ODDFELLOWS OPEN HANDSOME BUILDING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 12

ODDFELLOWS OPEN HANDSOME BUILDING

NINETY YEARS OF PROGRESS RITUALISTIC DEDICATION Nearly 90 years ago on unfriendly shores, nine Nelson pioneers held the first meeting of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows in New Zealand. Last evening the Auckland society opened its £60,000 building at the corner of Hobson and Victoria Streets, and appropriately unveiled a portrait of one of those pioneers, Mr. Thomas Sullivan, the founder of the friendly society movement in New Zealand. TN their regalia, the gay and sober stoles of the order, hundreds of Odfellows attended the dedication ceremonies last evening, and the spacious white hall was filled for the concert and speeches. The first ceremony, a private one, was the dedication of the lodge chamber. With the pouring out of the water from the goblet of friendship, the strewing of the flowers of love, and the sowing of the corn of truth, was t£gl room made fit for the the order. District Grandmaster F. C. Perry was in charge of the ceremony, and he was assisted by Immediate Past District Grand Master W. J. Best, Deputy Grand Master W. Gubb, District Secretary John McLeod, and District Treasurer John Clark. Afterwards the main door of the big hall was opened with a golden key, and in the names of the virtues on which the order is founded, Friendship, Love and Truth. WORLD-WIDE ORDER Speaking to the big audience in the hall, Mr. Perry said that the Manchester order was begun a century and aquarter ago. It had become worldwide, and in New Zealand there were 16 districts, 220 lodges and nearly 30,000 members. The Auckland provincial district contained 58 lodges and had 7,000 members. Faith in the future of Auckland and wise investment of money had resulted in the building of the present structure, which was an adornment to the town’s architecture. Mr. T. Aitken, Grand Master, New Zealand Branch, said that the Auckland Society had realised it had the prestige of the order in its keeping. Oddfellows, he said, were engaged in one of the noblest works of humanity—the relief of suffering and sorrow. He welcomed the representatives of other societies; all stood four-square and equal for the ideals. PORTRAIT UNVEILED The portrait of Mr. Thomas Sullivan was unveiled by Mr. John McLeod, P.G.M., district secretary, who said that nine friends held the first meeting at Nelson on April 7, 1842, shortly after they had landed from the ship Mary Ridgway. The meeting places of the society had been inns, and the Wheatsheaf Inn. which stood on the present site of Fullers’ new theatre, was among one of the first in Auckland. From this meeting had grown the friendly society •movement, which now had a membership of 100,000 and accumulated funds of nearly £3,500,000. The new building, designed by Mr. Llew S. Piper and built by the Fletcher Construction Company, had cost £45,395 for the four storeys and basement, and provision had been made for the addition of another four storeys when the time was opportune. It was started in July, 1926, but delayed owing to the coal strike in Great Britain, which had kept the builders waiting for shipments of steel. Mr. H. G. Adams, president of the A.U.F.S. conference, said he was proud to be present at the opening of such a fine structure. Future members, he hoped, would follow the good example and add the other four storeyes. The chairman read telegrams of congratulation, including one from the Prime Minister. A concert programme was given by the following entertainers, and refreshments were served: —Misses Audrey Perry, Gladys Ryan. Cecilia Duncan, Patricia McLeod, Beryl Poulton, D. M. Spargo and Messrs. H. Valentine, L. Rainger, J. Finlayson, G. McLeod, A. Prentice and I. Birch.