GRIPS AND SIGNS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 43, 16 March 1909, Page 4

GRIPS AND SIGNS.

To the Editor. Sir,—l notice by a telegram in your impel' that stops arc being taken or suggestions made to do awav with gvips and signs in Oddfellows' lodges, as tliev are out of date. There is a lot of truth in the statement, lint there was a day when the grips and signs were used between the brethren out. of the lodge for their mutual benefit, but 1 am afraid that day has gone, in Oddfellows' lodges there are signs that one brother ean give another, to advise him of danger or of something to his Advantage, and (juite right, too. Nowadays, though, they are either not known or disregarded altogether. Let mo give an illustration. An Oddfellow called A seeing a brother called M being buttonholed by a shady character, advanced the sign "beware of danger/' and, no notice being taken of it, advanced "I have something to tell you to your advantage." and that also was unheeded. He then excused himself and beckoned to 1!, shook hands and gave the grip, which was relented by a withdrawal of the hand and a glare. A whispered, "Why, 1 thought you were an Oddfellow," J* replied, "'So I am, and what about it?" Is anv more comment needed?—l am, etc., ' ODDKKLLOW BILL.