JUBILEE OF ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 12 April 1907, Page 3

JUBILEE OF ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Till' LOYAL EiarOXT LODGE. The proceedings in connection with the 'eh-bration of the -lubiieo of Oddfellowship were continued oil Thursday. 'Die aiti rnoon function took the form of a garden fete at "Aotca.'' '{'he grounds have never looked bottor, and the large ; inimbn* of people present thoroughly enjoyed the sylvan beauiTes of tin 4 place. Tin; arrangements made were perfect, and with prfect weather the function '»nve pleasure to a bit* - assemblage of Oddfellows, and their friends. The Oar--1 rison j»and, under Deputy-Pandmaster Donovan, played some capital selectio is on th.» hwn, where afternoon tea was served. Included in the attendance were visitbrethren from dill'erent parts of the colony.

' TIIK DINNI-R. Ahuul a hundred and twenty, principally numbers of the Order, gathered in the Proiigham street Hall oil Thursday 'night i<r the jubilee dinner. Prov. <!. M. Pro. C. 1). Sole, Permanent Secretary of the j.oyal Stratford Lodge, presided. On his right were ISro. P. Stockinatl, the oldest surviving member; His Worship tln» M.ivev (Mr. K Doekrill); .Hid D.P.O.M Pro. P. W, Oliver; and on his left were P.P.U.M. Pro. Jl. Hooker, secmid oldest surviving member; ami Mr.

V i .. 'I 1 . Jennings, M.11.U. The catering was in the hands of Pro. J. West, and the repast was admirably served, and done full justice to. This p.;rl of the proceedings over, a lengthy toast lUi was proceeded with. After "The King" had been loyally honoiel, Hi-; Worship the Mayor, Mr. Dock:ill, proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand.'' and referred to the great ability of the Speakers who had been enabled to conduct Parliament in a maimer ot'- which the colony might wei! lie prouu. He referred to the memory of the colony's great men, Sir George <!rey, the most distinguished man the iXcw Zealand Parliament had held; Sir llnrrv Atkinson (applause)—whose name would ever be dear to Tarannki for both military and political work; John Pallauco, and Pichard Seddon. Any one of those men would have won distinction even in the llouse of Commons, and their legislation was being copiel the world over. Referring to Messrs. Smith and Jennings, the. local members of Parliament, he said they were li/.tod for their staunch devotion to the interests of New Zealand and their cwu constituents in pin-titular. Mr, W T. Jennings, M.U.R., responded, not only as a member of Parliament, but also as a member of a Friendly Society for the past thirty years in brotherhood, amity and friendship, lb apologised for the absence of his friend,

JJr. H. .M. Smith, who was unable In lie present oil account ol' illhealth. lie had had the unique experience of being a member of both branches of the Legislature, and for his part, lie was ever ready to support anything for the g(od of the people, whether introduced by one side of the House or the other. Referring to the land settlement, Jlr. Jennings said that the small settlement scheme had been originated by the late .lolm Williamson in 18iH, then .Superintendent of Auckland, who had placed 011 the (Statute Book the 40 acres small settlement. Concluding, he hoped the past and present high standard (f New Zealand Parliament would continue

Bro. .!•: U. Tribe, representing Court Taranaki of Hie Order of Foresters, proposed the health of tko New Plymouth District ol Oddfellows. Referring to the Kgmont Lodge, lie congratulated them or their jubilee, and mentioned some of the old members who had built up and supported the lodge in its early ilavs. \i/.„ Hro. Win. Sole, P.P.0.11. HlO, X. Hooker, P.P.0.11. liro. I!. C. Bridle, P.O. Urn. 11. Roberts, P.P.O.M. Hro. Win. Bennett (Permanent Secretary for US 1 /!, years) now deceased, and some of the past Mid present bulwarks of the institution -P.P.O.M. Bro. 11. Hooker, P.O. Hro. \V. Hooker, P.P.O.M. Bro. Harris Ford, IJ'.O.M. Hro. Ainswortli, Bro. F. Stockman, and l'.O. A. Hooker. He trusted the prosperity would be continued.

The toast was responded to by Prov. O.M. Bio. Sole, who said that the lodges in the district were making good progress, and the district officers were always ready to attend any lodge meeting if requested: and by 'IU'.O.M. Hro. Oliver, who said the indications at present wue that the desired membership of MOO would soon be reached. Prov. C.S. Bro. 0. R Hellringer also responded, saying the New Plymouth district, was founded in 18(17, and Bro. Harris Ford was the first Provincial (■rand .Master. There were then nvo lodges, (lie Kgmont and Kxcclsiur, 111

till' district. \\ aitara whs added in lS7ii. il-cn came lbiwera. Manaia, Kl-tli-nn, Miilhirsl, S(ratt'ord. Toko, Opu. N.ike, and Kaponga—a total of cloven lodges, with a present membership of f'lJO. r l in- hinds nt (he end of the ve:ii (o(allcd Cl'.Uim. 'i'hc.v had every reason to feel satislied with (lie work dune Referring to the liminces of the (Inter, he mentii.ned tti.it il was not the mortality that taxed (he funds, hut the sick pay. Last year, for instance, the amount paid in sick benefits was CI 10(1, and death t nes only £7OO. No lodge in (lie dintri'-:. |H'i-haps none in the colony, had had to struggle as the ICgmont Lodge had dine. On one occasion they lmd lost ( heii all in one fell swoop, and tbev lunl brer reduced to such straits that (hey had to borrow C2O to pay sick pay. Put tin; members had struggled manfully onwards. with ultimate "suei cess.

Bro. I'arker, of Court Wnirekn, proposed ,"l he .Manchester Unity" in a toliciiixis speech. The chairman replied, dealing with the growth of the Order in the colony from 1842 to l!),oof) jnembcrs at (lie present day, ai.d a value of £300,000. The Manchester Vuity was (lie richest Friemllv Society in the world, with over a million members, and a capital of £ 12,000,000. In congratulating the Kgmont Lodge on the attainment of its jubilee, he remarked nil the necessitv for more re-unions such as this. Steps should be taken to prove to members that there was mere in Oddfellow-ship than the mere monetary benefits, and bv treating every brother in (lie Order as a brother should b( treated, they might inculcate those feelings of friendship, love, and li'iidi which would lie id' the greatest value to society.

Jiro. T. .Mills, f-iecreiary of the Now I'lyin >uth Friendly Society" ollered congratulations on the attainment of the Kgmont Lodge jubilee, and proposed (he Cons! ol (lie Loyal Kgmont Lodge, 1.0.0. F., .M.U., coupling with the toast (he names of lU'.d.M. liro. 11. T. Aiitsworth, Secretary of the lodge, and IMMJ.M. l>i'o. Harris l-'onl. Tri>asiin*i\ ]ito. Alnswortli, in replying, produced some interesting statistics. Tile lod»e had initialed (17;! members and (lie roll was now ill. Despite the fact (bat (wo members had had over CUIll) between, them, the sick pay was but £0430 13s 4U tor i'lly veal's, Funeral bvnclits paid rniounled to ;Cla)w, and direct medical fees paid to the doctors £7OIO Ss (jd, Ibnt; this last item was enhanced by each "little Oddfellow'' that had arrived during (hat time. Tliu lodge was now making quite a pleasing move onward, eieven members having been made already this year, as compared with ten ill tile whole of l'JOti

P.P.ti.M. Bro. H. Ford, in responding, said lie 1):: ! !•. ;i eonilected -with the lovljiv for •: .cars. "When lie took over the l, ii'.vi-jjhip 38 the quarterly receipts were from " C2I) to C-JO. After a few years ibe - Ik'isiui to prosper. until now the iliiarterty contributions were t'M), The : loil<;e u;h in a s.iti.si'aemi'y and proirre:--I s!vi' ftate, new member-, initiated | now wiili frequency. Other toast were: "The old Mirvivinjr members/' proposed by .Mr T. Jennings, M.I Lit.: response, Bros. K. Hughes, F. Stockman, and IT. Hooker. Visiting l.rotbren," proposed by l\P.{;.„\r. Bro. Hooker, responded to by P.P.Oi.M, Bro. Levdon nn.l P.O. Bro. 0. Ahier, Loyal Waikato; P.P.O.M. Bro. F. Amoore. Loyal Kltbam; X.O. Bro. Simmonds Loyai ExeeMor (New Plymouth); Bro. lirabanl. Loyal Waitaia; i\(i. J'.im. Styles. Loyal Union Loi|n-t>. i llawera; I\o. Bl'o. S. 0. Burgess. Loyal Stratford; P.S. Bro. Simons, Toko: P.O. Hro. A. "Melville, Loyal P.P.O.M. Hro. Hancock, Loyal Midhir-tj P.P.O.M. Pro. F.. r;tton. Loyal }p\nain. ''Kindred Soeieiie*,'' proposed bv NX). Hro. Cliivers, and responded to by "Messrs W. T. dennlnps (Druids). •!. A. Wlntaker ■ (nee)ja|bile.<o, ami K, 'lf. Tribe (Forest- , ev>). 'The. Trustees or' the F/jmonl Lodge/> proposed by P.P.O.M. "Rro. !i. Ford, re-ponded to by P.O. Bro. TL . Cock. ''Tlie ProV," proposed by P.O. Pro. A. Hooker. and responded 1o l>v tlio Press representatives present. "Poor : and Distressed Brethren," proposed bv I the elmirmnn mid honored in sileuee, all | standing. All the othor toasf'H were «iven imi-;ieul honors, with ''Lodge boil- . or j .'' in must rases.

Songs were contributed bv Bro* Ains•worth. Colsoii, and Broome, Messrs C. T. "Mills and W\ TT. Broome, and a rocitation by Bro. Ains worth, Bro. HosUln played the iwompanimonts,