M.U. Oddfellows.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42786, 3 October 1905, Page 2

M.U. Oddfellows.

VISIT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICERS. The Provincial Grandmaster (Bro Thomas), The Provincial Deputy Grandmaster (Bro T. Aitken) and The Provincial Corresponding Secretary (Bro John McLeod) of the Auckland District 1.0.0. F., M.U. arrived in Te Aroha ou Friday for the purpose of paying their official visit to ihe Loyal Got Springs Lodge, P.G.M. Brc Thomas was accompanied by Mrs Thomas and P.C.S. Bro McLeod was accompanied by Alias Elsie McLeod, ill speak in high terms of the advancement and improvements in the town, especially the Domain, during the last few years, the cleanliness of the town, the almost total absence of “ shanties ” was evidence of the prosperity of the place, but, as Mrs Thomas casually remarked to a representative of this paper, the Railway Station was not in keeping with the importance of the town and not by any means equal to that which is provided at less important towns than Te Aroha. P.C.S. Bro John MeLe -d, it will be remembered, against adverse circumstances, uncessfuily contested the last Auckland Mayoralty election against Mr Arthur Myers ; there was an unusual amount of inteiest taken in the election by all classes, and on being asked on Friday' if he intended to ag *in contest the election Bro McLeod gave an indefinite reply. In the evening the meeting of the Lodge was held, N.G. Bro Harris presiding over a large attendance including the District Officers and several other visiting brethren. A large quantity of correspondence was received and dealt with, including a letter from the P.C.S. Bro McLeod in reference to the formation of the Ladies Lodge in Te Aroha, gi ring particulars and wishing the movement every success; the “ clearance ” of a member of a southern Lodge not being in order was, on being dealt with by the Distriot Officers, ordered to he returned for correction. It was resolved to obtain a number of the Unity Almanacs for distribution in Te Aroha. Sick Pay was passed to two members. All other accounts presented were passed for payment, Receipts amount* ed to £lO 11s Bd. Three candidates for membership were proposed. The Honors of the Order were conferred on the District Officers and the visiting brethren; P.G.M. Bro Thomas; D.P.G.M. Bro Aitken; P,C.S. Bro McLeod; N.G. Bro Freeman, Loyal Waikato Lodge (Thames); Bro Dews, Fountain of Friendship Lodge (Auckland) ; Bro G. Hutchinson, and P.S, Bro W. Pocock of the Waitekauri Lodge, returned thanks—Bros P. Dierck and F. Graf were appointed to make arrangements for the trip to Paeroa on Monday evening October 9th, and a committee was appointed to ballot for piano shares. P.G. Bro Bro G. Sherlock then read the report of the Annual Social Committee. The Social had been in every way a pro nounced success, which was a source of gratification to the committee, who were exceedingly pleased to see representatives from kindred societies and sister lodges present enjoying themselves, the balance-sheet was as follows :—Receipts—Sale of tickets £ls 16s Od —Expenditure “Te Aroha News ” £2 19s Od—Music £4 9s 3d, — seven other accounts £5 3s 1 Od, leaving a credit balance of £3 3s lid. As the Lodge Funds did not require outside assistance, and there being no intention on the part of the lodge to make a presentation to Mrs and Miss Faes as a mark of the members’ appreciation of the valuable assistance given by Mr® and Miss Faes at the Anunal (Social, “ Pound ” Socials and all other similar functions held by the Lodge ; Bros W- Mclnman and Sherlock were deputed to select and made the pre* Bentation, which took the form of a handsome morocco boundfi >ral album, and a letter of thanks enclosed with the present. The balance of the money would be carried forward for the next Annual Social. A letter of thanks was also seat to Mrs Mclnman for assistance in connection with the Social, likewise to Mr Greer. Bro F. Graf had kindly donated 10s towards the payment of the piano in the lodge room. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Bros C, Mclnman, Hemming and Graf for their splendid assistance in obtaining nikau and clematis for decorating the Hall. The committeo could safely say that the fifth Anniversary Social of 1905 was quite up to any previous one held by this Lodge, if not more enjoyable. This concluding tb® business of the meeting the Distiict Officers addressed those presont. P.G.M. Bro Thomas said that while another Society provided a large benefit at death, to iwhieh their members were compelled to contribute a levy of 6d on the death of a member over and above their regular contributions, the M.U. Oddfellows only compelled their members to pay for benefit j they receive while they were alive, and suffi cient payment for a decent burial; provision was made in the General laws of the Unity for Life Insurance, aud the matter of adopting this provis.ou had had the attention of the Governing body in New Zealand, and would again come up at the next meeting of the Anuut l Moveable Committee to bo held at Nelson ; it would however be optional with oprabora to contribute towards this benefit. The premiums should be considerably lower than those of Life Insurance companies, because the management expenses would be infinitesimal, while tfie rate of interest upon accumulated capital would be the same as with the companies. No other society paid a higher rate of Sick Fuy> and there wus no Society in New Z- aland paying so much. The Siok Pay of the M U,, Oddfellows is £IOO a week for the first twelve months und 10s a week for the remainder of the member’s illness, and a member is entitled to full sick puy as soon as he is six months a member; the funeral donation is £25 for the member, £l2 for the member's wife and £7 for a member’s second torfe, to which benefit a xsmbes k ejfijtkd

to the full amount should death occur af er twelve mon h< membership, or half the amount should death - occur after six months and before twelve months; the benefits and coutributiot a had withstood actuarial examination, and had been severely tested duriug over 50 years the Society had been in existence in Auckland, paying away enormous sums in Sick Pay and funeral grants. What better guarantee ( can be had t.h*n these facts that the j benefits would be fully aud promptly paid ? He wislie Ito congratulate the Lodge Officers upon the manner in which they had carried out their reepective duties that evening, more -specially when it has tu be taken into

consideration their apparent youthfulness. D.P.G.M. Bro T. Aitken said that he must apologise for not having visited the Lodge since his visit on that memorable occasion, the opening of the Loyal Hot Springs L tdge, five years ago. He mentioned the great help the Society had been to its members. His own Lodge, the Loyal Waikato (Thames), had paid £7oUto one member, and £4OO to another, this would not have been attained had those members been connected with any other Society, bocauseof the much higher rate of sick pay obtained from the M.U. Oddfellows. Ho anticipated from the first that the Te Aroha Lodge would be a success, aud he was pleased to say that he was not disappointed in that respect, aud congratulated the Lodge upon the progress they had made. He dwelt at some length upon the matter of Life Insurance and death benefits. P.C.S. Bro J. McLeod then rose to speak, he was present at the opening of the Lodge and must congratulate the members upon their success. He spoke in glowing terms of the town of Te Arohs, and said he had visited many parts of the colony, including Rotorua, but of all the places he had been to, he preferred a visit to 'Te Aroha, The affairs of the Hot Springs Lodge were very well managed

and he’congratulated the Lodge upon hir choice of a Secretary. Bro W. Mclnman had been most painstaking in his duties, always sent in his returns promp'ly ann correctly, and was, in fact, the only Lodge Secretary in the whole of the Auckland District who correctly carried out the duties devolve ing upon him- The M. G. Oddfellows were the pioneers of the Benefit Sos ciety movement. Many years ago it was found advisable to adopt a graduated scale of contributions in order to work upon a sound financial basis, at the time, there was a difference of opinion as to the advisability of caking ‘his course, and as a result, some 200,000 members severed their connection with the Unity, and started mother Society called the National independent Order of Oddfellows; Just fancy! he said, a Society losing 200,000 members in a body ; but it was better to lose them and work on a sound basis than to continue under the old system of each member payiug the same rate of contributions no matter what age they were at the time they j lined. Some years after however the new Society recognised their folly, and they, too, adopted the Graduated scale, but are still following very much in the rear of their parent body, both numerically and financially ; and other ■Societies have also adopted a similar scale of contributions. The Druids he said were a strong body numerically ; ha had in hiß hand a copy of the bal-

and report of the North Island District Grand Lodge of Druids, drawn up to the end of last year, which shows that of a total membership of 3614, their General Fund stood at £SOOO, and comparing this with the position of the M.U, Oddfellows at the end of the same term the Auckland District 1.0.0.F.M.U. alone had a membership of 3000 and a Funeral Pund of nearly £ 16,000. He believed in the policy -if providing for the liv ing and if he wished to make provision for those of his family who survive him, he would rather join something that would gaarantee at least 20s in -he £. In connection with the Oddfellows, too, the first quarter’s contributions only had to be paid in advance, all subsequent contributions were paid at the end of the quarter, that is to jqtt nftov t-ho firoh siv months, ov there-

lifter quarterly, or so long as a member was not more than six monts in irrears of his payments he was entited to his funeral allowance of £25. A member of one of the Parnell lodges (Auckland) who was a confirmed invalid offered to free his Lodge of all liability on his behalf if they paid him the sum of £2O. and though it would have been better for the Lodge financially to accept the offer, it was contrary to the principles of the order to cast an unfortunate invalid adrift with i paltry £2O the members were in duty bound to meet their full liabilit aud as a result, since the offer was mnde this member continued to draw sick pay and has already received considerab v more than the amount he asked f-w, and still living and receiving the benefits w lich are justly his. (applause). The closing ceremony was then proceeded with after which a short Symposium was held consisting chiefly of speech, song and story. To commence with, the members all sat down to supper, tho toast of the “ King” was proposed by tho Chairman, which toast all joined in singing the N .ti-uml Anthem. D.P.G.M. Bro Aitken gave two very amusing stories, sougs wore given by’ P,G. liro Dierck, Bro G Dows, P.G. Bro U. Sherlock, and P.G. Bro D, Sheehan. Mr E. Devey accompanied on tho piano, P.S. Bro W. Mclnman proposod .tho toast of the Auckland district of th® 1.0,0. F., M.U. The district G.M. responded saying that this was tho fifth occasion during tho week that he had been called upon to respond to this toast, out he felt that the toast haduot boon given with more enthusiasm thau ou the presout occasion. The Auckland District wore making tho usual progress. There wore 25 lodges in the district and m all the lodges tho same enthusiasm ueyer abated. The youngest lodg« in the distriot was the ffikuraugi, which started with 20 members aud now had 60 (applause). The success ot all lodgos, including the Loyal Hot Springs Lodge, was chiefly duo tq ,

cient officers, mo-e especially thd secretary who was the mainspring of the lodge, and the Loyal Hit Springs Lorlge was ex.romly fortunate in having a Secretary who does his work so completely and successfully, and he had no hesitation in saying that the success of the Te Aroha Lodge was mainly due to him (applaud), lhis was his first visit to Te Aroha in connection with the Order, and he heped to visit the town again shortly, if not as a District Officer, then in a private capacity (applause). P.C.S Bro MoLe id said that he bad been asked to give a few statistics, but statistics were rather dry (laughter). The funds of the Auckland district were £68,000. the funeral fund stood at J nearly £16,000. Sick pay Humunrtng to £4“,000 has been paid during last year in the Auckland district the re* suit of members* prudence and fore* thought in joining the Society, besides making the member a better member of society. In his capacity as Chairman of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, he had observe*' « that of th .se admitted, members ot 4 benefit societies, with very few exceptions were ab e to pay, while those who cannot pay, are those who h ave not provided for their future we.taie by -joining a society. At the Costley Home, which is als » controlled by the Board, only one of the inmates is a member of a benefit society, and he m -here by choice, thus showing that the work of the Friendly Societies is an upl fcing movement inculcating a spirit of thrift. The numerical strength <?f the whole of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows exceeded one miliiM the total funds exceeded 12 millWn pounds and a million and a half pounds sick pay had been paid. The funds of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge, Auckland, amount to £20,000, duving last year this lodge paid nearly £I,OOO in siik pay. odo member alone has r 'ceived over £6OO up to date and is still living and receiving the benefits of the Order. In New Zealaui the numerical and financial strength of the Order was more than all the other societies put together and the benefits •vere paid while you live, and that you lo not have to die to realise them (laughter and loud applause). The proceedings then terminated by the singing of “ Old Land Syne ” in the orthodox manner, followed by the National Anthem and cheers for the nembers of the Loyal Hot Springs Lodge, and in turn, the district officers and visiting brethten. At the con* elusion of the Symposium, a Degree meeting was held when officers ana Past officers entitled to degress ad \ heir respective degrees confer ed upon them by the District Officers, During Saturday morning the District Officers accompanied by Mrs Thomas nd Miss McLeod journeyed to the t >p of the Bald Spur and the day being fine a good view of the surrounding country was obtained. Bro McLeod s iys that since his fir.-t visit to this town he has done all he could, to idvertise the town and would continue odo so in the future. Tne Visitors :.jft by the 1.35. p.m. train forPaer- a accompanied by several members of the order where they were to attend he Football match between the Auckland Oddfellows and the • Jhinemuri Oddfellows an 1 thence by -teamer on Saturday night for Auckland. The match resulted iu a vin for Ohinemuri by 8 to nil, the rame was not productive of much skill but on th*e whole was very .musing.