this praiseworthy undertaking, and upon what precedent they build the principle of a Lodge isolating itself from a district on an affair of so much importance ? Secondly — Why they appeal to the public for support rather than bring, or allow the affair to be brought, in a tangible form', before the whole of the district, and thereby give the Odd Fellows of Wellington an opportunity of shewing to an admiring public a building worthy, of them, erected by their own industry and perseverance ? Thirdly — Is it the intention of the promoters of this undertaking to appropriate any portion of the Lodge Funds towards the erection of this said building ? Lastly — If, after these solicitations, the public become shareholders, will they not have an undoubted right (Odd Fellows or not) to form their Committee of management for the building, or the School, and convert them, if they think proper, into a play house, or a toy shop, or any other purpose quite foreign to what was originally intended ? If the promoters of this undertaking will answer the foregoing questions unequivocally they will confer a favour upon many Odd Fellows in this tlistrict. I may, perhaps, be told that I have no right to ask these questions through a public journal; but I think differently, since the major part of Odd Fellows have to be content with what information they can glean on this subject through that channel. I remain, Sir, Your obedient Serrant, An Odd Fellow.
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 440, 20 October 1849, Page 2
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440To the Editor of the Wellington Independent. Wellington, 10th October, 1849. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 440, 20 October 1849, Page 2
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