ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 44, 16 February 1912, Page 5

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING. OF THE ORDER. SOME INTERESTING FIGURES. The annual meet'ng of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order Oddfellows, was held in the Foresters’ Hall, New Plymouth, on Thursday, when delegates from the following lodges wore present:—Loyal Kgmont Lodge (New Plymouth), Excelsior Lodge (New Plymouth), Waitara, Union, Manaia, Eltham, Midhirst, Stratford, Toko, Opunake, and Kanonga Lodges: an d the District Officers comprised: P.G.M. Bro. S. G. Burgess, D.P.G.M. Bro. .Snowden, Corresponding Secretary, P.P.G.M. Bro. C. ,E. Bellringer, and P.P.G.M. Bro. Brabant, District Warden. The business sheet comprised some twenty-six . items, some being of a very important nature, and were discussed at length, together with the busines sheet to l>e brought before the New Zealand Biennial Moveable meeting at Christchurch during Easter week. i. The following figures concerning the district may be read with interest: — The sick and funeral fund of lodges ot the end of the year amounted to £25,360 Gs Id, and the management fund to £4Ol 12s 4d. The receipts wore: Sick'and funeral fund £3311 16s sd, management fund £644 Is lid, medical fund £1302 16s; a total of £5253 14s 4d. The expenditure was £1913 13s Gd for sick' and funeral, £697 4 s 3d for management, and £1302 16s for medical fund. The sum oaid for sickness benefits .was £lO7l i.Bs 6d, a slight increase on last year. The total value of all funds was £27,209 7s lid, an increase of £1316 14s 6d for the year. The sum of £4lO was maid in funeral’ benefits. ■ The membership on the 31st December, 1911, was 1104, and during the year 112 new members were initiated into the Order.

The Loyal Stratford Lodge was the best attended lodges during the visits of the district officers. The Loyal Te Kiri, Knponga, and Toko Lodges were also well attended, the members of which deserve commendation for their earnest work throughout the year. Past Provincial Grand Masters Bi •os; Amoore, Hancock, and Ainsworth were elected delegates to: represent the Taranaki. District at the Biennial Moveable Committee meeting to lie held at Christchurch.

A' special resolution was passed con r gratulating the Loyyl Toko Lodge.on •the rapid .progress during the year,, its membership and funds having increased considerably. The central funeral fund has been established, and in -accordance with the resolution of last annual, meeting the district funeral fund has- been alIb'chtcd to the lodges. In the Taranaki district there has been a very heavy mortality experience, twelve male and one female members and three members’ wives having died during the year.'' ! ! Consequent upon the establishment of i the central funeral fund, the scheme for increased funeral benefits will be inaugurated this year. This scheme, when fully understood, will he greatly appreciated, and members will no doubt take up larger funeral benefits at the low .premium rate the New Zealand branch can offer.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing twelve months:— P.G.M., IBro. Snowdon; D.P.G.M., Bro. Mountford; Corresponding Secretary, Bro. Bellringer re-elected); District Warden,' Bro. Brabant. The installation ceremony was performed by Bro. C. E. Bellringer, Grand Master of the New Zealand branch. Bro. Butler was re-elected as auditor. The following were elected a committee: P.P.G.M.s’ Bros. Ainsworth, Amoore, Cleland, Sole, and E. Hi Bellringer. A Past Provincial Grand Master’s jewel was presented by the Now Zealand Grand Master to the retiring Grand Master, Bro. S. G. Burgess. He spoke at some length on the good work done by Bro. Burgess during hi;? term of office, which was suitably responded to. The jewel to the late P.P.G.M. Bro. F. E. Hardy is to be presented to Sis. Hardy, wife of the deceased. Ihe next district meeting was fixed to take place at Stratford. The brethren of the New Plymouth Lodges entertained the delegate*, to dinner and tea at the Hygienic, vdiere an excellent spread was provided, A vote of £5 was made to tho wife of a sick member, and a further vote will be granted by the district officers if necessary.