JUBILEE OF ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 10 April 1907, Page 2

JUBILEE OF ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Tuesday, April oth, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Loviil Kgmont Lodge, 1.0.0.F.. M.U., New Plymouth, anil the jubilee of Oddfellow-ship" in Taranaki. The event is being marked by fitting celebrations, and last n'glyt there was a good gathering of old and new members of the Lodge 'ami several visiting brethren at the Excelsior Lodge room. This was the Excelsior's regular meeting night, but as the date was such an auspicious one. for the sister lodge the chairs were vacated in favor of the officers of the Egmont Lodge, NX'. ISro. Chlvevs presiding. lie was supported on his right by P.P.fi.M. Bro. 11. Hooker, and on his left by P.G. Bro. K. Eye, both of whom joined the Order la the first half of the fir.-t year of the existence of J the Lodge. There were in the room many others of (lie old members who had worked in the bonds of "friendship, love, and truth" from the fifties and sixties, their ages ranging up to 77 years. After the initiation of one candidate— V.Ci, Bro. D. L. Ooldsvntcr, of the Loyal Good Tutent Lodge, Auckland, reading the charge—the visitors were accorded Lodge ; honors, replies being made by P.P.fl.il. Bro. Eilton, of Manaia; r.O. 'Bro. finldwater, Loyal flood Intent, Auckland; ■ V.Ci. Bro. C. Ahier, Loyal Waikato, and < B.C. ISro. TTaddreil, Loval Rangiora. i P.P.O.M. Bro. 11. T. Aiustworth. P.S.. ; read the minutes of the first meeting of [ the Lodge, and also gave interesting ex- \ tracts from the records of the early I days. Ho also announced that Mr 1!. c! Hughes,,one of the founders of the li Lodge, would be present at Thursday's 2 jubilee dinner, and that V.Ci. Bro. P. , ■Stockman, the oldest, surviving member, o would be amongst them on that oeea- :' sion. , f(

During harmony the earlv members of Ji the Order of Taranaki and of this T.nd«e ' treated the others present to some high. • ly interesting romin'scoiicos of pioneer- ' i.iß' of Oddfcllowsliip. A fro,|Ucnt out rv i in the mhmtes was tli.it "owing to 'the c disturbed statu 'of the district , uo meet- I in-; was held, but the seerrtarv was in i attendance to receive contributions. It (1 was vealiy wonderful, thev said, that jl: [Hie T-odfrc had survived the troublous id tunes of the Maori war. I„

the statements made (hat in the early i days ihore were nioclings of a couple 1 lof hundred members and a» mauv as U fourteen candidates pn,hlng themselves |0 on I'm* oliiees. prompted an ititcrestin* ': discussion on how to"secure Rood at" t tendances. Pome useful suggestions s were made. ' ] One speaker, in showing the advant- k | ft«os in belonging to the Order, men- t, tioned that one member had been re- oi markably unfortunate in the ma I tor of K illness, and had drawn about .MOO from 11 the lodffe funds. Without such a Ho- w elety, what would have, been his posl-i tion? II was decided t„ present („ (1,,, L "liiliiho" niember, lire. 11. V. .Tones. •, m framed emblem „s a memenlo of bis f(j Wninr the Order on Ihe date of the <,',, hltie b iiiinivorsarv ~ -\ he'.rlvvnle of thanks we.s accorded ™ IMVi.U lire. Ainsworth lor having pr - K, wilted (he interesting extracts from (be lid records. ( the The jubilee celebralions oMiliuue on " K I'lmrsdnv. when a dinner will l„. IH4 mo u tlio Tlroii/.diaiii she,.) i n p There "t" ironrses to be a verv lame attendance P ri 'I Oddfellows, members o! kindred socio- ov<! ios. and others associated with the work «"<' t Friendly Societies. von