Oddfellowship.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 61, 13 March 1914, Page 5

Oddfellowship.

MANCHESTER UNITY.

ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING. The annual meeting of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity (Taranaki District) was held in the Lodge room, Eltham, yesterday, when the following district {officers and deputies were present: — District Officers—Pro. G.M., Bro. ' W. Mountford; Pro. D.G.M. Bro. .Melville, Pro. C.S. Bro. C. £. Bellringer, Warden P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant.

Deputies—Loyal Egraont Lodge, P.P.G.M. Bro. H. E. Ainsworth, P.P.G.M. Bro. G. H. McGaliey, P.G. Bro, W. H. Butler, P.G. Bro. A. Hooker.

Loyal Excelsior Lodge.—P.P.G.M. Bro. W. Brooking, P.G. Bro. E. H. Bellringer, P.G. Bro. A. Roberts. Loyal Waitara Lodge.—P.P.G.M. Bro. F. J. Brabant, P.G. Bro. Lyons. Loyal Union Lodge.—P.G. Bro. Spragg, P.G. Bro. Allan, P.P.G.M. Bro. Squire. Loyal Manaia Lodge.—P.P.G.M. Bro. Snowden, P.O. Bro. Cunningham, P.G. Bro. Short,

Loyal Eltham Lodge.—P.P. G.M Bio." F. Amoore, P.O. Bro. T. C Stahners P.O. Bro. T. Bennett.

Loyal Midhirst Lodge.—P.P.O.M. Bro. R. J: Hancock, P.G. Bro. Neil-

Loyal Stratford Lodge.— P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole, P.G. Bro. T. Lawson. Loyal Toko Lodge.—P.S. J. Caskey Loyal Kaponga Lodge.—P.G. Bro H. J. G. Allen, P.G. Bro. C. E Betts.

Minute Secretary to the Meeting.— P.P.G.M. Bro. Hancock.

The Grand Master of the New Zealand District (Bro. J. Clark) was present, and thanked the delegates for the manner in which they received him. He also took the opportunity of thanking the Taranaki District in nominating him two years ago for the position of Deputy Grand Master and now he was proud to be, in attendance at the district meeting as Grand Master of the New Zealand District. Getting to Business. The Corresponding Secretary's remuneration was fixed at the same rate as last year.

The only nomination received for the office of Grand Master for the Taranaki District was D.G.M. Bro. A. Melville, and was declared duly elected:

For the office of Deputy Grand .Master, P.G.'s Bro. E. H. Bellringer and Bro. W. H. Butler were the only members who went'to the ballot, and the vote resulted in favor of the former.

The newly-appointed officers were respectively installed by the New Zealand Grand Master, who congratulated them on attaining their high position in the Order.

P.P.G.M. Bio. Brabant was reelected warden for the ensuing term, and Bro. H. H. Ford was elected auditor.

The election of three deputies to the N.Z. Biennial Moveable Committee meeting to be held at Wanganui on 4th May, resulted in favor of P.P.G.M.'s Bros. Amoore, C. E. Bellringer, and Snowdon. \ The management levy was fixed at lOd.

A committee consisting of Bros. C. E. Bellringer, G.M., D.G.M., as district officers, with P.P.G.M. Bro'. C. 1). Sole, P.P.G.M. Bro. Amoore, and P.P.G.M. Bro. Snowden was set up to consider the standard, general, district and Lodge rules as submitted by the G.M. and Board of Directors. I The following nominations were received for offices in 1915: —G.M. Bro. A. Melville, Deputy Grand Master, T. C. Stunners (Eltham). W. H. Butler (Egmont), C. Allen (Union), A. Hooker CExcelsior), and T. Lawson (Stratford).

It was decided to recommend the Lodges in the district to collect the medical pence and hospital contributions in advance.

[ The next annual meeting was fixed 'to take place at Hawera. '< At 12.45 the delegates adjourned to Mr Riley's luncheon rooms, where an excellent spread had been arranged. After Lunch, After the luncheon adjournment the big question of the consolidation of the sick fund came before the delegates, and several excellent speeches were made. The N.Z. Grand Master was asked to address the delegates assail bled on the question, and made an eloquent speech, nutting forth its benefits most concisively. Other delegates also expressed their oninions "xpHertlv, amoncst these beinpr Deputy C. D. Solo, of the Stratford Lodge, who strenuously opposed the consolidation of the whole of the sick fund in a central branch, but favored the District Officers bringing down a report at the next district meeting on a scheme of consolidation for the Taranaki district. He moved an amendment to that effect, but this was lost on a show of hands. Another amendment, moved by Deputy Brabant, was also lost. After some further discussion, DeDuty Amoore's motion, "That this meeting affirms the principle of consolidation of the siek funds of the New Zealand Branch," was carried. A vote of £1 Is was passed to the minute secretary by the meeting for his services. It was decided that the retiring Grand Master's name lie placed on the Merit Board, and that he be presented with a Grand Master's Jewel. The presentation was made by the X.Z. Grand Master, accompanied by some eulogistic remarks. The Grand Master also presented a jewel to